Earlier this year, independent bottler of Scotch whisky Gordon & MacPhail announced plans to launch what is thought to be the world's oldest single malt Scotch whisky released to date.
The 85-year-old single malt whisky has now been bottled, and will be released in a bespoke decanter designed by architect Jeanne Gang, titled Artistry in Oak. Inspired by the natural formation of oak branches, the glass decanter is suspended in sculptural bronze branches, reflecting the way an oak cask held the whisky for its 85-year maturation.
Gang explained: “It was of utmost importance that the quality of the whisky itself be manifest in the design of the decanter. Made from handblown glass and cast bronze, I thought about how each material would exhibit its own inherent qualities while fulfilling its purpose to hold and protect the liquid.”
Distilled at Glenlivet Distillery, the liquid inside the decanter was laid down on 3rd February 1940 by George Urquhart (fondly known as Mr George) and his father, John, in an American oak cask.
Tasting notes for the 85-year-old single malt released by Gordon & MacPhail highlight a nose of aged leather aromas with apricot, cinnamon, and smoky undertones, with a "smooth and vibrant palate" with black pepper and dried tobacco, and lingering herbal notes at the finish.
A release of 125 Artistry in Oak decanters will be available worldwide, at RSP £125,000. In addition, Decanter #1 will be auctioned via Christie's in aid of the forest restoration charity American Forests. Regeneration of America's forests is a growing concern in the whisky industry, due to its high use of American oak casks for whisky maturation (as covered by Maggie Kimberl in issue 207 of Whisky Magazine).
The online auction will run from 7th–21st November 2025, and proceeds from the lot (minus costs) will be donated to the charity. The lot will also include a personalised whisky tasting with Stephen Rankin, director of prestige, or Richard Urquhart, sales director, both fourth-generations members of the family behind Gordon & MacPhail. Also included is a framed and signed sketch of an oak tree by Jeanne Gang and the cask end of cask 336, which held the whisky for its eight and a half decades.
Reflecting on the charity auction, Rankin said: “Given the importance of oak in our craft, this partnership was a natural fit, aligning with our mission to leave a meaningful legacy for ongoing generations via fundraising for the sustainable future of American oak trees.”
