The Scotch is Safe!

Unfortunately I couldn't get away for the search, but thankfully a team was able to successfully locate five cases of Scotch belonging to Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition.

Ice has cracked some of the bottles that had been left there in 1909, but the conservation team said yesterday they are confident the five crates contain intact bottles 'given liquid can be heard when the crates are moved'.

The crates were found under the hut's floorboards in 2006, but they were too deeply embedded in ice to be dislodged.

The New Zealanders agreed to drill the ice to try to retrieve the crates although any remaining bottles must stay under conservation guidelines agreed to by 12 Antarctic Treaty nations.

The pine cases of Mackinlay's Rare Old Whisky and brandy were abandoned on the famous explorer's failed expedition to the South Pole.

Wait, wait, wait. They can take the case, but have to leave the bottles? That's just wrong. I have to leave for a month or so. How much is a ticket to the South Pole?

(HT: Daily Mail by way of the Flea)