Three sets of wounded service personnel seek to challenge and inspire as they tackle The Walking With The Wounded South Pole Allied Challenge 2013. At the event launch, HRH Prince Harry, the Expedition Patron, revealed that he would be joining Team U. K. In December, they will race the gruelling 335km across Antarctica against teams from the Commonwealth and America. Glenfiddich, the U. K. Team sponsor, will release a Glenfiddich 29 Years Old at the end of the year to coincide with the Challenge. The cask for this single malt whisky was signed by supporters as it toured around the U. K. in July, akin to ex-Glenfiddich ambassador Heather Greene's clever concept implemented with the Cask of Dreams. Don't miss the planned charity auction of a unique bottle of Glenfiddich Spirit of a Nation bottle carried to the South Pole and signed by the U. K. team members after their adventure, hopefully raising money and awareness. Meanwhile, 'Support the Walk' while we raise a glass to other intrepid bottlings out there.
Glenmorangie
Mount Everest 1993 Anniversary Edition
46%Bottler: The Glenmorangie Company
Region: Highland
WM tasting scores: N/A
Recent auction price: £190
Auction: Taylor's, MontroseDate: June 2013
Comment: This rare single cask Glenmorangie was filled into cask No. 2036 on the day Rebecca Stephens MBE became the first British woman to become an Everest summiteer. A picture was released to mark the 20th anniversary of that achievement showing the climber with a bottle of Glenmorangie at Everest Camp Two at 21,300 ft.
Shackleton's Discovery
MacKinlay's Rare Old Highland Malt
47.3%Bottler: Whyte & MacKay
Region: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
WM tasting scores: N/A
Recent auction price: £97
Auction: Whisky Online AuctionsDate: April 2013
Comment: The classic recreation by Richard Paterson of Sir Ernest Shackleton's century old supplies of MacKinlay's Highland Malt was one of the whisky events of the modern era. With 50,000 bottles on sale, it may not be hugely collectible, but it's worthy of stashing a second bottle.
Old Pulteney
Row to the Pole
40%Bottler: Inver House Distillers
Region: Highland
WM tasting scores: N/A
Recent auction price: £35
Auction: Scotch Whisky AuctionsDate: May 2013
Comment: Transatlantic rower Jock Wishart and his hardy crew achieved the incredible feat of rowing, dragging and pulling their boat to the 1996 Magnetic North Pole in 2011. Three thousand of these half bottles were produced and slipped into their commemorative canvas bags and can be readily acquired through the online auction sites. Ice is optional.
Highland Park
Leif Eriksson
40%Bottler: The Edrington Group
Region: Island
WM tasting scores: N/A
Recent auction price: €45 (approx £39)
Auction: WhiskyAuction.com
Date: July 2013
Comment: This Norse explorer was credited with the discovery of North America some 500 years before Columbus. Fittingly, his whisky was a global travel retail release. This recently discontinued Orcadian malt was available in unspecified limited quantities from 2011. Worth considering stocking up if you are planning any long boat journeys.