Age Old Whiskey

Thanks to a new discovery history may repeat itself, in your cocktail glass.

Five crates of whiskey and brandy belonging to polar explorer Ernest Shackleton were discovered by New Zealand explorers earlier this month. The crates, which were found under the Antarctic ice, have been buried for more than one hundred years. They were found beneath Shackleton’s hut which was built in 1908.

Al Fastier of the New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust believed there were only two crates buried under the ice and is delighted by the find. Fastier says the trust is confident some of the crates contain intact alcohol because liquid can be heard swirling in the bottles. Now the trust will determine the best way to conserve the century old liquor. Richard Paterson, master blender at Whyte and MacKay says the original recipe of this whiskey and brandy no longer exists and he hopes to replicate it. The trust believes Shackleton left the crates behind during his ill-fated mission to the South Pole. If alcohol gets better with age, these crates could provide us with history’s best nightcap.