A quick question I asked myself, it’s been buggin' me. Is there such a thing as a bad barley deposit at a distillery, if so how does this affect the whisky? I asked a renowned expert – “the barley could be poorer, or even just different quality malt. If the mill is not checked, the [...]
Singleton; three Diageo distilleries produce a variant of Singleton; Dufftown, Glen Ord and Glendullan. The latest Glendullan bottles include 12, 15 and 18 year old models. There are also the Reserve Collection at duty free. Dufftown also offer the 12, 15 and 18 Year olds, how different they are from the Glendullan, you will need [...]
I was introduced to Bladnoch, whilst on a tour/tasting in Dornoch, the very fine whisky shop there; Carnegie Whisky Cellars. Now a friend, Michael has worked in the industry for many years and his knowledge was gained by working in whisky shops and distilleries across the Scottish Lowlands, he pushed me into a bottle some [...]
It has been a good while (16 months or more) since I accompanied myself driving fae Perth to Speyside. Did I say I was looking forward to it? Maybe aye, well, aye, x it by a thousand. It has been too long a time, missing the craic, the visits, friends and places. Even without a [...]
The Epidii were a people of ancient Britain, known from a mention of them by the geographer Ptolemy c. 150. Epidion has been identified as the island of Islay in what is now Argyll. Ptolemy does not list a township for the Epidii but the Ravenna Cosmography (RC 108.4) mentions Rauatonium, which is thought [...]
This is a book by Charles MacLean and Daniel MacCannell, compiled and edited by Marc Ellington, published by Birlinn. Daniel explores the history of the illicit distilling and smuggling of whisky in Scotland from the 18th century onwards, with tales of whisky gangs, the involvement of women and girls in the trade, and the [...]
The story of Teacher’s whisky dates back to more than 175 years, when the new ‘Excise Act’ was introduced and William Teacher was a 19 year old, former cotton mill worker with an uncompromising attitude and whole barrelful of self belief. The 1823 Excise Act altered the shape of the spirits industry. Only around [...]
Trying to Hyde my feelings The HYDE family have been involved in the Irish drinks business for over twelve generations since 1640. HYDE is presidential quality Irish whiskey named in honour of Ireland’s very first president Douglas Hyde. President Hyde was an inspirational figure who helped to define Ireland’s national identity. Now then, on [...]
Let me start with the one closest to where I live … Eden Mill, who are producing already near St Andrews, revealed plans for a carbon neutral single malt whisky distillery. The £10 million plan will bring visitors to their home in Guardbridge, St. Andrews in 2022. Their land is within the University of [...]
Wideford Distillery - Wideford Distillery was located about two miles from Kirkwall on the slopes of Wideford Hill and on the Burn of Hatston, which was likely its' water source. Wideford was licensed to Mr W. Traill in 1813 and he distilled there until its closure in 1825. In 1825 it closed, cannee find [...]
