Digging For a Tipple

Next year, a team of New Zealand explorers led by Glenorchy man Al Fastier will head to Antarctica to try to recover 25 crates of rare McKinlay and Co whiskey gifted to Ernest Shackleton for his 1909 expedition to the South Pole. ABC New Zealand correspondent Kerri Ritchie talked to Fastier about his forthcoming trip and whether or not the whiskey will taste any good a century on. Fastier said: “We will be spending some time at Shackleton’s Hut and  the purpose of going there is to excavate the whisky from under the hut. We found it in 2006 and due to weather conditions and the excavation has been delayed until this year. So we are very excited to get in and do the work this season.” The Glasgow distillers which made it, Whyte and Mackay, had asked the explorers to bring back a sample of the whisky so it can carry out some experiments. The company’s master blender Richard Paterson believes if the corks have stayed in place and the whisky has been airtight, the taste might not have changed and the distillers might be able to recreate it.