Shackleton's Whisky Discovered in Antarcitca

BlackDog · 02-05-2010, 11:32 AM

I saw this in the news. Pretty Neat. I wonder if it's still any good?

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Scotch whisky meant to warm Antarctic explorers retrieved after century locked in ice

Associated Press
Last update: February 5, 2010 - 8:16 AM

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - This Scotch has been on the rocks for a century.

Five crates of Scotch whisky and two of brandy have been recovered by a team restoring an Antarctic hut used more than 100 years ago by famed polar explorer Ernest Shackleton.

Ice cracked some of the bottles that had been left there in 1909, but the restorers said Friday they are confident the five crates contain intact bottles "given liquid can be heard when the crates are moved."

New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust team leader Al Fastier said the team thought there were two crates and were amazed to find five.

Current distillery owner, drinks group Whyte & Mackay, launched the bid to recover the Scotch whisky for samples to test and decide whether to relaunch the defunct spirit made by distiller McKinlay and Co.

Fastier said restoration workers found the crates under the hut's floorboards in 2006, but they were too deeply embedded in ice to be dislodged.

The New Zealanders agreed to drill the ice to try to retrieve some bottles, although the rest must stay under conservation guidelines agreed to by 12 Antarctic Treaty nations.

"The unexpected find of the brandy crates, one labeled Chas. Mackinlay & Co and the other labeled The Hunter Valley Distillery Limited Allandale (Australia) are a real bonus," said Fastier.

Ice has cracked some of the crates and formed inside them. Fastier said in a statement that would make extracting the contents delicate, but the trust would decide how to do so in coming weeks.

Richard Paterson, master blender at Whyte and Mackay, whose company supplied the Mackinlay's whisky for Shackleton, described the find as "a gift from the heavens for whisky lovers."

"If the contents can be confirmed, safely extracted and analyzed, the original blend may be able to be replicated. Given the original recipe no longer exists, this may open a door into history," he said in a statement.

Shackleton's expedition ran short of supplies on its long ski trek to the South Pole from the northern Antarctic coast in 1907-1909 and turned back about 100 miles (160 kilometers) short of its goal.

The expedition sailed away in 1909 as winter ice formed, leaving behind supplies, including the whisky and brandy.

G G · 02-05-2010, 11:36 AM

very cool.

shilala · 02-05-2010, 11:41 AM

They left behind the whiskey and brandy?
I bet someone's ass got handed to them over that stunt.

02-05-2010, 12:39 PM

thay will be on ebay tomorow lol

Commander Quan · 02-05-2010, 01:13 PM

And now we know why penguins walk like that

BlackDog · 02-05-2010, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Commander Quan

And now we know why penguins walk like that

Jbailey · 02-05-2010, 02:11 PM

I will bid 105 million!

It's always interesting when you hear stories like this one.

dunng · 02-05-2010, 07:34 PM

secretsquirrel · 02-06-2010, 10:30 AM

ya who knows what someone would pay for a bottle of that!

02-06-2010, 11:38 AM

Very cool story

blugill · 02-06-2010, 01:31 PM

Shackleton was a man's man. It's hard to find heroes like him anymore.

md4958 · 02-06-2010, 01:50 PM

Just wondering, where was Al during the discovery

02-05-2010, 11:32 AM	#1
BlackDog Gonna make you groove... Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Warren Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 2,468 Trading: (19)	Shackleton's Whisky Discovered in Antarcitca I saw this in the news. Pretty Neat. I wonder if it's still any good? ***************************** Scotch whisky meant to warm Antarctic explorers retrieved after century locked in ice Associated Press Last update: February 5, 2010 - 8:16 AM WELLINGTON, New Zealand - This Scotch has been on the rocks for a century. Five crates of Scotch whisky and two of brandy have been recovered by a team restoring an Antarctic hut used more than 100 years ago by famed polar explorer Ernest Shackleton. Ice cracked some of the bottles that had been left there in 1909, but the restorers said Friday they are confident the five crates contain intact bottles "given liquid can be heard when the crates are moved." New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust team leader Al Fastier said the team thought there were two crates and were amazed to find five. Current distillery owner, drinks group Whyte & Mackay, launched the bid to recover the Scotch whisky for samples to test and decide whether to relaunch the defunct spirit made by distiller McKinlay and Co. Fastier said restoration workers found the crates under the hut's floorboards in 2006, but they were too deeply embedded in ice to be dislodged. The New Zealanders agreed to drill the ice to try to retrieve some bottles, although the rest must stay under conservation guidelines agreed to by 12 Antarctic Treaty nations. "The unexpected find of the brandy crates, one labeled Chas. Mackinlay & Co and the other labeled The Hunter Valley Distillery Limited Allandale (Australia) are a real bonus," said Fastier. Ice has cracked some of the crates and formed inside them. Fastier said in a statement that would make extracting the contents delicate, but the trust would decide how to do so in coming weeks. Richard Paterson, master blender at Whyte and Mackay, whose company supplied the Mackinlay's whisky for Shackleton, described the find as "a gift from the heavens for whisky lovers." "If the contents can be confirmed, safely extracted and analyzed, the original blend may be able to be replicated. Given the original recipe no longer exists, this may open a door into history," he said in a statement. Shackleton's expedition ran short of supplies on its long ski trek to the South Pole from the northern Antarctic coast in 1907-1909 and turned back about 100 miles (160 kilometers) short of its goal. The expedition sailed away in 1909 as winter ice formed, leaving behind supplies, including the whisky and brandy. __________________ "We live in the good of this."**

02-05-2010, 11:36 AM	#2
G G BR549 Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Greg Location: Taylor, FL. Posts: 12,723 Trading: (10)	Re: Shackleton's Whisky Discovered in Antarcitca very cool.

02-05-2010, 11:41 AM	#3
shilala Dear Lord, Thank You. Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Scott Posts: 13,721 Trading: (252)	Re: Shackleton's Whisky Discovered in Antarcitca They left behind the whiskey and brandy? I bet someone's ass got handed to them over that stunt. __________________

02-05-2010, 12:39 PM	#4
adampc22 Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Shackleton's Whisky Discovered in Antarcitca thay will be on ebay tomorow lol

02-05-2010, 01:13 PM	#5
Commander Quan Feeling at Home Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Derrick Location: Canton, OH Posts: 966 Trading: (4)	Re: Shackleton's Whisky Discovered in Antarcitca And now we know why penguins walk like that

02-05-2010, 02:11 PM	#7
Jbailey Brewcifer Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dave Location: Madison, WI Posts: 5,212 Trading: (17)	Re: Shackleton's Whisky Discovered in Antarcitca I will bid 105 million! It's always interesting when you hear stories like this one. __________________ "Sent to spy on a Cuban talent show first stop- Havana au go-go." Field Marshall Douche Bag.

02-05-2010, 07:34 PM	#8
dunng MassHole Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Greg Location: MassHole Posts: 4,719 Trading: (59)	Re: Shackleton's Whisky Discovered in Antarcitca __________________ MassHole Banter

02-06-2010, 10:30 AM	#9
secretsquirrel Yeah so Join Date: Nov 2009 First Name: m Location: S.E. Indiana Posts: 128 Trading: (12)	Re: Shackleton's Whisky Discovered in Antarcitca ya who knows what someone would pay for a bottle of that!

02-06-2010, 11:38 AM	#10
ChicagoWhiteSox Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Shackleton's Whisky Discovered in Antarcitca Very cool story

02-06-2010, 01:31 PM	#11
blugill Feeling at Home Join Date: Dec 2008 First Name: Andy Location: Enid, Oklahoma Posts: 867 Trading: (10)	Re: Shackleton's Whisky Discovered in Antarcitca Shackleton was a man's man. It's hard to find heroes like him anymore. __________________ My Blog

02-06-2010, 01:50 PM	#12
md4958 Captain Cannoli Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Moe Location: Suffield, CT Posts: 5,712 Trading: (62)	Re: Shackleton's Whisky Discovered in Antarcitca Just wondering, where was Al during the discovery __________________ "One fart can foul the air for everyone" - Esteemed philosopher "If avoiding the nasty $hit is being a snob, them I am guilty as charged."- Same esteemed philosopher.