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5th September 2011 |
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 Whyte & Mackay has won the Whisky
Magazine’s Innovator of the Year Award
for its recreation of a 100 year old
whisky left under the Antarctic ice by
famous explorer Ernest Shackleton.
Described as the "whisky story of the
century", the so-called Shackleton
replica – properly known as Mackinlay’s
– was four years in the making by the
time the whisky was found, excavated,
shipped to Scotland and finally
reproduced.
Rob Allanson, editor of Whisky Magazine,
said you couldn’t give the award to
anybody but Whyte & Mackay.
"The Shackleton whisky story is truly
amazing and has captured the world’s
imagination,” he claimed. “It has helped
promote Scotland’s national drink to a
new global audience.
"There was a real risk that the project
became nothing but marketing fluff and
nonsense with no real substance. But
knowing the story as I do, and watching
it unfold, along with the rightful
plaudits the whisky itself has received,
it’s clear this was a true labour of
love for the company.
"They have recreated a piece of history
in a glass and that deserves
recognition."
Whyte & Mackay’s master blender Richard
Paterson picked up the award at the
ceremony held in Glasgow on Friday.
He said: “I am absolutely delighted.
This has been the highlight of my 40
year career to date in whisky, but would
not have been possible without the
efforts of a vast team of people both in
an outside the company.
"But my biggest thanks go to the
Antarctic Heritage Trust, based in New
Zealand, who found the whisky and
subsequently helped us get some bottles
back to Scotland. And my personal thanks
go to James Pryde, our company scientist
based in Invergordon. His input was
invaluable and together we have created
a whisky which gives people a real taste
of the past."
Paterson spent eight weeks marrying and
blending a range of malts together to
recreate the 100 year old whisky.
Highly regarded independent whisky
expert Dave Broom was one of the lucky
few who got to taste the original and
new spirit together, and he said “the
replication is bang on.”
The bottle is now on sale for £100, with
5% from every sale being donated back to
the Antarctic Heritage Trust. With
50,000 bottles being produced, it is
hoped that the Trust will receive
£250,000.
National Geographic also recorded an
exclusive documentary about the whole
process which is due to air at the end
of this year.
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Mackinlay's Rare Old Highland Malt
Tasting
Notes
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The replica Shackleton Mackinlay's Rare
Old Highland Malt is a blended malt containing whisky from a
range of Highland malts, including Glen Mhor, which was the original Mackinlay’s
distillery before it closed in 1983.
Limited to 50,000 bottles, it
was bottled at 47.3% ABV, is non
chill-filtered and has had no added caramel
colouring (Just how we like it). It
comes in a replica bottle and wooden
box.
Producer's Tasting Notes:
 Colour: Light honey, straw gold with shimmering highlights.
Nose: Soft, elegant & refined. Delicate aromas of crushed
apple, pear and fresh pineapple arouse
the senses. The spirit is exciting and
vibrant with attractive notes of oak
shavings that release hints of buttery
vanilla, creamy caramel and nutmeg. A
whisper of marmalade, cinnamon and even
a tease of smoke, ginger and muscovado
sugar completes this spectrum of
delight.
Taste:
With a generous strength of 47.3% this
gives the spirit plenty of impact on the
palate but in a mild warming manner.
Harmonious and exhilarating. Whispers of
gentle bonfire smoke slowly give way to
spicy rich toffee, treacle and pecan
nuts. These enticing flavours linger
lovingly on the palate but are soon
combined by a sensual, complex array of
creme brulee, orange rind and freshly
baked bread. It is a remarkable tapestry
of tantalising taste sensations which
truly rewards the palate.
William
Morrison's Tasting Notes:
Colour:
Pale gold.
Nose: Spicy oak, fresh fruit
green apples, pear drops, smooth malty
cereal, vanilla, hint of orange zest and
a whisper of smoke.
Taste:
Loads going on here, rich creamy toffee,
vanilla, a bit of orange zest,
hazelnuts, a little sprinkling of
pepper, old and new oak spices and a
lovely very light touch of smoke is
always lingering in the background
Finish:
Long and rich with drying oak spices,
creamy toffee and the slightest hint of
smoke.
Comment:
No wonder Ernest Shackleton choose
Mackinlay's whisky to take with him to
the South Pole. This shows just how
special a blended malt whisky can be, it
is a very high quality blended malt
whisky and very easy to drink. Richer
than the colour lets on. Damn, why such
a small sample I could have sat with
this all night. Is it worth the £100
price tag? Only you can decide but I
think I will be getting a full bottle
now. Loved it!
Shackleton's Whisky - Mackinlay's Rare
Old Highland Malt is now available to
buy from
The Whisky Exchange
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