MacKinlay’s Shackleton (70cl, 40%)

MacKinlay’s Shackleton is a whisky from Mackinlay's (Highland). Bottled at 40% ABV, 70cl. For over 140 years Charles Mackinlay & Company remained a family firm, with five generations involved in the business. Established in 1815 as a wine merchant in Leith, Charles Mackinlay first became agent for Macfarlane’s whisky and then introduced his own proprietary brands, the first of which was Mackinlay’s Vatted Old Ben Vorlich. In 1847 ‘The Original Mackinlay’ was registered and became the main brand for the company. Two further brand extensions – ML (Mackinlay Legacy) and V.O.B (Very Old Blended) were introduced in the early 20th century and widely advertised from the 1920s to ‘60s with the tagline: ’There’s no use talking… taste it!’ In 1892 Mackinlays was involved in building Glen Mhor distillery in Inverness, after which it adopted ‘Leith & Inverness’ on its labelling. Mackinlay & Co’s family ownership eventually ended in 1961, when the company was sold to Scottish Newcastle Breweries and subsequently became part of Waverley Vintners. The company was then purchased by Invergordon Distillers and is now part of the Whyte & Mackay stable. In 1907 polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton took 25 cases of Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt (a single malt from Glen Mhor distillery) made to order at a specific 47.3% abv. Strong enough to withstand freezing temperatures, along with 18 further cases of brandy and port, on the Nimrod expedition to the South Pole. The journey was later abandoned. Shackleton was within 97 miles of reaching the South Pole when he took the decision to turn back, saving the lives of his men. In 2007 several bottles of Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt were discovered at Shackleton’s Antarctic base camp. Analysis found the whisky had been matured in American oak Sherry casks, and produced using Orkney peat in the malting process. Produced to celebrate the 1907 British Antarctic Expedition.