A Cask for the Ages
The oldest single malt Scotch whisky ever made, Gordon & MacPhail 85 Years Old from Glenlivet Distillery is a rare expression of time and mastery presented in a stunning work of art
On 3 February 1940, in idyllic Elgin, Scotland, a young George Urquhart and his father, John, laid down spirit from Glenlivet Distillery in a painstakingly selected Gordon & MacPhail American oak cask. Times were trying and materials were scarce, with war waging in the world beyond, yet these two forward-thinking connoisseurs set aside the precious resources they had to create a truly remarkable product that they would never taste – one to be enjoyed by future generations only once it reached its full potential.
That time has come. On 5 February 2025, after 85 years, Cask 336 was opened, and the world’s oldest single-malt Scotch whisky emerged.
An authentic study in patience and expertise, Gordon & MacPhail 85 Years Old is the result of more than a century of experience in cask maturation accumulated across the company’s four generations of family ownership. Gordon & MacPhail are masters at matching cask to spirit, having paired their own hand-selected and bespoke casks with whiskies from over 100 Scottish distilleries. Once sealed, experts oversee the maturation process until the perfect product – unique, complex and flawlessly balanced – has been achieved, regardless of the time it takes. As such, Gordon & MacPhail whiskies are often the oldest expression ever to be released from a particular distillery.
In the case of this historic tipple, the 85-year marriage between Glenlivet spirit and Cask 336, which previously held mature sherry, has given rise to a magnificently vibrant, full-bodied whisky. Aged leather aromas open up to apricot, cinnamon and waxy citrus, while vanilla, dried sultanas and aniseed meld with subtle smoky undertones. Flavours are smooth and bright on the palate, with cracked black pepper and sweet dried tobacco leading the way, followed by Seville Orange peel. Plum and Morello cherry harmonise with a hint of oak, before a rich and rounded finish leaves herbal notes lingering in its wake.
“This whisky is truly exceptional due to its remarkable history and unique maturation process,” explains Stephen Rankin, Director of Prestige at Gordon & MacPhail. “The influence of the cask, combined with the rarity and scarcity of the liquid, creates a whisky with a strength of 43.7% ABV that is not only extraordinary in its taste, but also a living piece of history.”
Because a creation so rare and unrivalled deserves to be housed in an equally distinctive vessel, Gordon & MacPhail commissioned renowned American architect Jeanne Gang to design the decanter for their most prized whisky to date. Her vision, Artistry in Oak, features four solid bronze branches – fashioned after the American oak from which Cask 336 was made – wrapped around and suspending a hand-blown glass vessel, just as the original cask cradled its amber liquid for 85 years. Over time, the bronze branches will slowly change in colour and acquire a patina, mirroring the enduring yet evolving nature of whisky as it matures.
No more than 125 decanters of Gordon & MacPhail 85 Years Old will be made available, starting with the online auction of Decanter #1 to be conducted by Christie’s in November. The lot, in addition to the first decanter of this historic whisky, will also encompass a framed, signed sketch by Jeanne Gang of the oak tree that inspired her design, as well as the cask end of Cask 336, encased in a custom frame. A personalised whisky tasting led by Stephen Rankin or Gordon & MacPhail Sales Director Richard Urquhart – both fourth-generation family members of the legendary whisky company – further enhances the offering.
Bidding opens 7 November 2025 and concludes on 21 November, with proceeds from the sale (minus costs) to be donated to American Forests, a pioneer in forest restoration and the oldest national non-profit conservation organisation in the United States.
“Given the importance of oak in our craft, this partnership was a natural fit,” says Stephen Rankin, “aligning with our mission to leave a meaningful legacy for ongoing generations, via fundraising for the sustainable future of American oak trees.”
To discover more about Gordon & MacPhail 85 Years Old from Glenlivet Distillery, visit Gordon & MacPhail’s official website.
