DHL ships 120-year-old whisky

   In 1909, explorer Ernest Shackleton left behind bottles of 1896 Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt Whisky during an expedition in Antarctica.
   After being found in 2010, the whisky was flown to New Zealand for thawing and then three bottles were shipped to Scotland, where distillery Whyte & Mackay analyzed the liquor for mass production. Recently, DHL Global Forwarding undertook a complex logistics operation, involving both air and road transportation, to bring the bottles from Scotland back to New Zealand.
   The trip took weeks of planning and required a sophisticated level of temperature-sensitive, high-value handling, said DHL’s Alan Davis.
   “Having been buried in the Antarctic ice for more than 100 years, the whisky is extremely precious and delicate, which gave us the opportunity to show our expertise in shipping valuable and delicate cargo,” he said in a statement.
   Once the bottles were specially packed, the bottles were shipped through Dubai to Christchurch, New Zealand. After landing, DHL loaded the bottles onto a truck, transporting them to a secure facility.   
   “We chose DHL for this shipment because we’ve had excellent service from them to date, and we trust them with our high-value shipments,” Hazel Clark of Whyte & Mackay said in a statement. “This is a unique project, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so it’s important we got it right.”
Upcoming FreightWaves Events
Compliance

Brokerage Compliance Symposium

The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.

October 26, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
Awards

F3 Awards Dinner

The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.

October 26, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
FreightTech

F3: Future of Freight Festival

Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.

October 27, 2026 – October 28, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
Compliance Brokerage Compliance Symposium Oct 26 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now
Awards F3 Awards Dinner Oct 26 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now
FreightTech F3: Future of Freight Festival Oct 27 – Oct 28 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now