Posted on 07/24/2010 5:20:35 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
A crate of Scotch whisky that has been frozen in Antarctic ice for more than a century is being slowly thawed by New Zealand museum officials.
The crate of whisky was recovered earlier this year - along with four other crates containing whisky and brandy - beneath the floor of a hut built by British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton during his 1908 Antarctic expedition.
Four of the crates were left in the ice, but one labelled Mackinlay's whisky was brought to the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch on New Zealand's South Island, where officials said it was being thawed in a controlled environment.
Nigel Watson, executive director of the New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust, said the whisky might still be liquid.
"When the guys were lifting it, they reported the sound of sloshing and there was a smell of whisky in the freezer, so it is all boding pretty well," he said.
An Antarctic Heritage Trust team that was restoring the explorer's hut found the crates in 2006 but couldn't immediately dislodge them because they were too deeply embedded in the ice.
Drinks group Whyte & Mackay, the Scottish distillery that now owns the Mackinlay's brand, launched the bid to recover the whisky for samples to test and potentially use to relaunch the defunct Scotch.
Mr Watson said the whisky may still be drinkable but would probably not be tasted.
"This was a blend so they are hopeful if there is enough alcohol left and it is in good condition they may be able to analyse and hopefully replicate the liquid so in fact everyone could partake in this," he said.
"It has been put on ice for 100 years so I don't think it is too unromantic a suggestion. The reality is that it is very limited
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Nonsense. As any good Scotsman knows, you're not desperate until the Scotch runs out.
wont freezing cause taste-separation? its a disaster with beer.
Somebody will be along soon to collect the taxes on the find.
OK, who’s up for chartering a plane?
reading further, i bet money white & mackay won’t make an accurate replica blend; i suspect whisky a century ago was substantially peatier than most non-islay whiskies are now.
LOL - I think it must be! Although there must be some east and west involved, somehow, once you get a bit away from the Pole.
Come on people. It’s only blended, now if it was single malt.....
Why would they not taste it??!! I think there are plenty here who would gladly line up for a chance at a snort of THAT Scotch...
If it did freeze it would expand about 10%.
This would crack the bottle/ blow the cork.
No it doesn't. It's not a land mass.
Still, it has a southern EDGE if you wish to be picky about it, so my statement is true and you are a nit picker:)
They are looking to conserve the scotch whisky. Heh.
I conserved my liquour cabinet for several years as well. Then I unconserved it which was much more enjoyable.
Yeah, I am.
God that must have tasted horrible. Back in those days they sealed the amphoras with pitch and it likely gave the wine a strong sulfuric smell and taste. I wouldn’t be surprised however if it was still wine though seeing as the bacteria needed to convert the wine into vinegar would have a harder time surviving at those depths.
Well ya know i’m from the south so I never was much for spellin’....LOL Whiskey or Whisky ....Both good...
The arctic most certainly has land. All the arctic is is a region north of the arctic circle. Parts of Alaska, Greenland,Canada,Russia,Iceland, Norway,Sweden and Finalnd lie with in the Arctic circle, so technically you could have a southern coast for the arctic.
Frankly, I think any real man would taste it.
I know I would! LOL.
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