Tag Archives: whisky

English Whisky?

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Did you know that there has not been any “Made in England” whisky in over 100 years?

Scotland is famous for Scotch, and after a 3 year maturing process in charred white oak casks, the first English whisky in more than a century is finally ready to flow.

It is all happening in the village of Roudham, at St. George’s Distillery by the River Thet, in eastern England. James, 63, was son to a farmer who grew malting barley that was shipped to Scotland. In 2005 he raised the idea of keeping that barley closer to home, and his dream started to come true in January 2006 when all permits were obtained. Distilling began that November.

What was really special to James and his partner/son Andrew (37) was that the distillery was officially opened in March 2007 by Prince Charles, the heir to the throne.

And where, you might ask, did they get the expertise to do all this?

They talked Iain Henderson, formerly the distillery manager at Scotland’s famous Laphroaig whisky producer, into coming out of retirement. It worked, as their whisky has earned top reviews.

The Nelstrops hope to market their whisky to Japan, Singapore, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Nordic, as well as the northeastern United States.

Visit a more complete article here, and then come back and make a comment below. You know I like comments. :)

Have you had a chance to taste some of this fine whisky from the English Whisky Company? If so, please leave a comment, including where you purchased it. Thanks.

Single Malt or Blended

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Single Malt or Blended. That is the question.

Many people get confused about the difference between single malt and blended Scotch. The blended variety consists of approximately fifty different grains, and single malts, sent from many different producers. The term single malt refers to one single distiller, and therefore is indeed not the product of blending.

They say that 50 years is the levelling out point on Scotch, as it will no longer get better with age. Prior to that point it is like wine and will continue to produce a better taste. The differences in many of the distillers of fine Scotch in Scotland can be very noticeable, as the geography lends to different techniques.

Each region of the Scottish territory yields a different product due to varying methods of development. Many methods can be employed, right down to the grains and water used. Some distilling companies even use certain peat mosses on the grains for added flavour.

Bottom line? You must try them all, to consider yourself a true aficionado. Isn’t that right, Gerry?

“The light music of whiskey falling into a glass – an agreeable interlude.” (James Joyce)

Label on a Bottle of Scotch

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To be able to properly read and understand a scotch label takes the ability to understand many things. National laws, marketing, tradition, as well as whim of men. This simple guide can get you through the confusion of what’s inside the bottle.

If you are looking for a true scotch whisky then the label should say exactly that. Any spelling differences? Then it is probably not made in Scotland, and thus is not true Scotch.

Look for the words single malt. They can be broken up, yet they will say single malt if that is what it is. However, the only way to identify a true single malt whisky is to do research. Never take the name as it’s own word on quality; many names have been forged to hide the identity of the true distiller.

If the alcohol content per volume reads more than fifty percent then it would be best to water down this malt, as it is rated by cask strength and will be stronger. Please do not mistake percentage with proof.

Finally. Make sure that you check the date of bottling. True Scotch does not age once bottled.

Hello world!

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Whisky is liquid sunshine

So goes a quote from George Bernard Shaw. There are two guys that I have met who would definitely agree with George. This web site was created with those two guys in mind.

Gerry

I met Gerry in the fall of 2004. He and his wife Barb became my landlords in little wee Alliston Ontario. Gerry was easily the best landlord I have ever had, and will probably ever have. I hated moving out, but sometimes we must move on.

Les

As I write this text (March 2008) Les is engaged to my younger daughter Kristina. I liked him from the moment I met him, and I hope to get to know Les better over the coming months and years as he and my daughter enter into a life together. (update – Les and Kristina were married in September 2008).

Why this site?

I have learned that these two guys both love Scotch, and when I found a series of articles about this “liquid sunshine”, I got this silly idea about creating a website.

So, Gerry and Les, enjoy the reading, and before you really get into it, go pour yourselves a smooth one to enjoy while you check out the articles.