Gordon & MacPhail presents world’s oldest single malt
The oldest single malt Scotch whisky to ever be bottled has been released by Gordon & MacPhail, presented in a specially designed decanter called ‘Artistry in Oak’.
The Gordon & MacPhail 85 Years Old from The Glenlivet Distillery was announced in July.
At 85 years of age, the new whisky has surpassed The Macallan’s 84-year-old Time: Space, which was unveiled in September 2024, for the title of world’s oldest single malt Scotch.
Gordon & MacPhail commissioned a creative partner to design a unique decanter to house what is described as its most precious whisky to date.
Internationally acclaimed American architect Jeanne Gang was chosen for the job, and her design has been shaped through her close observation of growth and form in nature.
“It was of utmost importance that the quality of the whisky itself be manifest in the design of the decanter. Made from handblown glass and cast bronze, I thought about how each material would exhibit its own inherent qualities while fulfilling its purpose to hold and protect the liquid,” explained Gang.
The decanter design by Gang is described as a celebration of the profound artistry, craft, care and time alongside nature that went into the liquid it encases.
Embracing the creative theme of the decanter’s name, ‘Artistry in Oak’, the design evokes the idea of a tree slowly entwining a piece of amber, with four separate branches made from solid bronze spiralling upward, wrapping around a suspended glass vessel that contains the liquid originally distilled at The Glenlivet Distillery.
American oak informed the branches’ design, a nod to the wood used to comprise the Gordon & MacPhail cask that matured the spirit for 85 years.
The design was conceived as a single object, with the suspended glass vessel relying on the branches for support, evoking the reciprocity between whisky and its cask.
Gang chose bronze for the four entwining branches due to the metal’s endurability and the way it evolves over time; as bronze develops a patina, it mirrors the way whisky deepens in colour and character over the years.
“Standing tall and strong, the patinated bronze entwines the vessel, suspending it while revealing the amber colour of the whisky within. Together, the elements depend on and complement each other, in a reciprocal dance whose form, like the whisky it holds, is a product of both natural growth and the nature of its materiality,” said Gang.
The release is said to be the ultimate expression of the art of maturation, and is a testament to the foresight of George Urquhart and his father, John, who first selected cask 336 in 1940 to hold the now record-breaking liquid.
Stephen Rankin, director of prestige at Gordon & MacPhail, and member of the fourth generation of the family that owns the company, said: “One of the greatest challenges was that this has never been done before. We’re the first to mature a whisky for 85 years. Every year that goes by is a year into the unknown. We have to appreciate we’re always dealing with mother nature so the key traits of this process are patience and trust.”
Tasting notes
At the time the liquid was placed into the cask, whisky production across Scotland was much reduced due to the raw materials required being diverted for other uses, or there being a shortage in them created by the second world war.
The eight and a half decades spent maturing in Cask 336, which had previously held mature Sherry before being re-filled on 3 February 1940 with the spirit at The Glenlivet Distillery, has had a ‘profound impact’ on the whisky’s flavour.
The long maturation has imparted ‘deep, complex flavours’ to the whisky, with vibrant, full-bodied notes that remain ‘remarkably robust’ at 43.7% ABV.
On the nose, soft, aged leather aromas lead to apricot compote, cinnamon, and subtle waxy, citrus fruit notes. Vanilla gives way to dried sultana and aniseed with underlying beeswax polish, while a subtle smoky undertone develops.
The palate is smooth and vibrant with cracked black pepper and sweet dried tobacco flavours, followed by Seville orange peel. Morello cherry and plum flavours are balanced by subtle oak, and the finish is full-bodied with lingering herbal notes.
Christie’s auction of Decanter #1
Only 125 Artistry in Oak decanters are available worldwide, each with an RRP of £125,000 (US$168,423).
However, as part of the landmark release, Gordon & MacPhail is supporting American Forests, the oldest national non-profit conservation organisation in the US, via the online auction of Decanter #1 in partnership with auction house Christie’s.
“Given the importance of oak in our craft, this partnership was a natural fit, aligning with our mission to leave a meaningful legacy for ongoing generations via fundraising for the sustainable future of American oak trees,” added Rankin.
The auction will be conducted online by Christie’s, with bids opening on Friday 7 November and concluding on Friday 21 November 2025.
Proceeds of the lot, minus costs, will be donated to the American Forests to support its work, which is dedicated to creating healthy and resilient forests in cities and large landscapes, including the regeneration and long-term sustainability of America’s oak-dominated forests essential for whisky maturation.
As well as Decanter #1, the lot will include a personalised whisky tasting hosted by Rankin or Richard Urquhart, sales director – both fourth generation family members; a framed, signed sketch of an oak tree by Jeanne Gang, which informed the decanter’s design; and the cask end of cask 336 which housed the single malt Scotch whisky, presented in a bespoke frame.
Adam Bilbey, Christie’s global head of wine and spirits, said: “Partnering with Gordon & MacPhail for Artistry in Oak is a moment of pride for Christie’s. The unveiling of Decanter #1 from Gordon & MacPhail 85 Years Old is not just a highlight of our season – it’s a celebration of time, tradition, and craftsmanship. Over the last 85 years this extraordinary spirit has been carefully and patiently nurtured by Gordon & MacPhail, culminating in the extraordinary moment.”
Related news
US tariffs cost Scotch whisky £20m a month
