Gordon & MacPhail releases world’s ‘oldest’ single malt

Gordon & MacPhail has unveiled the world’s “oldest” single malt Scotch whisky, the Gordon & MacPhail 85 Years Old from Glenlivet Distillery, housed in a striking decanter designed by internationally acclaimed American architect Jeanne Gang.

The collaboration, titled ‘Artistry in Oak’, reflects a shared vision of legacy and craftsmanship. Inspired by nature’s forms, Jeanne’s design features four entwining bronze branches that suspend the glass decanter, symbolising the way an oak cask nurtures spirit over decades. Only 125 decanters are being released worldwide, each priced at £125,000.

For more than 130 years, Gordon & MacPhail has specialised in pairing carefully chosen casks with spirit from over 100 Scottish distilleries, often bottling the oldest expressions ever released. The 85-year-old Glenlivet, drawn from cask 336 laid down in 1940, epitomises this legacy. Matured in a cask that once held sherry, the whisky survived wartime scarcity to emerge as a rare, living piece of history, bottled at 43.7 percent ABV. The whisky offers aromas of aged leather, apricot compote, citrus and beeswax polish, with flavours of black pepper, dried tobacco, orange peel, plum and oak, finishing with lingering herbal notes.

The decanter is crafted from hand blown glass cradled in cast bronze, a material chosen for its enduring nature. "It was of utmost importance that the quality of the whisky itself be manifest in the design of the decanter. Made from hand blown glass and cast bronze, I thought about how each material would exhibit its own inherent qualities while fulfilling its purpose to hold and protect the liquid," explains Jeanne.

Reflecting on the process, she adds, "Standing tall and strong, the patinated bronze entwines the vessel, suspending it while revealing the amber colour of the whisky within. Together, the elements depend on and complement each other, in a reciprocal dance whose form, like the whisky it holds, is a product of both natural growth and the nature of its materiality." 

Stephen Rankin, Director of Prestige at Gordon & MacPhail and a fourth-generation family member, comments, “One of the greatest challenges was that this has never been done before. We're the first to mature a whisky for 85 years. Every year that goes by is a year into the unknown. We have to appreciate we're always dealing with mother nature so the key traits of this process are patience and trust.”

To mark the launch, Decanter No. 1 will be auctioned online by Christie’s from November 7–21, 2025, with proceeds supporting American forests, the oldest US conservation organisation dedicated to restoring oak-dominated landscapes.

Christie’s Global Head of Wine and Spirits, Adam Bilbey, said, “Partnering with Gordon & MacPhail for Artistry in Oak is a moment of pride for Christie’s. The unveiling of Decanter No. 1 from Gordon & MacPhail 85 Years Old is not just a highlight of our season; it’s a celebration of time, tradition and craftsmanship.”

This extraordinary release represents the pinnacle of patience, artistry and heritage, an unmatched collector’s piece that stands as the world’s oldest single malt ever bottled.