Chas. Mackinlay & Co. (Shackleton) Rare Old Highland Malt Whisky

Product of: United Kingdom

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This reproduction blend is presented in a replica bottle at the same strength as a sample bottle recovered from one of 25 cases of Mackinlay's Rare Old Highland Malt which British explorer Ernest Shackleton shipped to Antartica in 1907 for his unsuccessful expedition to the South Pole.

Shackleton embarked on his quest to reach the Pole with three of his team on 29th October 1908, but was forced to turn back just 100 miles (160km) short of his goal in 1909 as winter ice began forming in the sea. He abandoned the expedition in time for all the team to return safely, later famously saying: "A live donkey is better than a dead lion." In the rush to escape, Shackleton and his men abandoned their hut, leaving their supplies behind.

In February 2007 The New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust found three wooden crates of Mackinlay & Co's whisky in the ice under Shackleton's hut. In 2010, one case containing 11 bottles, ten of which perfectly preserved, was excavated and slowly thawed over a two week period at the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The Mackinlay's Rare Old Highland Malt brand is now owned by Whyte & Mackay, who acquired it as part of Invergordon Distillers in 1995. Sadly, the brand had previously long been discontinued in most markets by Whyte & Mackay, but naturally they were quick to seize the opportunity presented by the find. In January 2011, three of the excavated bottles were flown to Scotland for Richard Paterson, master blender at Whyte and Mackay, to extract small samples through the bottles' corks using a syringe. These were analysed and Richard assembled a blend to mimic the cryogenically preserved whisky using 8 to 30-year-old malts from the Whyte & Mackay stable, including Dalmore and Glen Mhor, which closed in 1986 and was the original base malt for Mackinlay's.

Fittingly, 5% of the profits from this limited edition whisky comprising of 50,000 bottles will be donated to the Antarctic Heritage Trust, which supervised the excavation of Shackleton's bottles, which incidentally have since been returned to New Zealand to be restored to their resting place.

Review and Tasting

Sampled on 16/12/2012

Appearance:

Clear, pale golden (hazes with water).

Aroma:

Ginger and Muscovado sugar with wisps of smoke, pencil shavings, lime marmalade, scratched old leather and cinnamon spice. Water releases iodine notes.

Taste:

Lightly peaty with gentle smoke, dry oak and bursts of creamy caramel and nutty pecan pie.

Aftertaste:

Dry bonfire smoke lingers.