March 2007
The Eighth Edition of "A Whiff of Peat Smoke...." , Why ? because i can !
Where is this year going to ? March already ! Not long till the Easter Break and then the Feis Ile ......
Ardbeg Almost There......
With Just a month till the launch of the Next step in the Glenmo Distilled Releases , I've Kindly being allowed to sample it prior to release . My first tasting Thoughts.....
Coming in at 54.1% , it is pale straw in colour , it is very peaty on the nose with a touch of sweetness . It is also very medicinal and nose hair tingling . At fullstrength on the palate it is again peaty but peppery and spicy . It , on first trying , doesn't seem to have the fudginess of the Still Young , the finish is long and very peaty but peppery again .
With a wee drop of water (just to see the difference ) it's characters change slightly , it becomes a bit floral ( the purifier playing it's part ?) on the nose but nothing like the Bowmore floweriness ! There is also a slight green fruit smell . The Taste goes closer to that of the ASY , almost a sweet creaminess .
My initial thoughts are that this has gone the opposite way i was expecting it to ! The Very Young was peaty , then the Still Young was creamy , i was expecting this one to be softer and creamier but it isn't , it seems to have gone back to peatiness , so a H-T-H of the 3 seems in order , More later ...... have a look here.....
Still a cracking Ardbeg , a nice peaty youngster which seems actually to be more akin with a Talisker , worth a few bottles i dare say !!!
Another SMWS Tasting.....
Another SMWS tasting , another 5 drams ! Once again we returned to the Vermont Hotel (i say we , i just went along on my own to this one ) . First up was a Speysider , 44.30 , (Craigellachie , 11yo , 58.7% , 220 bottles , £36 ) bright gold in colour this was a very strange one , Grassy , Vanilla , very Lowlanderish . Sugar coated sweets when water was added , my final notes said “A Cross between a Bladnoch and a Bunnahabhain” . A Delightful dram .
Second up was a Islander but before i start i’ll point out that when i first tried a 4yo from this distillery it had promise but since then i’ve never had one that’s lived up to that promise and this was one of the worst examples ! 121.17 (Arran , 8yo , 57.8% , 253 bottles , £33 ) from a sherry cask and what seems to have been not a very good one at that ! Burnt Sugar , Burnt Nuts , Sulphur , Burnt matches , i tried drowning it but still it was awful . Another one that was added to the list of not finished drams !!8"
Third up was a Highlander , a one from the owners of the SMWS . 125.9 ( Glenmorangie , 11yo , 56% , 314 Bottles , £43 ) the first Society Glenmo i’ve tried and for anyone who associates Glenmo with Bland/Boring / etc / etc thay aint had one of these ! In big letters i wrote “Supercharged Glenmorangie” , Digestive Biscuits , toffee , very buttery on the palate , a stunning example of Glenmo ! certainly a lot better than the Arran....... I tied to buy one of these but they’d sold out , hopefully Nick can get one for me to pick up at the Vaults.......
For the next one it was back to Speyside , 7.34 (Longmorn , 37yo , 56.9% , 347 bottles , £103 ) , A huge sherry monster ! The old Christmas Cake Dried fruits , spices , oloroso dryness , very dry on the palate . A huge long dry finish . I’m not a huge sherry casked whisky fan but this one is excellent but not as good as it’s sister cask the 7.36 .
As usual for the last one it’s off to Islay , a wonderful Caol Ila (53.103 , 13yo , 60.7% , 492 bottles , £43 ) . What can you say , the society hasn’t let me down with a Caol Ila .....yet . Carbolic soap , loads of smoke , bags of peat , medicinal . Long lovely finish , perfect end to the evening . So in the end it was 4-1 to the society , shame Arran let the team down.....
R23 Mentioned on Bruichladdich site.....Kind of !
Just noticed on The Bruichladdich site that they've put on Jim Murrays tasting notes of the R23 Bloodtub .....only minus the fact that it is the R23 Bloodtub , in the Latest News and Blog page , a mention by name of the bloodtub would've been nice !
1 + 1 = 1 Green Distillery (Bruichladdich Press Release)
The Distillery Phoenix
In a move straight out of Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein two defunct distilleries are coming back from the dead to become a new living distillery on the whisky Isle of Islay.
Maverick private distiller Bruichladdich, has announced plans to build on the site of a long departed distillery in the seaside village of Port Charlotte.
The original distillery was built in 1829. Shortly after, it’s name changed to Lochindaal and in 1929 due to Prohibition it closed for ever.
Mark Reynier, CEO of Bruichladdich Distillery – itself a reborn distillery as recent as 2001 – explains the project:
“As progressive Hebridean distillers, we believe strongly in the Islay Appellation, and artisanal distilling. One set of stills was never going to be enough for us.”
“This new distillery will allow us to diversify our skills, provide new options and allow further scope for our new ideas. We rather enjoy distilling.”
The distilling equipment for the Port Charlotte project, already acquired, comes from another closed distillery.
“It was Jim’s idea. In 2003 Inverleven Distillery was to be demolished, so why not bring it to Islay? Obvious really…”
The entire single malt plant was dismantled, bolt by bolt, by a team of ten of Bruichladdich’s finest “engineers” (crofters) under Duncan McGillivray.
The machinery was shipped to the island on barges where it has been in storage ever since - with some parts used for spares.
The new full-sized Port Charlotte distillery, once re-erected within existing distillery buildings, will have a maximum capacity of 1.2m litres. This is no micro-distillery.
“We have the chance to create an entirely ‘green’ distillery, with a genuinely zero carbon footprint by using all the latest environmentally sustainable concepts.”
“The environmental movement is strong on the theory, but weak in the practice. It will be quite an engineering challenge to see what really is possible.”
In a further twist, when a distillery is built usually a decade passes before there is anything to sell. In this case when the stills run there will already be eight years’ stock in the warehouses.
The far-sighted folk at Bruichladdich have been distilling Port Charlotte whisky, a heavily peated single malt, since 2001 down the road at their own distillery.
With Diageo, the industry’s biggest player, announcing a whopping £40m plan for a new mega distillery in Speyside, some fear the dawn of an era of distilling centralisation.
Bruichladdich, with their Port Charlotte project, appear to be going in the opposite direction. Entirely true to form.
“We like to be original. Our distillery, of course, will be an altogether more modest affair.”
The First Turf will be cut on Bruichladdich open day Sunday 27th May during the Islay Whisky Festival.
Get Rid of UK Duty Petition
One of the major gripes about being a Whisky Drinker in the UK is the amount of duty we have to cough up . There has been an online petition started up to Abolish the duty , it may not happen but at least it will let the Government know we're not happy about it ! So if you reside in the UK click the link below and sign it ! (closing date 9th August 2007)
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Whisky/
The 2007 Festival of Malt and Music
Details so far.....
Sat 26th May - Lagavulin Open Day
Sun 27th May - Bruichladdich Open Day Incl Jim McEwan Masterclass
Mon 28th May - Caol ila Opening Morning , Port Ellen Maltings Open Afternoon and The Whisky Tasting Ceilidh .
Tues 29th May - Laphroaig Open Day
Bunnahabhain Maturation Talk and Warehouse Tour
14:30 - 16:00
An informal tour of duty-free warehouse with the Distillery Manager. This will include a discussion of maturation and the effects that cask types have on new make spirit. Illustrated by tasting of three different expressions of Bunnahabhain at the conclusion of the event.
Limited to 20 people - £ 10 per head - Booking Required
A FEW SPACES STILL LEFT
Wed 30th May - Bowmore Open Day
Bunnahabhain Maturation Talk and Warehouse Tour
10:30 - 12:00 and 14:30 - 16:00
An informal tour of duty-free warehouse with the Distillery Manager. This will include a discussion of maturation and the effects that cask types have on new make spirit. Illustrated by tasting of three different expressions of Bunnahabhain at the conclusion of the event.
Limited to 20 people - £ 10 per head - Booking Required
A FEW SPACES STILL LEFT
Thur 31st May - Jura Open Day (Tours £15 per person: Register at Distillery Shop and receive ticket. Introduction in the Cooperage by the Jura Master Distiller, Master Blender and Distillery Manager(the Brewer). Guests will split into 2 groups (maximun 20 each) to take part in a three-way rotation. (1) 20 minutes attending a blending master class with Richard Paterson, Master Blender. (2) 20 minute visit to the Lodge with Willie Tait, Master Distiller. (3) A talk on the Jura Fellowship course and tasting of a special limited edition Jura (1999 Heavily Peated) (4) 20 minutes in the Distillery with the manager/Brewer learning about production with a tasting of the Jura range. All Guests then enjoy lunch and music in the Cooperage, as well as the opportunity to taste the new limited edition, which at present is a closely guarded secret! There will be two Tours 10.30a.m. and 3p.m. Snacks will be served after this Tour. There will also be a Tour with the same Itinerary on the Wednesday morning at 10.30.)
Thur 31st May - Kilchoman Open Day (
Tours every half hour from 11 - 5. Music by "The Maverick Angels" from Noon to 2p.m.
Tutored Tastings of various expressions of "New Spirit" with Jim Swan 2p.m.
Barrel Stacking from 3.30p.m.
BBQ & Bar from 12Noon.)
Walk to Margadale Spring
11:00 - 15:00 ( approx.)
Escorted walk to Margadale Spring ( Bunnahabhain water source ) with Donald Colville, Brands Ambassador for Burn Stewart Distillers and Lindy Mac Lellan ( Community Access Officer ).
Learn all about the brands from Donald and the surrounding area from Lindy, enjoy the views of Jura, Mull and beyond.
Participants must be equipped with walking boots and waterproofs and be reasonably fit.
Refreshments- spring water and a wee dram (proportions to be decided) will be provided at the spring.
( LIMITED TO 20 PEOPLE - £ 7.50 PER HEAD – BOOKING REQUIRED )
Fri 1st June - Bunnahabhain Open Day and Managers Ball
FRIDAY 1st JUNE 2007
10:00 - 17:00
Local Arts and Craft Stalls.
Barbecue with the famous Bunnahabhain Burgers expertly cooked by Islay Masters Swimming Club.
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DISTILLERY TOURS:
10:00; 11:15; 13:30 and 15:00
Tours carried out by:
John Mac Lellan ( Distillery Manager ) and distillery staff.
ALL TOURS - ADMISSION £ 2.00 PER HEAD
NO BOOKING REQUIRED FOR TOURS
FRIDAY EVENING 20:00 - ???
MANAGERS EVENING WITH –
Local distillery managers and staff members in attendance
Band – to be arranged
Local Artistes, Islay Pipe Band,
Annies famous Bunnahabhain Clootie Dumpling
Charity auction and raffle.
Stories, Jokes and Lies.
ADMISSION £ 7.50 PER HEAD – NO BOOKING REQUIRED FOR EVENING EVENT
PROCEEDS TO LOCAL CHARITIES
Sat 2nd June - Ardbeg Open Day
