La Marambio Whisky Aged in a Unique Spot

Monday, 13 October 2025 at 07:00

La Alanaza Distillery Cask World Isla Marambio whisky (2)

Whisky can vary greatly in terms of maturation or barrel selection. In Argentina, Cask World and the La Alanaza Distillery are pushing boundaries. They've just announced the first whisky ever to mature in Antarctica: Isla Marambio whisky.

FAQ

How old is the Isla Marambio whisky?
8 years.

Where is the La Alanaza Distillery located?
In Argentina.

When will the Isla Marambio whisky be released?
Expected in 2026.

In the Argentine part of Patagonia lies the La Alanaza distillery. Here, Daniel Monk, founder of Cask World, and Lila and Néstor Serenelli, owners of the Argentine distillery, have joined forces for a special project.

Together they have selected a single malt whisky that has already matured for five years. This whiskey was then transferred to ex-bourbon barrels and shipped to Base Marambio on Seymour Island.

A frosty barrel full of single malt

This Argentine Antarctica station is located in the polar region where temperatures range between -35 and 10 degrees Celsius. The whisky has been placed in an unheated hut to mature there for another three years under these icy conditions.

The barrel has consequently frozen, causing accelerated oxidation and extraction on the inside. This has also clearly impacted the maturation of the whisky in the barrel, which returned to Argentina after three years to be bottled.

Daniel Monk explains that the collaboration leads to the logical first bottling of the 8 Continents whisky line.

'They’re pioneers who, like me, believe in doing something that’s never been done before. I was in their garden in Argentina when I shared the idea of maturing whisky in Antarctica - they didn’t hesitate. They are the heroes who made it possible, overcoming every challenge to make the Antarctic maturation a reality.'

- Daniel Monk

La Alanaza Distillery, Cask World, Isla Marambio whisky (1)

What does the Isla Marambio whisky taste like?

Although the whisky doesn't have official tasting notes yet, there is some information about the taste and scent of the single malt. Lila Serenelli says the whisky is quite different from the other Argentine single malts from the distillery.

'We already know it's different. When I was decanting it there was a very special floral note that is not so strong in our whisky usually. There’s something that I think has happened. I can’t assure it, but it’s a thought… although there are temperature variations, the mid temperatures tend to be under zero. This movement allows extraction and oxidation, but holds the ethanol in, and reduces evaporation. We’ll have better insight when we measure the ABV of the vatted whisky.'

- Lila Serenelli

When will the La Marambio whisky be released?

The Argentine whisky is expected to be bottled at the beginning of 2026. At that time, it will also be released in a very limited edition. The price per bottle is yet to be determined.

It will be part of the Cask World 8 Continent Series, the first whisky collection with whisky from different continents. In addition to Antarctica, the series includes countries like India, South Africa, Brazil, Canada, and Wales.