World's oldest & ‘most precious' Scotch whisky to be released

Scottish Sun

12 hours ago

A total of 125 decanters will be released and could fetch hundreds of thousands of pounds each
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A DISTILLER is to release the world's oldest Scotch single malt whisky later this year.
The 85-year-old cask of Glenlivet - distilled in Scotland during World War II - has been emptied and bottled by family business Gordon & MacPhail.
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The 85-year-old cask of Glenlivet has been emptied and bottled
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The whisky was first laid down on February 3, 1940
The whisky was first laid down on February 3, 1940, by John and George Urquhart, the first and second generation leaders of the Moray-based company.
On February 5, 2025, Cask 336 had reached 85-years-old – longer than any other single malt Scotch whisky in history - and the decision was taken to empty the cask.
A total of 125 decanters will be released and could fetch hundreds of thousands of pounds each.
Stephen Rankin, director of prestige at Gordon & MacPhail, and member of the fourth generation of the family that owns the company, said: "This whisky is truly exceptional due to its remarkable history and unique maturation process.
"The influence of the cask, combined with the rarity and scarcity of the liquid, creates a whisky with a strength of 43.7 per cent ABV that is not only extraordinary in its taste but also a living piece of history."
Gordon & MacPhail has partnered with acclaimed American architect Jeanne Gang to create a unique decanter to house the "world's most precious whisky to date".
Gang said: "I was excited to learn about everything involved in the whisky's creation. Each careful step lends something to a whisky's unique flavour. Then, there are years of protecting the casks so that they can age.
"In architecture, these elements of materiality and time also play a critical role in the design process.
"Both are about creating something enduring, so this is what I found inspiring about this opportunity to design a decanter for Gordon & MacPhail's 85-year-old single malt whisky."
Gang's decanter, themed around 'Artistry in Oak', will be revealed in October and the first decanter will be auctioned by Christie's New York in November.
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Auction proceeds will be donated to the oldest national non-profit conservation organisation in the United States, American Forests, a leader in forest restoration.
Mr Rankin added: "Given the importance of oak in our craft, this partnership was a natural fit, aligning with our mission to leave a meaningful legacy for ongoing generations, via fundraising for the sustainable future of American oak trees."
In 2023 a decanter of the previous world's oldest single malt whisky fetched nearly half a million pounds at auction
The Macallan "The Reach" 81-year-old was sold to an anonymous online bidder for £488,500 at Sotheby's in Hong Kong.