Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt Whisky
47.3% ABV/ 94.6 Proof
$150 to $175
What the Distillery Says:
A meticulous re-creation of the original malt whisky shipped to Antarctica in 1097 by Shackleton to fortify his ‘Nimrod’ expedition, this dram has been a long, long time in the making.
Abandoned to the Antarctic winter in early 1909, three wooden crates of this fine Mackinlay’s malt, originally distilled at Glen Mhor Distillery in Inverness, were buried in the ice beneath Ernest Shackleton’s hut.
Unearthed a century later by the New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust, in 2010 a single crate was flown to Canterbury Museum in Christchurch, New Zealand for conservation. Heralded as ‘a gift from heaven for whisky lovers’, this original and long-lost malt provided the inspiration and critical insight for our timeless re-creation.
Every whisky is an adventure, but this one more than most. From Glen Mhor to many years lying under Antarctic ice and then journeying back to the land of its birth. And in many ways it is now that the adventure is really just beginning as the discovery and analysis of the original malt an dour faithful re-creation now add an exhilarating new chapter to an already epic story.
What Richard Says:
Nose: Lightly smokey, fresh and citrusy. It reminds me of the smell of my kitchen the next morning after making a bunch of whiskey sours. It’s kind of like lemon but after it’s been left out for a while.
Palate: Lightly sweet and very delicate. This is more of an aperitif than an after dinner malt. It’s rather fruity and very little of the peat and smoke that is in the nose and finish shows up in the palate.
Finish: For such a delicate drink the finish is a surprising peaty smokey little punch. Oak makes a standing ovation too.
Comments: This is a funny little dram. The nose, palate, and finish seem like three different whiskies. It’s very enjoyable and speaks to Mr. Paterson’s skill as a blender.
Rating: Stands Out
My thanks to Patricia Jimenez with The Baddish Group for providing me with a review sample.