80 Years In The Making, The World's Oldest Single Malt Is Here

Whisky by Glenlivet, cask by Gordon & MacPhail, decanter and box by Sir David Adjaye (photo courtesy Gordon & MacPhail)

In 1940, when Cask #340 was laid down at the Glenlivet distillery in Scotland, only a tiny handful of independent bottlers — companies who bought whisky from established distilleries to bottle and sell themselves — were bottling malt whiskies from a single distillery, also known as single malts. Whiskies, back then, were made to be used in blends. As far as aging went, top-shelf (blended) Scotches were generally 10 or 12 years old. Which makes it slightly miraculous that a whisky distilled back then was allowed to mature for an almost inconceivable 80 years. It’s also a miracle that it doesn’t taste like a liquid oak stave.

How did the first 80 year old single malt — meaning time spent in the barrel — happen? Why did it happen? Who made it happen? All is revealed (including tasting notes, because I am a lucky S.O.B. and got to try it) in my article over at Alcohol Professor (link is -> HERE <-). Have a look, why don’t you!