The World’s Oldest Whisky, an 85-Year-Old Glenlivet, Drops This Fall
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At the risk of repeating ourselves, this mantra bears repeating: Older whisky doesn’t necessarily equal better whisky. That being said, people love to see an age statement on a bottle, and the higher that number the more expensive the whisky is . . . but that often doesn’t mean it’s better, and, in fact, occasionally it’s just the opposite. Still, brands keep pushing the boundaries of how many years whisky can spend inside a cask and still be worth drinking and how much money someone will spend on it. The latest is example is independent bottler Gordon & Macphail’s announcement that it will be releasing an 85-year-old Glenlivet single malt this fall, what they are claiming to be the oldest single malt scotch to date.
That declaration does seem to stand up to scrutiny. The previous record holders were the Reach, an 81-year-old whisky from the Macallan that was originally listed at $125,000, and an even older 84-year-old whisky that came out last year as part of the distillery’s Time : Space Collection. As mentioned before, this new single malt was distilled at the Glenlivet, one of the most popular and best-selling scotch brands on the market. The whisky was distilled way back in 1940 at the Speyside distillery, but it was put into a Gordon & MacPhail American oak cask (Cask 336 to be exact) by George Urquhart and his father, John, who managed the business under the tutelage of founders James Gordon and John Alexander MacPhail.
Eighty-five years later, on February 5, 2025, the cask was emptied and there was still enough whisky within to fill 125 decanters. “This whisky is truly exceptional due to its remarkable history and unique maturation process,” said Stephen Rankin, director of prestige at Gordon & MacPhail (and fourth-generation member of the family that owns the company), in a statement. “The influence of the cask, combined with the rarity and scarcity of the liquid, creates a whisky with a strength of 43.7 percent ABV that is not only extraordinary in its taste but also a living piece of history.”
The details about the whisky, including its price and how you can purchase a bottle, have not been revealed yet, and won’t be until early October. What we do know is American architect Jeanne Gang designed the decanter and the theme is “Artistry in Oak,” but it’s not clear what that translates to. Also, the first decanter will be auctioned by Christie’s in New York City in November, and proceeds from that sale will go to benefit American Forests, a non-profit dedicated to forest conservation.
We can’t say how this whisky will taste at this point, but we will likely have an opportunity to sample the liquid as the release date gets closer and will report back. In the meantime, if you’d like to try other expressions from Gordon & Macphail, there are several available to purchase at websites like Total Wine.
