Shackleton Blended Scotch Whiskey

Shackleton Blended Scotch is a tribute expression inspired by Sir Ernest Shackleton’s 1907 Nimrod Expedition to Antarctica — based on 25 cases of Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt discovered frozen beneath Shackleton’s Cape Royds hut in 2010, which were analysed and recreated into a modern blended malt tribute by Richard Paterson of Whyte & Mackay.

The original discovery of Shackleton’s whisky frozen under the ice of his Antarctic expedition hut is one of the most compelling stories in Scotch whisky history. The bottles were carefully thawed, a small amount was analysed, and master blender Richard Paterson used the analysis to recreate the blend using comparable modern whiskies. Browse all Scotch whisky at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was actually found under Shackleton’s hut in Antarctica?

In 2010, conservationists from the Antarctic Heritage Trust discovered 25 cases of Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt whisky frozen beneath Shackleton’s Cape Royds hut — left behind when the expedition departed in 1909. Three bottles were removed, thawed, and sampled to analyse the original blend composition as a basis for the modern recreation.

Is Shackleton blended malt or blended Scotch?

Shackleton Blended Malt — a combination of multiple single malt whiskies without grain whisky, in the blended malt category rather than standard blended Scotch (which would include grain whisky).