How Cask No. 336 Survived WWII to Become the World’s Oldest Single Malt Scotch

Madison
20 minutes ago
3 min read

Whisky lovers, brace yourselves: Gordon & MacPhail has just shattered records—and maybe a few taste buds in anticipation—with the release of the 85-year-old Glenlivet, now officially the oldest single malt Scotch ever bottled. And yes, it’s as historic as it sounds: distilled in 1940, it survived World War II, decades of whisky trends, and the temptation to be blended into something younger, shinier, and less distinctive.

From Bomb Shelters to Bottles

Back in early 1940, Scotland’s whisky scene was facing its own kind of apocalypse. Prohibition had shaken the U.S., the world was reeling from a crippling economic depression, and bombs were already starting to fall on Scottish soil. Yet, on February 3, 1940, a single refill sherry cask—Cask No. 336—was carefully filled at Glenlivet. Purchased and selected by Gordon & MacPhail, a company that had been aging and bottling Scotch for more than 40 years, the cask quietly embarked on a journey few could have predicted.

While distilleries operated under wartime restrictions, producing whisky at a fraction of pre-war levels, Cask No. 336 quietly matured, dodging both bombs and the postwar pressure to sell whisky young and fast. By the time it arrived in Gordon & MacPhail’s Elgin warehouse in the late 1960s, it was already a rare relic. And then it waited—patiently, silently—for nearly six more decades.

Why 85 Years Was Meant to Be

What makes this Scotch tick—or sip, if you will—is a perfect storm of location, wood, and spirit. Stephen Rankin, director of prestige at Gordon & MacPhail and grandson of legendary whisky curator George Urquhart, explains:

Location, location, location: “Lower points in the warehouse near the middle of the building, which would be just a bit cooler, more stable. One location, absolutely key, and it remained there for a long time.”
Cask craftsmanship: The American oak refill sherry cask used was roughly 100 years old when harvested, with thicker staves than modern barrels, giving the whisky incredible longevity.
Whisky character: “We knew it had so much more depth than a modern style, because it had more robustness. It had a little bit more sootiness and sort of an industrial quality… a little bit heavier,” Rankin says.

The result? On the nose, it’s tropical and autumnal all at once: ripe pear, apple, and plums mingle with a lingering herbal finish that keeps you thinking about that next sip… for hours.

Bottled in Beauty

This isn’t just whisky; it’s a museum-worthy object. Each bottle comes in a hand-blown decanter designed by architect Jeanne Gang, encased in cast bronze branches—a nod to the “Artistry in Oak” theme. According to Rankin, “American oak informed the branch design, and there's such a nod to the wood that obviously is so important to Scotch whisky.”

Only 125 decanters exist worldwide, with the first, Decanter No. 1, going to auction at Christie’s, benefiting American Forests. The winning bidder will also receive a framed and signed sketch by Jeanne Gang that inspired the decanter, along with the framed head of Cask #336 itself—a tangible piece of whisky history.

A Whisky That Made History

Cask No. 336 wasn’t alone; it was one of five refill sherry casks filled at Glenlivet that day. One of its siblings emerged in 2021 as Generations 80 Year Old, and the remaining three? Well, that’s a secret Gordon & MacPhail isn’t spilling—yet. As Rankin puts it, “Timing is absolutely everything for us, and we’ll only release these sorts of whiskies when we know, ‘Right. This is it. It’s absolutely fantastic.”

So whether you’re a collector with deep pockets or a whisky enthusiast dreaming about the day you taste history, the 85-year-old Glenlivet isn’t just a drink—it’s a story, a slice of resilience, and a toast to patience, craft, and timeless flavor.

Fast Facts:

ABV: 43.7%
Maturation: 85 years in a single American oak refill sherry cask
Availability: 125 decanters worldwide
MSRP: £125,000 (about $168,000)

Source: Food & Wine