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World's first
whisky matured in Antarctica unveiled.
After three years of ageing under some
of the harshest conditions on Earth, the
world’s first whisky matured in
Antarctica has been revealed — a
groundbreaking venture conceived by
whisky entrepreneur Daniel Monk, founder
of Cask World, and made possible through
a partnership with La Alazana Distillery
in Argentina. La Alazana
Distillery was founded by Lila and
Néstor Serenelli in Argentina’s Chubut
Province and is a trailblazing South
American whisky producer, crafting
small-batch single malts that reflect
the distinctive character of Patagonia’s
climate.
The whisky, named Isla Marambio, has
just been bottled at La Alazana
Distillery and will form part of Cask
World’s forthcoming 8 Continent Series —
set to become the first-ever collection
of whiskies matured across all seven
continents, plus Antarctica, when it
launches in 2026.
An eight-year-old Argentinian single
malt, Isla Marambio began its life at La
Alazana Distillery in Chubut Province,
where it was distilled and aged for five
years in virgin oak casks. It was then
transferred to ex-bourbon barrels and
shipped to Base Marambio, an Argentine
research station on Seymour Island, to
undergo three years of secondary
maturation under extreme Antarctic
conditions.
The casks were stored in an uninsulated
hut, fully exposed to temperatures
fluctuating between –35°C and +10°C.
Over time, they developed a frosted
exterior, a striking testament to the
volatile environment that shaped the
whisky’s maturation. Once the Antarctic
ageing was complete, the casks were
returned to Argentina for bottling.
Isla Marambio will be released in
limited quantities next year as part of
the 8 Continent Series, which also
includes expressions matured in
countries such as India, South Africa,
Brazil, Canada, and Wales.
Lila Serenelli, co-founder and distiller
at La Alazana, said: "We already know
it's different. When I was decanting it
there was a very special floral note
that is not so strong in our whisky
usually. There’s something that I think
has happened. I can’t assure it, but
it’s a thought… although there are
temperature variations, the mid
temperatures tend to be under zero. This
movement allows extraction and
oxidation, but holds the ethanol in, and
reduces evaporation. We’ll have better
insight when we measure the ABV of the
vatted whisky.
"I can say that it’s very cold, very
far, extremely vast and it’s so far away
that it’s shocking. When I was standing
there, staring at the frozen sea, I just
got this aching in my heart that pulled
tears from my eyes and I just knew that
our whisky spent three whole years there
and that was just it."
Daniel Monk, founder of Cask World and
creator of the 8 Continent Series, said:
"It made perfect sense to work on this
project with Néstor and Lila Serenelli
in Patagonia. They’re pioneers who, like
me, believe in doing something that’s
never been done before. I was in their
garden in Argentina when I shared the
idea of maturing whisky in Antarctica -
they didn’t hesitate. They are the
heroes who made it possible, overcoming
every challenge to make the Antarctic
maturation a reality.
"Together we made history by sending
casks of La Alazana whisky to Base
Marambio, where they were matured on the
Antarctic continent. For me, Antarctica
isn’t just a frontier — it’s a symbol of
purity, endurance, and balance.
"This collection I’m pulling together -
the 8 Continent Series - will be more
than a set of whiskies; it will be the
story of the world told through flavour,
climate, and collaboration. For me, the
dream of maturing whisky on every
continent isn’t just about whisky - it’s
about what it represents: the spirit of
exploration, connection, and pushing the
limits of what’s possible. My life has
always been about daring things most
would call impossible - from cycling
across continents to overcoming
addiction, sailing the Atlantic circuit
with my children, and building a whisky
business that connects people and
places.
"When I discovered so many countries
making whisky few had ever heard of, I
felt compelled to visit the distilleries
and meet the people behind them. From
that moment, I knew it was ‘new world
whiskies’ I wanted to focus on and to
shine a light on this remarkable period
of growth and creativity."
The Antarctic project was conducted with
the support of Argentina’s Ministry of
Defence and Armed Forces, who
coordinated the transportation of the
casks to and from Base Marambio aboard a
Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft, flying
between Buenos Aires, Río Gallegos, and
Antarctica.
This pioneering experiment not only
marks a milestone for global whisky
maturation but also exemplifies a shared
spirit of innovation — pushing the
boundaries of what’s possible in the
world of whisky.
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