August 2006
The Second Edition of "A Whiff of Peat Smoke...." , Why ? because i can !
Daftmill Distillery Official Opening
It's not often you'll find a big article here about a non-islay event but this is special . Our friends in Fife , Francis and Hazel Cuthbert , had the official opening of their Farm Distillery on Saturday 5th August . Myself and Mel were asked along to the opening night .Francis gave us a guided tour around his pride and joy , I've been around most of the recently constructed distilleries (Arran and Kilchoman ) and i must say this one is the most perfectly formed and most pleasing to the eye of the three . The Cuthberts have certain put a great deal of thought into the look and layout , as francis says , him and Hazel live on site so they want something nice to look at ! I don't think we were the only one's impressed with Daftmill !!!! They have been distilling since the end of last year but this was a chance to thank all the people who'd been involved with the building of Daftmill and what a grand job they've done ! We had a great night , lots of great food (the hog spitroast was superb ) , good drink (they'd had there own Blend done specially ) and lots of dancing ! I'm sure it was a proud night for The Cuthbert Family , they've achieved what most of us only dream about , our own working distillery ! We wish them all the best for their little adventure and i can't wait to see the first bottling .....At least i know what it's like to bottle your own cask !!!!
Click on the photo's below to see a larger Version .....
Daftmill Casks
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The Court Yard
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Daftmill Pagoda
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.....and the Stills
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The Spirit Safe
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Outside the Stillhouse
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The Wash Still
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The Dancing !
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Everyone's Favourite Irish Distillery Owner !
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Time to record the Event...
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Smile Please !
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Laphroaig ain't what it used to be !
I now have conclusive proof that Laphroaig ain't what it used to be !
First off we need to go back into the mists of time .......When Mel and Myself used to go out drinking in our youth after a few pints i used to enjoy a malt ( like most reasonable people.... ) , and although the pickings were slim (and still are in England ) i usually got a Laphroaig 10yo which no matter where Mel was stood in the bar she could smell and would always say something along the line of "phew ! you've got a Laphroaig.... " "keep that away from me !" ....... Jump forward to Friday 4th August 2006 in The White Hart Hotel, Port Ellen . After having various Laddies , Lagavulins and Ardbegs i decide to try a Laphroaig 10yo Caskstrength , expecting the usual "Phew....." ......Nothing ! So seeing she usually tries all the malts i buy , i pass this one over not informing her of the name ..... She smells it ......." That smells nice ...." WHHHATTTT ! She tastes it ........ " hmmm nice " EEEK! But ...But...but it's a Laphroaig ! She was shocked !!!!! I was shocked !!!!! So what more proof do you need ?
Way Back When.....
While having a rummage through some of my old books , i came across a copy of "The Michell Beazley Pocket Whisky Book" by Charles Maclean , don't know which edition but i did have notes in it marked 1998 . The said notes told me that on our (last , as it absolutely p*$$ed down that summer)camping trip of 1998 i tried a wide variety of malts including Tobermory ( we camped at Craignure) , Ledaig , Inverleven , Strathisla , Dallas dhu , Macallan (25yo , that was in the Argyll hotel , Ullapool and i seem to remember it cost me a pricely �6 !) , Port Ellen , Scapa , Clynelish and Littlemill . Now more interestingly , there was some scribblings in the way of a pricelist from Oddbins which i presume is from about the same time . Most of the malts were under £20 , the bog standards....
Cardhu 12 £14.99
Glenlivet 12 £19.99
Singleton 10 £17.99
Glenmorangie 10 £18.99
Then it got better ......
Lagavulin 16 £21.99
Laphroaig 15 £29.99
Macallan 18 £32.49
Port Ellen 12 £17.99 ( which bloody bottling was this ?)
Springbank 21yo £29.99
Springbank 1977 £29.99
Springbank 1965 £59.99 (the first Local Barley ?)
Ardbeg 1975 £29.99 (Eek !)
Ardbeg 1978 £29.99 (double Eek !!)
I was just thinking ....if i'd had the disposable income then what i had now ....then i found an Oddbins Islay promotional booklet from 1997 (runs from 29th sept until 28th Oct 1997) with the Ralph Steadman distillery prints in it .
Ardbeg 17 £27.99
Ardbeg 1978 £35.00 (the above price must have been a special promotion !!!!)
Caol Ila 15 £26.99 (what price now ?)
Bruichladdich 10 £20.99 (the Cream label )
Bruichladdich 26 �62.49 (Stillmans Dram , i actually got offered that one for £50 in the shop , snapped their hand off!)
Lagavulin 16yo £25.99
Laphroaig 10 £21.99
Laphroaig 15 £26.99
Laphroaig 10CS £29.99
Port Ellen 14 £24.99 (Hart bros)
Port Ellen 19 £29.99 (Hart bros)
Bowmore 12 £21.69
Bowmore CS £29.99
Bowmore 21 £49.99
Bunnahabhain 17 £29.99
Bunnahabhain 1963 £79.99
Holy Crap ! as they say ..... It's funny how some prices haven't changed that much , some were at give away prices and some have went ...mad ! Oh for a time machine and a fist full of notes !