On the Road with The Malt Project - Part 2
Today we bring you part 2 of On the Road with The Malt Project by guest writer Jack Oswald.
At the end of the story there is another chance for one lucky reader to win an "I'm a Peat Freak! Are You?" t-shirt from The Malt Project.
Click here to read part 1.
On the Road with The Malt Project Part 2 – by Jack Oswald
So, it’s about this time that you ask “why are they doing this?”. We’ve asked ourselves that a number of times. The real answer is a labor of love. I lived in Scotland for nearly four years, while I was an Air Force Officer. Our two oldest kids were born there. (I guess that’s why Jeff is a malt freak). We’ve gone back to visit several times and usually wound up at a distillery. My production associates are all great single malt fans and we just felt it was something we wanted to share with our viewers. As we say on our web site “This is a Whisky DVD series designed for all, from the novice to the serious connoisseur. It’s valuable as an entertaining visit to Scotland and as an educational reference companion when you’re sharing your malts”.
At this point, you’re supposed to be asking, “What can we expect in Volume Six?” Glad you asked. It’ll be another two disc volume probably titled The Islands, the Shores, and Campbeltown and off the beaten path Speysides”.
We visit Old Pulteney in Wick (the northern-most mainland Scotland distillery); Oban, a classic malt on the west coast, Springbank and Glengyle in Campbeltown and the Islands will take us to Highland Park and Scapa in Kirkwall on the Orkney Islands; Tobermory on Mull; a relook at Talisker on Skye, the eleven year old distillery, Isle of Arran and a third visit to the Isle of Islay where a brand new distillery Kilchoman is getting underway. You’ll also find a new look at Bowmore, Bunnahabhain, Ardbeg and Bruichladdich. (We ran out of time or we’d have gone back to Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Caol Ila, too).
The Highland Park visit will go down as one of the most memorable of the entire series. The Orkneys are a great location, and Highland Park just don’t seem to make a whisky that isn’t fantastic and we loved them all. Distillery Production Manager Russell Anderson was a great host and we shared some of the best drams possible. But, man is it windy up there!
On our way south through the Highlands we spent the night at the Drumchork Lodge in Aultbea (it’s hard to find on a map). Frances Oates and John Clotworthy host the hotel, a fine whisky bar and a tiny licensed distillery they call Loch Ewe. It is the first privately licensed distillery in 190 years and you’ll be able to be your own master distiller if you visit this lovely highland hideaway.
Going back to Islay was also great. Everyone on the Island has a superb attitude and in addition to visiting with friends John MacEllan at Bunnahabhain, Percy McPherson at Bowmore, Stuart and Jackie Thomson at Ardbeg and Jim McEwan at Bruichladdich we really enjoyed our time with Anthony Wills who is the founder of newly opened Kilchoman. The distillery is barely in operation producing a spirit at the most westerly site in Scotland. They’ve had a tough time over the past ten years getting in operation, but they are doing it.
It’s impossible to spend a morning with Jim McEwan and not come away excited about whisky. In 2002 we tasted a new spirit Jim was beginning to produce that he calls Octomore. In May of 2006 we shared one of the first samples of the now three year plus Octomore and it was smashing. It’s an amazingly different Laddie that we can’t wait until it’s released. We also had a chance to nose the quadruple distilled X-4 that has been given a lot of press. Just for the record, I didn’t go blind or die from a wee dram. But, hopefully, it’ll make me live forever! (You had to be there.)
Probably one of the fallouts of this entire series is getting acquainted with so many fine people who make up the Scotch whisky industry. It’s an elite group of people who all share in a small industry.
Volume Six is also going to have a special “making of” or “behind the scenes” in the Malt Project which we hope you’ll enjoy.
So, hopefully by the first of 2007 we’ll have completed post
production on the two disc DVD and have it available. Meanwhile, you’ll
just have a settle for the 17 hours of the first five volumes that are
out now.
Will this be the end? Who knows? There’s always Japan, Ireland and even North America!
Slainte!
Ian MacMillan, Tobermory Master Blender and Jack discuss the still house on Mull.
And now your chance to win* an "I'm a Peat Freak! Are You?" shirt from The
Malt Project. Today's shirt is an Extra Large.
How many distilleries did The Malt Project visit to produce Volume 4, Speyside?
If you don't win this shirt, you can purchase one directly from The Malt Project for $12.
You can also order any of the DVD volumes by visiting The Malt Project.
Remember the rules:
- Be the first person to email me.
- Include your Postal/Zip Code.
- I will notify the winner and let you know the shipping cost.
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