Whisky making video

Just in case you missed it (most of my close relatives and friends have seen it), here is a quick video of some parts of the whisky making process. 


The video was shot with a small pocket camera, so please excuse the poor quality. It was all filmed on our last trip in October 2010.


It's still a rare opportunity to see:

• The spreading of green malt in a drying kiln;
• The mashing process, in an old 19th century mash tun;
• Still operation (alcohol coming out in the spirit safe);
• A bottling line in operation;
• And of course, sampling, directly from the barrels, by yours truly!

Click on the image below to be transported to the Picasa Video.

From Vidéos

2011 Tour!

Our 2011 Scottish itinerary

Ciamar a tha sibh? (I've got to start practicing my gaelic!)

We're prepping up for the 2011 tour.  This one is going to be a little shorter than we are used to (2 weeks), but we'll make the best of it.

• First week: Aberdeenshire and Moray. When you think Moray, you should think of Speyside - that's where a very large percent of all Scottish distilleries lay (MacAllan and Glenfiddich are iconic figures of this area). However, we will not be going to the Speyside.  We will be concentrating on the northern coast, where we'll visit an "old newcomer" - Glenglassaugh, amongst others.
• Second week: Argyll & Bute. We're off to see the Campbeltown distilleries (or what's left of the many that were there). After, 6 days on Islay. Where we'll visit some old favorites for ultimate tours: Laphroaig, Ardbeg amongst others.

And of course, we'll top it off with the distillery that started it all - a 5 hour connoisseur tour of the Glengoyne distillery.

Here is a quick list of some of the distilleries we'll be visiting:

1. Fettercairn
2. Glen Garioch
3. Glenglassaugh
4. Glendronach
5. Edradour
6. Glengoyne
7. Springbank
8. Kilkerran
9. Bruichladdich
10. Isle of Jura
11. Bowmore
12. Laphroaig
13. Ardbeg
14. Auchentoshan
15. Maybe more... Who knows?

Talk to you soon.

Sláinte mhath!

The Paps of Jura

What lead to all this madness?

Glengoyne warehouse

As we are embarking for our fourth visit to Scotland this summer, I started pondering what lead me to this quest for whisky knowledge. 

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It first started in 2007, on a trip to the UK. Glengoyne was the culprit. Just north of Glasgow.

Innocent at first. 

Caught by the bucolic sights, the smell of cooking barley, the pungency of newmake spirits, the warmth of the people making it.

Then you get home, and taste what you've brought back with friends. Because after all, whisky is all about sharing.  You accumulate fond memories of warm evenings.

But now, you want to know more about how to taste it.  Where does this golden elixir come from? Why are there so many variants? 

That's when the first book(s) come in by mail - because the information you now want isn't available in local (i.e. "unspecialized") bookstores. It's the first sign of infection.

But the books only bring new questions. How is it made? What's a pot still? What differs it from a column still? What ingredients go in it?

Now, when people come over for dinner, they know not to bring wine. They bring a bottle of whisky. Mostly Scotch.

Then you start looking into seminars. It's insidious. You convince yourself and your spouse that it's "only one week", and it won't prevent you from taking other holidays with her. 

Distillery in Alsace

One week to the US now becomes one month in Europe, scouring Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France, to soak up distillation kultur. 

Then, you start planning new holidays with her around distilleries.  Next thing you know, she's planning them around distilleries.  It's highly infectious.

Now, you're totally hooked. Hook, line and sinker.


You register for a postgraduate diploma in Scotland in malting, brewing and distilling. You start working for a job as a brewer in a craft brewery. Since there are no whisky distilleries, it's the next best thing (beer is just whisky waiting to happen, isn't it?).


And it doesn't stop there. Believe me.


So caveat emptor, dear reader. 


If you continue reading this blog, it might just well happen to you...