Spring Potpourri
Bruichladdich Distillery Academy Dates
I've selected Monday September 18th - 21st 2006 for the dates I'll be attending. The Islay Jazz Festival is taking place the weekend before (September 15-17).
The cost for staying at the Academy house over the weekend is just an additional £35 per person per night and includes breakfast, but you'll have to find your own evening meal.
For more information:
Bruichladdich Academy Site
Book your spot
Going to the Academy... (The Scotch Blog story)
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Jim Murray's Whisky Bible
Jim Murray's 2006 Whisky Bible is finally getting easier to find in the US. Except for in my house. After a search for my copy turned up nothing, it turned out that Elsa had claimed it for herself. (I swear this was NOT a posed picture).
For your own copy, purchase through DoceonPress.
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The Science & Technologies of Whiskies
Speaking of books on the subject of whisky, Dr. John Piggott (University of Strathclyde) let me know that The Science & Technologies of Whiskies is available once again through Amazon.co.uk after being out-of-print for some time. £53.69
World-wide contributors describe the whisky process in principal industrial practices where they were sufficiently widespread to be of general rather than purely national interest in order to provide an overview of the whisky industry around the world. The chapters cover the science and technology of whiskies from materials to the finished bottle ready for delivery to the consumer. Other secions deal with the cereals in common use, the process of malting and the operations for transforming the malted or unmalted cereal grains into a fermentable extract. Fermentation, distillation, techniques of process control in the distillery, maturation, practices of blending and bottling and it is here, in the blending stage that the differences between whisky processes around the world become most apparent. The final two chapters deal with issues of economic importance to the industry - energy management and by-product treatment and disposal.
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Tormore & The French Flag
I noticed that Tormore was proudly flying the Scottish national flag, along with a Pernod-Ricard logo flag. However, I was a little surprised to also see a French flag. I don't have a problem with this, but it seemed a little strange to me. Apart from considerations for the "Auld Alliance" does corporate nationalism really have a place in Scotch whisky?
I also wondered what the staff tells curious tourists.
I asked Neil Macdonald, the brand Director for Single Malts for Chivas Bros:
The flags are at all Pernod Ricard sites. Pernod Ricard is a long term supporter of Scotch whisky since 1974 and France is the world's biggest whisky market. Pernod Ricard has significantly grown its stake in Scotch both organically by dramatically increasing sales of brands like Aberlour, Clan Campbell, Chivas Regal and by acquisition and subsequent investment. Ultimately we fly the flags because we are proud of our French Parent Company and are delighted to tell visitors about it!
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Whisky101
A few months back I set up a new forum called Whisky101 for people to discuss whisky in a friendly open format.
Unfortunately the free software and hosting I was utilizing wasn't the best, and as a result the forum was unreliable.
Since I still own the Whisky101 URL, I decided to give it another shot. The forum is still available, but now Whisky101.com will take you to a list of excellent resources to "Learn More" about whisky - there's also a link to the forum - in case people are interested in getting it up and running again.
Right now the links are to Tony Dirksn's Radio Whisky and Mark Gillespie's WhiskyCast. recommendations for new links are welcome...
Hi Kevin - I DO have problems with French flags at Scottish distilleries (even Ardbeg) and remember I'm French. Well, I have problems with flags generally speaking ;-)
Posted by:Serge | June 21, 2006 at 07:18 AM
Where can I purchase Clan Campbell Scotch Whisky in California?
Posted by:Cameron Campbell | December 05, 2007 at 07:31 PM