World’s Oldest Whisky: 85-Year-Old Glenlivet Scotch Coming This Fall

(Photo: Gordon & MacPhail)

Whisky bottler Gordon & MacPhail announced on Tuesday it will release the world’s oldest single malt Scotch this October: an 85-year-old whisky from Glenlivet Distillery, laid down in 1940 and bottled earlier this year.

The whisky, drawn from a single American oak cask on Feb. 5, marks a milestone for the independent bottler. Only 125 decanters of the whisky exist, each filled with spirit matured for eight and a half decades and bottled at 43.7% ABV.

“This whisky is truly exceptional due to its remarkable history and unique maturation process,” Stephen Rankin, director of prestige at Gordon & MacPhail, said in a news release. “The influence of the cask, combined with the rarity and scarcity of the liquid, creates a whisky… that is not only extraordinary in its taste but also a living piece of history.”

The whisky was originally laid down by George Urquhart and his father, John, on Feb. 3, 1940. Known within the company as “Mr. George,” Urquhart built Gordon & MacPhail’s reputation for long-aged single malts. He never expected to taste the contents of Cask 336 himself.

Gordon & MacPhail has partnered with renowned American architect Jeanne Gang to design a custom decanter to house the 85-year-old release. Gang’s design, themed “Artistry in Oak,” will be revealed in October. Decanter No. 1 will be auctioned by Christie’s New York in November, with proceeds benefiting American Forests, the U.S.’s oldest national forest conservation nonprofit.

“I was excited to learn about everything involved in whisky’s creation. Each careful step lends something to a whisky’s unique flavor,” Gang said. “Both are about creating something enduring, so this is what I found inspiring about this opportunity to design a decanter.”

The release is the latest in a series of record-setting bottlings from Gordon & MacPhail, which has previously unveiled some of the oldest expressions from distilleries including Mortlach, Glen Grant and Glenlivet.

The company is known for its longstanding relationships with more than 100 Scottish distilleries, sourcing new-make spirit to age in its own curated casks. That independence has allowed it to mature whisky over decades and release rare, vintage expressions.

Gordon & MacPhail will release full details about the decanter and the auction later this year. Those interested can register for updates at gordonandmacphail.com.