On 3 February 1940, in a quiet corner of north-east Scotland, George Urquhart and his father, John, had the extraordinary foresight to lay down spirit from Glenlivet Distillery in a Gordon & MacPhail American oak cask — intended to be enjoyed by future generations.

On 5 February 2025, harnessing knowledge passed down through four generations, the decision was taken to raise this exceptional single malt from its slumber.

In October, 125 decanters of this 85-year-old whisky will be released — the oldest single malt Scotch the world has ever seen.

To encapsulate and honour John and George Urquhart’s vision under the theme of ‘Artistry in Oak’, Gordon & MacPhail has collaborated with internationally acclaimed American architect Jeanne Gang to create a unique decanter. Known for a distinctive approach that strengthens connections between people and nature, and sharing a desire to create future legacies, Gang was a natural choice.

In November 2025, Christie’s New York will auction Decanter #1 of this landmark release.To continue the legacy theme, auction proceeds (minus costs) will be donated to the oldest national non-profit conservation organisation in the United States — American Forests — a leader in forest restoration.

Kindly note, Christie’s may only ship spirits to states where we have appropriate licenses and/or permits. We currently ship to New York. For shipments to other states and outside the United States, property will be released to a third-party shipper and New York City sales tax will be owed, unless Christie’s has a tax exemption on file for you as the buyer. Further information is available in Christie’s Conditions of Sale (Wine & Spirits Condition of Sale).