When it comes to the overall quality of a whisky, it’s widely believed that the older the whisky, the more special it is going to be. Now, that isn’t always the case, but, generally speaking, if a whisky has been correctly aged and matured for a long time it’s going to be pretty special. Do you know what else it’s going to be? Pretty darned expensive too! 

As you may or may not know, I recently turned 40, so I’m definitely getting on a bit now. Compared to the very special dram I’m going to be talking about today, however, I may as well be dancing on TikTok and talking about rizz and sigma.

Okay, in comparison I perhaps don’t quite come across as that young, but you get the point I’m making, right? The dram I’m looking at today is an 85-year-old record-breaker that was first conceived in the early years of World War 2. Told you it was a special one. 

A Whisky for the History Books

Earlier this year, you may remember how I reviewed the Macallan Time: Space collection, which at the time, was the world’s oldest whisky, coming in at a whopping 84 years young. Well, that title has now been lost to Gordon & MacPhail, thanks to their 85-year-old single malt whisky from the Glenlivet Distillery. 

When this whisky was first conceived, life was very different to how it is now. It was February 3rd, 1940, when George and John Urquhart, of Gordon & MacPhail, took one single American oak cask, previously storing sherry (Cask 336), and filled it with spirit from Glenlivet. They did so unselfishly, as they wanted to create a whisky to be enjoyed generations later, long after they’d gone. 

85 years and 2 days later, the whisky was finally awoken from its slumber on February 5th, 2025, and lovingly transferred into 125 bespoke, hand-crafted decanters designed by renowned American architect Jeanne Gang, which she has called ‘Artistry in Oak’. 

The first decanter of whisky is heading for New York, where it will go under the hammer at Christie’s auction house next month (Nov, 2025). Minus costs, the proceeds will go to the American Forests charity to help support the glorious oak trees that are so essential for this wonderful business we find ourselves in. 

If you do wish to own a piece of history, the remaining decanters can be picked up for a cool £125,000 each. Better check behind the sofa for that loose change!

Artistry in Oak

Make no mistake about it, this release isn’t just a mature bottle of single malt whisky, it’s a work of art. 

The decanter expertly designed by Gang, is created to highlight the synergy between oak and whisky. As you know, as soon as whisky enters those amazing oak barrels, magic begins to happen as they impart that old oak wisdom I like to talk about so much. It features four individual branches made from solid bronze, intertwined around a suspended glass bottle containing whisky more than eight and a half decades old. 

The orange of the bottle’s label immediately stands out, creating the appearance of a piece of amber being enveloped by the branches of a sturdy oak tree. As the designer, Jeanne Gang has thought out every element of this design down to the very last detail. Bronze for example, was chosen because overtime, it takes on a deeper colour and develops a patina, just as a whisky darkens in colour the longer it slumbers in its cask. 

Bottled at a very warming 43.7% ABV, the whisky has a glorious rich burgundy-amber colour to it. 

Though I’ve not yet been lucky enough to try this amazing dram, on the nose, tasting notes have described rich mahogany wood, aged leather, apricot compote, dried baking fruits, lime zest, and sweet vanilla. There are said to be lightly spiced undertones, tied together gloriously by a hint of smoked oak chips and beeswax. 

On the palate, it’s spicier than one might expect. Deep peppery flavours burst through, combined with dried fruity tobacco, caramelised Seville orange peel, candied ginger, stewed plums, morello cheery and black forest gateaux, and a light sprinkling of toasted oak. 

The finish has an amazing tannic mouthfeel thanks to the oak. It’s rich, complex, full-bodied, and offers notes of sweet sherry with underlying herbal notes. Wow!

If you’d like to learn more about your favourite whiskies, or simply treat yourself to a dram or two in the process, be sure to head on over to GreatDrams.com and take a look at the diverse selection of unique whiskies we currently have in stock.

With an impressive selection of limited-edition, rare, and award-winning whisky, as well as heaps of whisky info on our blog, it’s the perfect spot for any whisky lovers out there.