Company: Whyte and Mackay
Distillery: Invergordon Distillery
Region: Glasgow, Scotland
Aging: Minimum of 3 Years
ABV: 40% ABV
Proof: 80 Proof
Mash Bill: Undisclosed Blend
Non-Chill Filtered: No
MSRP Price: $28
Appearance: Hay
The History of Shackleton Scotch Whisky
When Sir Ernest Shackleton went on a British expedition to explore Antarctica, he ordered 25 cases of a whiskey named Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt Whiskey to be taken with him.
In 1907, he set off on his trip with his ship named the Nimrod and led his first expedition.
With the goal of being the first man to reach the South Po9le, Sir Ernest made it close but had to turn back on January 9th 1909.
He tried again in 1914 with his ship called The Endurance.
This ship was frozen and crushed in the ice so Sir Ernest had to travel 720 nautical miles to charter a rescue ship to save all of his remaining crew.
In 2007, a century after the expedition, three cases were discovered and were perfectly preserved and then brought back to New Zealand where they were carefully thawed, studied, and recreated as closely as possible.
You can read all about the story from the Shackleton Whisky website itself.
I discovered this bottle of whisky from a friend of my mother’s who has Scottish heritage and shared this story with my mom and told her that it was one of her go-to whiskies when she can find it.
Shortly after hearing about it, I managed to find myself a bottle in my neighboring state of Ohio since it is not sold in Pennsylvania.
A very cool story and I’m excited to give it a shot and share my opinions with you.
So let’s get into it.
Shackleton Blended Malt Scotch Whisky Tasting Notes
Nose: Briny, peaty, light fruits, raisin, apple, apricot, citrus zest, honey, anise seed
Palate: Light honey sweetness, briny saltiness, mellow levels of peat, candied dried fruits, raisin, apricot, cinnamon, ginger
Finish: Medium finish that leaves you with a light level of peat and smoke balanced well with candied fruits, brine, and finishes with a nice bit of ginger and cinnamon spice
Is Shackleton an Approachable Whisky?
Shackleton Scotch Whisky is a very easy whisky to drink.
It has a nice level of peat that would be a great introduction to beginner whiskey drinkers who are looking to try a peaty whiskey that isn’t going to blow out their taste buds with popular peaty whiskies like Laphroaig or Ardbeg.
Is Shackleton Complex?
Shackleton is surprisingly complex for its price tag.
Not only does it offer a nice balance of peat, smokiness, brine, and sweet honey, but it also brings a lot of fruit flavors paired with spices that really round the whisky out into a very smooth pour.
What are Shackleton’s strongest attributes/flavors?
Shackleton’s strongest attribute is that it brings you a well-balanced Scotch Whisky for the low price of just $28.
Is Shackleton a go-to whisky?
Shackleton Scotch Whisky could easily be a go-to whisky.
It packs lots of flavor into each sip and offers a very balanced flavor profile that drinks very smoothly.
Is Shackleton priced accurately to its quality?
Shackleton definitely delivers on its price tag.
To be honest, it over-delivers on its price tag.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bottle of quality Scotch whisky at a price of only $28 other than the popular Dewar’s 12-Year Double-Aged Whisky.
Conclusion for Shackleton
Shackleton Scotch Whisky is an excellent purchase.
Whether you’re an experienced Scotch drinker looking for a budget Scotch whiskey as your daily sipper or you’re a beginner looking to experiment with peat, this bottle is an excellent choice.
If you see it on the shelf, do yourself a favor and buy yourself a bottle.
Let Us Know What You Think
I hope you enjoyed this tasting experience with me.
If you decide to give this bottle a shot, please let me know on social media via Reddit, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
Thanks for reading and cheers!
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