Posted on 10/26/2009 6:07:49 PM PDT by xzins
CAPE ROYDS, Antarctica — This spit of black volcanic rock that juts out along the coast of Antarctica is an inhospitable place. Temperatures drop below –50 Fahrenheit and high winds cause blinding snowstorms...
But if you happen upon the small wooden hut that sits at Cape Royds and wriggled yourself underneath, you'd find a surprise stashed in the foot and a half of space beneath the floorboards. Tucked in the shadows and frozen to the ground are two cases of Scotch whisky left behind 100 years ago by Sir Ernest Shackleton after a failed attempt at the South Pole.
Conservators discovered the wooden cases in January 2006. They were unable to dislodge the crates, but are going in with special tools in January during the Antarctic summer to try to retrieve them. An international treaty dictates that the crates, and any intact bottles that are inside, remain in Antarctica unless they need to be taken off the continent for conservation reasons. The whisky's condition after a century of freezing and thawing is unknown...
Shackleton turned around 97 miles short of his destination, telling his wife, "I thought you’d rather have a live donkey than a dead lion." When the ship arrived in 1909 to pick the men up, they left their supplies behind in their hut, including reindeer sleeping bags, tins of boiled mutton and bottled gooseberries. And, as we now know, they also abandoned two cases of Charles Mackinlay & Co. whisky.
(Excerpt) Read more at globalpost.com ...
Very cool. Especially since I like scotch whisky...
Shack was one tough dude.
Anyone know at what temperature whisky freezes?
I'm thinking it's in good shape.
I could forgive him everything except leaving behind the Scotch, unforgivable! ;-)
They are in luck. I just happen to be a researcher that studies the condition of 100 year old frozen whiskey. Just send me a case, with a hefty government grant, and I should be able to give a full report in no time.
Whiskey in Shack’s days was 160 to 180 proof by today’s standards.
You bet it will be good.
Apparently he liked his whiskey on ice.
Scotch is a great whiskey. I think it’s the best.
Although bourbon does have it’s place in the world, too.
>> An international treaty dictates that the crates, and any intact bottles that are inside, remain in Antarctica ...
OK! Yes; just what we need - a One World Government to tell us riff raff what to do - or not do. Hell, maybe we shoulda followed Chamberlain’s lead and gone with Mr. Hitler... /s
E.S. was one of the great leaders of men
That will be some smoooooooooooth hooch...
But why all the surprise (by some) that they stocked the stuff on this expedition???
There was certainly not going to be all that much to do but, mush the poor dogs, eat salt pork, and probably the dogs eventually...
And freeze yer arse off...
Take a few slugs of that stuff makes the unbearable, somewhat tolerable...
I kinda laugh at the so-called “modern” adventurers who make these treks with low-residue powerbars and Evian water...Woo Hoo...You go you Greenpeace Eco-freaks...hehehe
Don’t forget to pack yer Ozone probes...hahaha
You’ll need a second opinion...So I’ll be over soon...
And not that I’ll care much if anyone agrees with my opinion either...hehehe
Indeed; I read a biography of Shack; he was a MAN, and there are far too few of him around today.
While he was taking risks as a an explorer, he NEVER lost a man on one of his expeditions. Read about the voyage of the Endurance, the open boat journey, and the trek across South Georgia. Simply amazing.
Did he leave a note with the supplies?
I’ve been on a FReeper cruise and to a FReeper rally. There has been a FReeper convention (still bummed I missed it).
Has there ever been a FReeper expedition?
I believe I saw the Shackelton adventure in Antarctica at an Imax about 6 or 7 years ago. Such a great story and the 3d round made it come alive.
But...they didn’t mention the whiskey.
I, too, am willing to sacrifice myself in the name of science and be one of the taste testers of the current condition of this old, old whiskey.
Not only was he a man, he was a leader - a quality sorely lacking in the US today.
His men would follow him into hell - their faith in God, Shack, and each other kept them alive.
Shackleton is the reason why I call my wife “The Boss”. I read about him also. Because of the way he was, they call called him “The Boss”. She is strong and reliable just like him, so, it fits!
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