May 2007
The Tenth Edition of "A Whiff of Peat Smoke...." , Why ? because i can !
It's Feis Ile Month ! Never mind "Other" Festivals this is the one , good Scottish Music and Great Scottish Malt Whisky .
Auvoir The Spiritofislay Yahoo Group .....And the Malts -L list ?
So that's it the Yahoo Group is no more ! But it looks like the Malts-L list might be heading the same way , from whats been posted they have to leave the server they are on , they're looking for a new home and one suggestion has been a move to the Malt manics site. I know a few of the people who post on Malts-L fairly well but Will the list be missed ? i don't know , they have had some fairly outspoken views but the posting that said "All I am asking is whether our move to the MM site, or elsewhere could lead to "the great unwashed" becoming involved. I like it as it is." won't have made them many new friends !!!! I know for sure that won't have been the view of the members i know......
Bruichladdich Growth Continues
Progressive Hebridean distiller Bruichladdich has announced an increase in profits of 29% for the year to 31st December 2006 on a turnover of £5.3m Sir John Mactaggart, Chairman, commented: “This performance continues the improvement in both profitability and turnover achieved over the last 3 years.” “Earnings before interest, depreciation, tax and goodwill provisions rose to £1,123,000 from £932,000, with overheads remaining static.” The maverick distiller fights well above its weight as Industry analysis by Plimsoll of 86 whisky companies puts the company at number 15 in pre-tax profit ranking. And 4th in Gross Profit as a percentage of sales. The company is in 3rd place within the industry for companies returning the best added value as a percentage of sales. Along with the mighty Diageo, the minnow Hebridean distiller is alone amongst its competitors in the industry in averaging 15% sales growth over the last three years. Unusually, the company is run entirely from the Atlantic island since 2000 when it was purchased from Jim Beam Brands prior to the management buyout of what is currently Whyte & Mackay. “This year has seen some major investments in the infrastructure of the distillery with the installation of a new boiler and bottling line, increasing the capacity to handle larger volumes as we grow.” Energy saving concepts produced a 33% reduction in electricity since 2004 while production doubled to 650,000 litres of alcohol in the same period and a 21% reduction in oil per litre of alcohol produced. “From barley to bottle we distil, mature and bottle our whisky on Islay – a sort of Gaelic “mis en bouteilles au chateau” says Mark Reynier, managing director. “Like wine, we believe in provenance so are increasingly distilling organically grown barley from individual ‘terroirs’ around Islay and Scotland; even our bank manager could tell the difference.” In March 2007 the company announced plans for the construction of a new uber-green single malt distillery in neighbouring village of Port Charlotte on the Island of Islay. The Scottish Executive have awarded the company a £400,000 grant towards a boiler that is non-reliant on oil. “With the current hysteria on global warming we want to see if it is realistically practical to build and run an entirely carbon neutral, sustainable and self-contained distillery. “We like challenges. Using organic barley, water turbines, windmills, ram pumps and bottling our whisky naturally. There’s Nothing new about it. We are only reinventing the Victorian wheel”
Whisky Fringe 2007
This years Whisky Fringe will take place over the week-end of the 18th/19th August , so i'll be there !
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.....Most of which are sold out !
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
Wed 30th May - Bowmore Open Day
Thur 31st May - Jura Open Day
Thur 31st May - Kilchoman Open Day (
Walk to Margadale Spring Fri 1st June - Bunnahabhain Open Day and Managers Ball FRIDAY 1st JUNE 2007 FRIDAY EVENING 20:00 - ??? Sat 2nd June - Ardbeg Open Day
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 )
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
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
