On 2 October 2025, Gordon & MacPhail will reveal Artistry in Oak – a visionary decanter design created by internationally acclaimed American architect Jeanne Gang. The bespoke vessel houses the oldest single malt Scotch whisky ever bottled: Gordon & MacPhail 85 Years Old from Glenlivet Distillery.
Only 125 decanters will be available worldwide, each priced at £125,000.
Jeanne Gang’s design was inspired by growth and form in nature. Four entwined bronze branches cradle the suspended glass decanter, symbolising the nurturing role oak has played in protecting the whisky for eight and a half decades.
“Made from handblown 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,”
— Jeanne Gang
As the bronze ages and develops a patina, it mirrors the whisky’s own deepening complexity over time. The result is a design that embodies patience, reciprocity, and endurance.
- Distilled: Glenlivet Distillery, 3 February 1940
- Cask: Refilled sherry cask #336
- ABV: 43.7%
- Tasting Notes:
- Aroma: Soft aged leather, apricot compote, cinnamon, citrus, beeswax, and subtle smoke.
- Palate: Cracked black pepper, sweet dried tobacco, Seville orange peel, Morello cherry, and plum balanced by oak.
- Finish: Full-bodied, with lingering herbal notes.
This release represents more than liquid history – it is the culmination of Gordon & MacPhail’s 130-year commitment to long-term maturation and cask management.
“One of the greatest challenges was that this has never been done before. Every year that goes by is a year into the unknown. The key traits of this process are patience and trust.”
— Stephen Rankin, Director of Prestige, Gordon & MacPhail
Christie’s Auction of Decanter #1
To mark this landmark release, Decanter #1 will be offered via an online auction with Christie’s from 7–21 November 2025. Proceeds (minus costs) will be donated to American Forests, the US’s oldest national nonprofit conservation organisation, dedicated to regenerating oak-dominated forests – a fitting tribute to the role of oak in whisky-making.
The lot includes:
- Decanter #1 of Gordon & MacPhail 85 Years Old
- A personalised tasting with Stephen Rankin or Richard Urquhart
- A signed sketch of an oak tree by Jeanne Gang
- The original cask end from Cask #336
A Collector’s Masterpiece
With its unprecedented age, extreme rarity, and breathtaking design, Gordon & MacPhail 85 Years Old is not only the oldest single malt Scotch ever bottled, but also an unparalleled collector’s piece – the intersection of whisky, art, and history.
Release Date: 2 October 2025
Availability: 125 decanters worldwide
Price: £125,000
👉 gordonandmacphail.com
👉 christies.com
