Best of West Masterclass

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:19:00 +0100

Retirement

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:41:27 +0100

Today was the last workday for Neil Mactaggart.

Neil joined Bruichladdich in 1966 as a mashman. Only eleven months later he had progressed to running the stills.

His first of three spells at the distillery ended in 1975 when he left to go to Bunnahbhain but with in eighteen months he was back for his second stint that lasted until he was made redundant with the closing of the distillery at the end of 1994. He then worked as an engineer at McKenzie's garage, before returning once again with the reopening in 2001. Once more he was back as stillman.

For 35 years - out of a 44 year career - Neil has distilled some of the finest vintages of Bruichladdich, though latterly he had been finding it tough and had been helping out with other duties.

His dedication to Bruichladdich has seen him out live two boilers, one customs officer and five changes of ownership.

We wish him well in his retirement and are pleased to know that we will still be seeing him regularly at the distillery, a place that has occupied so much of his life.

Dragon’s Breath

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:13:19 +0100

Fire broke out at The English Whisky Company in Roudham, near East Harling.

Four fire engines were called out on 26th July to St George's, the Norfolk-based distillery which opened its doors in August 2007. It became the first whisky to be made in England for 120 years. The company has recently started to export to Japan as well as Europe. Fortunately the warehoused stocks were not affected.

Members of the secretive organisation SWA were seen on the scene with a box of matches.

The Stig Outruns The Laddie

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:07:31 +0100

The Portugese round of the Le Man Series endurance race saw plucky Team Bruichladdich on the podium for the first time.

In the 1000Km of Algarve at Portimao (20 miles east of Cape St Vincent on Portugal's southern coast) the Bruichladdich car came second in the Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) class, and fifth overall in the latest round of the endurance event.

A startled Motorsport Magazine reported: "To say that Team Bruichladdich sprang a major surprise in Portugal is an understatement."

After 215 laps around the newly created 2.8 mile (4.6 kms) circuit opened in 2008, the 1000Km of Algarve was won by Panis's Peugeot 908 of the LMP1 class, with the LMP2 class won by the RML Lola driven by Mike Newton, Thomas Erdos and Ben Collins - aka The Stig.

Photoshop

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:34:25 +0100

Whisky Magazine, that forever anodyne publication, is running a photographic competition sponsored by an Islay distiller.

Requests have been made for 'exceptional whisky photographs' in order to win a four night stay for 2 at Bowmore's Cottages on Islay. Colin Prior, a renowned Scottish landscape photographer, is to adjudicate with a panel of judges - no doubt from some PR agency.

Perhaps of more interest to the winner than a standard bottle of single malt might be the goodie bag of Musto kit from the joint sponsor.

Clearly, the use of Photoshop and other image distorting techniques is permissible as the accompanying image published to promote the competition amply demonstrates.

It Never Rains.....

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:18:44 +0100

As predicted, the drought came to a very soggy end the moment the schools broke up for the summer holidays.

July on the west coast is often wet. And so it proved, with a series of gales - the end of Caribbean tropical storms - blowing in from the Atlantic. Fortunately, it allowed us to continue distilling well in to July, stopping for a delayed summer recess, later this week.

Rain

Wed, 7 Jul 2010 12:12:32 +0100

A good fall of rain yesterday and over night, on top of some recent, lighter falls, has helped the water situation.

It's not perfect, but we can eek it out for a while longer than we had predicted. As any holiday maker to the west coast of Scotland knows - July and August can be pretty wet. It's why the salmon season starts of the west coast rivers on 1st July after all...

Laddie and the Vibrator

Wed, 7 Jul 2010 12:01:22 +0100

I am not sure if I should be flattered or not.

The front page of our website was recently hacked in to and an an advert for sex toys was placed on it. Now, being dedicated to providing our customers with maximum pleasure does not extend to such articles, but it struck me that someone obviously thought it worth their time to associate their libidinous products with our own esteemed single malt.

By the way, the link has been removed, in case you decided to look for it.

Trickle Distilling

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:35:31 +0100

Hand-to-mouth distilling is the nature of the game at present.

The lack of rainfall this spring means that water is now very tight. Recent over night showers has allowed us to keep going on a mash by mash basis, as we try and ensure that we are not stuck - high and er..., dry - with wash ready for distillation, but no water for condensing it.

Heavy rain is forecast for Thursday which may provide enough for us to limp towards the summer break.

Scottish Farmers' Award

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 12:05:11 +0100

Bruichladdich's direct farm-sourced, Scottish barley policy has been recognised by Scottish Farmer.

The award, Environmentally Aware Supplier of the Year 2010, was awarded for the distillery's direct sourcing of Scottish barley, including Islay and organically grown, and the impact it has had on the environment and farming fraternity.

The award was presented to Chrissie Angus (Exports & shepherd) and Farmer Brown (Octomore barley and Waterboy etc.) at The Royal Agricultural Show.

The Islay barley was considered the best our maltsters saw from the 2009 harvest.

Reaching the Parts

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 08:48:41 +0100

800 miles east of Moscow, and 200 miles
north of Kazakstan is Bashkortostan.

At the confluence of the impressively lazy
rivers of Belaya (White Volga) and Ufa
(Black Idel) lies the oil-rich town of Ufa.

The Belaya meanders into the serpentine
River Kama, a tributary of the mighty Volga
which disgorges in to the Caspian Sea.

And in Ufa, there is a bar:

And a McHighlander.

Selling Bruichladdich...

Grandpa McEwan

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:47:07 +0100

Jim's daughter Lynne has just given birth to a daughter.

Congratulations all round.

Poacher Turned Game-Keeper

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:03:54 +0100

James Espey has been one of the drinks industry's influential players for over 40 years.

From starting up Bailey's to being chairman of Chivas Brothers, to launching Malibu, Piat d'Or and the Classic Malts range he has much experience of the multi-national corporate mind. So when he is asked to comment on the industry's focus in a recent industry news article (Just Drinks) it is worth listening:

"...do you think the industry's focus on a smaller portfolio of huge brands over niche products is the correct way to go?"

"No, its wrong. However, I understand it. I think the public companies are too focussed on short-term profits. My concern is that too many people are motivated by now rather than tomorrow. If there is no long-term vision, the people perish. What you need is to have genuine, long-term entrepreneurial innovation. And you have got to be prepared to take risks. Many will say they do have it. But what do they do? They employ expensive consultants, who employ expensive people, who research, and they research everything to hell. But I think there isn't enough flair. We make everything look the same. You have to be prepared to fail on the route to success."

His latest venture, The Last Drop Distillers, has taken him into the ultra-premium spirits industry.

Problem with Numbers

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 12:55:08 +0100

Minimum Alcohol Pricing Rejected by Scottish MPs

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 12:59:57 +0100

A minimum price per unit of alcohol in Scotland has narrowly voted down.
Rejection focused on the questionable legality, practicality and efficacy of such a measure to tackle Scotland’s binge drinking problems.

Powerful elements of the drinks industry, needless to say, have been extensively lobbying against the measures. Their criticism is based on practical issues such as the danger of 'promising something that would be impossible to deliver': a blanket fiscal measure that would actually reduce alcohol misuse. Or rather reduce their sales of mass-produced industrial alcohol flogged at prices cheaper than the cost of production and duty.

But Westminster is considering banning below-cost selling. Though apparently fraught with similar practical issues of application, the Wine and Spirit Trade Association has generously said it will support the measure if it means preventing the sale of products cheaper than the cost of duty plus VAT. Which is nice of them.

"But, like setting a minimum unit price for alcohol, it is hard to see how this measure will have any impact on binge drinking or alcohol dependency." What? Like selling vodka at the same price as mineral water is not a major part of the problem?