DHL returns 120-year-old whisky to Antarctica from Scotland

DHL Global Forwarding has returned to the Antarctic three 120-year-old bottles of 1896 Mackinlay's Rare Old Highland Malt Whisky by air and road from Glasgow to New Zealand.

British explorer Ernest Shackleton had taken several cases of the whisky on his expedition to Antarctica in 1907, then left them behind when his expedition failed to reach the South Pole.

"We spent weeks planning this operation, investigating various different travel options and routes to get it from Scotland to New Zealand. Having been buried in the Antarctic ice for more than 100 years, the whisky is extremely precious and delicate, which gave us the opportunity to show our expertise in shipping valuable and delicate cargo," said Alan Davis, regional director, air freight Scotland.

The whisky had to be specially packed for the entire journey. It then travelled in a secure container via Dubai on to Christchurch, New Zealand, where the logistics giant transported the whisky back to a secure facility in Christchurch before its return to Antarctica.

In 2010 three cases were excavated by conservators working for the Antarctic Heritage Trust (New Zealand). Afterwards one crate of the whisky was flown to New Zealand and carefully thawed at Canterbury Museum. Three bottles of the historic whisky were then flown to Scotland where the distillery Whyte & Mackay, who now owns the Mackinlay brand, analysed it scientifically. Whyte & Mackay have since recreated the century-old whisky.