Over 100 years ago Ernest Shackleton, famed Irish explorer had an expedition to try and reach the south pole. And just like any good Irishman would do, he made sure that the expedition was well stocked with what else but Whisky and Brandy. Well as things sometimes happen, he had to abandon his hopes to actually reach the pole about 100 miles from his intended destination. Is a matter of fact he had to leave so quickly to keep the ice from freezing their boats and crushing their hulls as winter set in, they didn’t have time to mess with bringing back all their provisions. This included the aforementioned Whisky and Brandy.
Fast forward 97 years to 2006 and a team of New Zealand researchers found the crates while restoring the hut that Shackleton built and used during his expedition. These old bottles, especially the Scotch Whisky is from a recipe that had been lost and thought gone forever. Thus, whiskey distillers and Master Blenders are chomping at the bit to get a sample of this hooch so they can have it chemically analyzed to determine if they can recreate the recipe. One big problem. There are international treaties in place that forbid the removal of “artifacts” from Antarctica.
So how to get these bottles out? Well, that is a matter for far greater legal minds than mine, but what would I do if I suddenly found myself in possession of a bottle of the Mackinlay’s Old Rare Scotch? Well, I certainly wouldn’t drink it in my kitchen…
Maybe I would take it to a place of distinction and pop the cork, like on a peak in the Swiss Alps. This would seem befitting of a drink as special as this. Or perhaps I could take it somewhere a little closer by with some special meaning like Lake Jenny.
This would be a fitting and serene environment in the shadow of the Grand Teton to hoist a salute to old Ernie. Or perhaps I need to go back closer to the drinks homeland…
The White Cliffs of Dover England might be a fitting setting for such an occasion. The Ocean spray, the striking contrast, and drinking a 100 year old scotch in a place steeped in history. This is a fitting place, but perhaps there is a better place still…
The Links at St. Andrews, Scotland, birthplace of Golf, and homeland of the Whisky itself. I could go watch the British Open, and then surely I could get Phil Mickelson interested in drinking a snifter of 100 year old scotch with me. That would be a very satisfying place to drink this beautiful whisky.
But when you think about it, the Whisky was the best part of the whole event. Ernest Shackleton didn’t reach his goal, he had to turn back and flee, he spent his whole life searching for glory, and he died penniless and in debt. So perhaps the best place to drink this would be…
At Cousin Eddie’s Vegas ranch. We could split it and back it with a bunch of Busch beers, and watch the rocks glow as the sun set…
-Don
Beer & Whiskey Brothers 
Great post Don, absolutely fantastic story. All of the locations would be fantastic, even cousin Eddie’s.
Would the cold temperatures that the Scotch withstood have effected the flavor?
It’s hard to say it didn’t affect the flavor, but probably less than you might suspect. First of all, with the amount of alcohol in the Whisky it probably never completely froze, even in those frigid temps. It was also protected as it was mostly buried in earth and ice, thus it wasn’t subjected to the bitter 70 below temps with windchills far below that. Finally, if it did anythin it might have actually concentrated the flavor somewhat as over the years, even in those frigid temps some evaporation may have occurred. Either way I’d drink it, and I’m sure I’d enjoy it a lot.
I’d drink it in a helicopter, while being effortlessly whisked across the 100 miles of frozen wasteland Shackleton couldn’t conquer. I guess it’s cheating, but ain’t technology grand?
Then I’d land on the South Pole and pee, so as not to remove any “artifacts” from Antarctica.
This may be the “Loophole” they are looking for!
Being it’s the antartic a little anitfreeze would hit the spot and I’d drink it right there. Who’s to say they didn’t take a nip while there. Who’s to know?
Exactly! I’ll bet some is missing. They did say that there was some leakage like a bottle or two had broken, but like you say who’s to know? Man I wish I was an antarctic explorer…