This Scotch has been on the rocks for a century.Five crates of Scotch whiskey and two of brandy have been recovered by a team restoring an Antarctic hut used more than 100 years ago by famed polar explorer Ernest Shackleton.

Five crates of Scotch whiskey and two of brandy have been recovered by a team restoring an Antarctic hut used more than 100 years ago by famed polar explorer Ernest Shackleton.Ice cracked some of the bottles that had been left there in 1909, but the restorers say they are confident the five crates contain intact bottles "given liquid can be heard when the crates are moved."

Ice cracked some of the bottles that had been left there in 1909, but the restorers say they are confident the five crates contain intact bottles "given liquid can be heard when the crates are moved."New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust team leader Al Fastier said the team thought there were two crates and were amazed to find five.

New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust team leader Al Fastier said the team thought there were two crates and were amazed to find five.Distillery owner Whyte & Mackay launched the bid to recover the Scotch to test and decide whether to relaunch the defunct spirit made by McKinlay and Co.

Distillery owner Whyte & Mackay launched the bid to recover the Scotch to test and decide whether to relaunch the defunct spirit made by McKinlay and Co.Fastier said restoration workers found the crates under the hut's floorboards in 2006, but they were too deeply embedded in ice to be dislodged.

Fastier said restoration workers found the crates 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 some bottles, although the rest must stay under conservation guidelines agreed to by 12 Antarctic Treaty nations.

The New Zealanders agreed to drill the ice to try to retrieve some bottles, although the rest must stay under conservation guidelines agreed to by 12 Antarctic Treaty nations."The unexpected find of the brandy crates ... are a real bonus," said Fastier.

"The unexpected find of the brandy crates ... are a real bonus," said Fastier.- AP

- AP