Visitors from near and far

One of the most amazing things about this whisky crate is of course the story behind it. The Nimrod expedition, Shackleton and all the tales of bravery, adventure and discovery associated with them. The connections that so many people have with this story are amazing and today we have had two visitors with their own links to the Mackinlay brand.

Charles Mackinlay Usher is a great-great-grandson of Charles Mackinlay, who set up the firm Charles Mackinlay and Co, and is the grandson of the Charles Mackinlay who would have been involved with Shackleton’s order in 1907. The whisky connection continues on his father’s side of the family too. Charles’ great-great-grandfather was Andrew Usher whose son, also Andrew, is credited with producing the first blend of malt whiskies, Usher’s Old Vatted Glenlivet in 1853.

The Mackinlay family sent us scans of some fascinating documents – the order forms for the British Antarctic Expedition, 1907 – signed by Ernest Shackleton himself. In the image below you can see that Shackleton requests that each of the cases is marked “British Antarctic Expedition 1907″ and numbered 1733-1775.  The case we have here at the Museum is number 1745.

The order form signed by Ernest Shackleton. Courtesy Mackinlay family.

Charles Mackinlay Usher being interviewed today for TV3 news

Robert and Lorna Milne also came in today to see the whisky crate and hear about the project. They are on holiday from Scotland where Robert is a process operator at the Whyte & Mackay Tamnavulin Distillery in the town of Tomnavoulin.  Whyte & Mackay now own the Mackinlay’s brand.

Robert Milne from Whyte and Mackay

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