The legendary Scotch house has unveiled Artistry in Oak, a limited edition 85year-old Single Malt Whisky housed in an exquisite decanter designed by world-renowned architect Jeanne Gang..
On 3rd February 1940 in a quiet corner of the north-east of Scotland, George Urquhart and his father, John, had the extraordinary foresight and vision to lay down spirit from Glenlivet Distillery in a Gordon & MacPhail American oak cask to be enjoyed after their lifetime by future generations.
On 5th February 2025, harnessing knowledge passed down through four generations, the decision was taken to raise this exceptional single malt from its slumber.
Gordon & MacPhail sought to commission a creative partner to design a unique decanter to house their most precious whisky to date. Artistry in Oak’ decanter design by internationally acclaimed American architect Jeanne Gang is shaped through her close observation of growth and form in nature. The four branches which suspend the glass decanter are made from solid bronze, providing an armature that cradles the precious liquid in the same way the oak cask has nurtured the whisky for eight and a half decades.
The decanter design is also a celebration of the profound artistry, craft, care and time alongside nature that went into the liquid it encases. The maturation of whisky over very long periods of time is a very challenging proposition often quoted as more art than science. As the oldest single malt Scotch ever bottled, this release is the ultimate expression of this art and testament to the foresight of George Urquhart and his father, John, who selected cask 336 in 1940 to cradle this liquid.
This exceptional release represents the pinnacle of whisky craftsmanship – an 85-year-old single malt matured over four generations. Not only is it the oldest whisky ever bottled, but its extreme rarity, scarcity and provenance, coupled with the artistry of Jeanne Gang’s design, make it an unparalleled collector’s piece.
Only 125 decanters are available worldwide, each with an RSP of £125,000.
