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Explore Whisky Making, Explore Scotland

April 10, 2012 catswhiskers Comments off

Barley for Malting at Whisky Distillery, Scotland

This evening, I am providing an overview of the the somewhat complicated process for manufacture of malt whisky in Scotland.

Raw ingredients are barley, water and yeast ( all natural). The barley is malted to obtain sugars from the starch. This can be undertaken on an industrial scale by specialist maltsters or on the traditional basis at the distillery.

Maltings Furnace at Whisky Distillery, Scotland

The malted barley is steeped in hot water in a Mash Tun, as shown below.

Mash Tun, Whisky Distillery, Scotland

Next, the resultant liquid is transferred to containers called washbacks where yeast is added to facilitate fermentation. This results in a liquid similar to a beer, with alcohol content of about 8pct.

Fermentation in Washback at Whisky Distillery

After fermentation, the liquid is distilled, passing first through a wash still and then the spirit still.

Distillation at Whisky Distillery, Scotland

After distillation the spirit is transferred, after dilution with water to reduce alcohol content, to oak casks to commence the maturation process. This takes a minimum of three years but more commonly for periods of 10years, 12 years or longer, even up to 50 years in extreme cases.

Maturing Whisky at Distillery in Scotland

After the appropriate period of maturation, the whisky is normally ready for the palate.

Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Visiting a distillery and learning the basics of the whisky making process is recommended as part of a Scotland tour. In many cases distilleries are located in areas of scenic beauty, e.g. Speyside, which adds another dimension to the case for learning about aqua vitae which in turn forms Scotland’s single largest export industry.

Culture, Food & Drink, Highlands, Locations, Scotland tour, Speyside, Tours, Whisky none

Speyside Whisky Tour Scotland

April 9, 2012 catswhiskers Comments off

Whisky Selection, Glenlivet Distillery, Scotland

This morning, we departed our excellent lodgings at An Cala, Grantown-on-Spey and drove over to Glenlivet Distillery. Here we toured the visitor centre and then embarked on a distillery tour led by a competent and engaging guide. Unfortunately, photography of the whisky making process is not permitted, hence images are restricted to peripheral views. However, we did learn about the malting, mashing, fermentation, distillation and maturation process rounded off by a tasting of a single malt.

Here is an image of the Still House (left) with Visitor Centre at top.

Stillroom and Visitor Centre, Glenlivet Distillery, Scotland

Here is the tour guide giving instruction on the tasting of Glenlivet single malt.

Tour Guide, Glenlivet Distillery

Here is a scenic view showing a snow capped Ben Rinnes taken from the distillery car park.

Ben Rinnes, 2759 ft from Glenlivet Distillery

After concluding the Glenlivet tour we drove north to call in at the Macallan Visitor Centre for a brief inspection and then on to nearby Glenfiddich to join in the 12,00 noon Explorer Tour. This turned out to be exclusive to our group and last about 90 mins. We were guided through the basic processes as at Glenlivet with special emphasis on the blending of the various malts with the tour concluding with tastings of four single Glenfiddich malts. Glednfiddich were more liberal with their attitude to photography and hence small portfolio of images below.

Here is the Mash Tun

Mash Tun, Glenfiddich Distillery, Scotland

Here are some of the washbacks where fermentation occurs, aided by yeast.

Washbacks at Glenfiddich Distillery, Speyside

Here is fermentation in process.

Fermentation at Glenfiddich Distillery

Here are some of the spirit and wash stills where essentially, a type of beer at about 8pc alcohol is turned into spirit with a high alcohol content. It is this spirit which is converted into single malt whisky after a suitable maturation period in oak casks.

Wash and Spirit Stills at Glenfiddich Distillery, Speyside

Te whisky maturation process gives off alcohol vapour which in turn nourishes a black fungus which covers vegetation and buildings alike.This tree provides an example of the fungus, which does not harm the trees or living plants.

Alcohol Fungus Coated Tree at Glenfiddich Distillery, Scotland

Here is the whisky tasting in process.

Whisky Tasting at Glenfiddich Distillery, Scotland

Interestingly, Glenfiiddich and Glenlivet are similar size in terms of annual production with each turning out about 10.0M litres of spirit p.a.

After the Glenfiddich tour we had drive down to Edinburgh in order to connect with onward travel links to London. Unfortunately, a key road in the Highlands was blocked forcing a diversion. Although we arrived about 1 hour later than planned, the journey through the Cairngorms and Highlands with snow capped mountains did prove enjoyable.

Culture, Food & Drink, Highlands, Locations, Mountains, Nature, Scotland tour, Speyside, Tours, Whisky none

Taste Scotland’s Beers, Taste Scotland

March 3, 2012 catswhiskers Comments off

Burns Cottage, Alloway, Scotland

This afternoon I attended a special Burns themed event at the Birthplace Museum of Robert Burns, Scotland’s national poet. The museum is located about 45 mins south of Glasgow near the Ayrshire coast on the West of Scotland.

The event commenced around 1.00pm with the underlying them of ‘Burns Beer Festival 2012′ and sub titled ‘A peck o’maut’ in Scots English. The series of events comprised:

A talk on smuggling in 18th century Ayrshire. ( Burns at one time was a customs agent employed to combat the extensive smuggling industry.)
A talk by a learned academic on the works of Scots poet Robert Fergusson whose works served as a great inspiration to Burns.
Welly throwing competition.
Talk on Malting, Brewing and Distilling.
Pub Quiz.
Ceilidh ( traditional community dance).

: Visitor Group, Burns Cottage, Alloway

Here are the beers ( real ales) on offer which include two with names inspired by Burns: ‘Timerous Beastie’ and ‘Rabbies Porter’. In Britain, the term ‘real ale’ is used to describe a traditional, flavoursome beer which continues to ferment in the cask from which it is served. This category of beer is usually produced on a small scale by specialist, local brewers.

: Scottish Real Ales at Burns Cottage, Alloway

Rear of Burns Cottage, Alloway, Scotland

Overall, an interesting afternoon entailing some sightseeing along the nearby Ayrshire coast.

Ayrshire, Buildings, Culture, Food & Drink, Locations, People, Robert Burns, Scotland tour, Tours none

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