A crate of Scotch whisky that was trapped in Antarctic ice for a century was finally opened Friday — but the heritage dram won’t be tasted by whisky lovers because it’s being preserved for its historical significance.
The crate, recovered from the Antarctic hut of renowned explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton after it was found there in 2006, has been thawed very slowly in recent weeks at the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The crate was painstakingly opened to reveal 11 bottles of Mackinlay’s Scotch whisky, wrapped in paper and straw to protect them from the rigors of Shackleton’s 1907 Nimrod expedition.
Though the crate was frozen solid when it was retrieved earlier this year, the minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit were not cold enough to freeze the liquor.
The Scotch dates from 1896 or 1897 and was described as being in remarkably good condition.
Associated Press
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