The KOTQ

Some bad news came out of Sam’s Fat Tuesday Spirits Night event actually. Straight from the mouth of the memorable and charming Burn Stewart sales rep came the news that the Tobermory distillery has hit a 6-year wide production gap 🙁 in Ledaig 15. There isn’t any to be found world wide until 2012. Ugh. This is equivalent, in my mind, to the production gap (I just hate those 2 words together like that) in Springbank 21. That one, as far as I can tell, was/is 7 years wide; 2002 – 2009.

So, if you have any Ledaig 15 please share some with me!

In the mean time if you want to stock up Binny’s has some left but Sam’s does not. Funny…Binny’s shopping cart says it’s “widely available”. Just goes to show you – never believe a data base.

William Grant born in Dec. 1839 founded Balvenie Distillery.

Mr Grant became bookeeper at Mortlach distillery in 1866. While working there, he began a 20 year study of the distillery process. He worked his way up in the organization eventually moving to the clerk of the distillery and finally became the manager.

After almost twenty years of learning the art of distilling, William Grant resigned from his job at the Mortlach distillery and bought a field beneath the towering shadow of The Balvenie Castle. He then drew up plans for his distillery and the foundation stone was laid in the autumn of 1886.
However a new opportunity presented itself to Mr Grant.

The Balvenie New House became available and wasa purchased by William Grant in March of 1892. Uninhabitable and austere, it was a building of some grandeur with the coat of arms of the Duffs carved into the pediment of its second story

The basement was to become a bonded store for maturing whisky, the first storey a malt floor, whilst the upper two floors were to be used as grain lofts.

The building took fifteen months to complete and on 1st May 1893, the first distillation took place at The Balvenie Distillery

History & Overview: Balvenie Castle is located in Glen Fiddich. The castle changed hands several times but has never seen any sieges or battles. The Black Comyn’s, Earls of Buchan held the castle and ruled the ancient Celtic province in the 1200’s. Robert the Bruce wiped out the Comyns in his fight for the Scottish throne. The castle apparently stood vacant for a few years before the Black Douglasses took up residence in the early 1400’s. King James II caused the next turnover around 1455. He wiped out the Douglasses and assigned the province to a kinsman. In 1720 the castle was abandoned. The top view shows the entrance to the buildings, the curtain wall no longer stands. The bottom, is a view from the inside of the courtyard towards the front gate. There is also a very impressive moat surrounding the castle, (no water).

From its strategically significant position in the Glen, Balvenie Castle allowed the immensely powerful Black Comyn earls to rule over this Celtic province for more than a century. Though there were no famous sieges or notable battles here, this would have appeared a striking fortification to anyone approaching it for the first time: as it still is today.

Here’s to the Brothers for 2/25!

What are The Balvenie Artisan Awards?

An honor bestowed upon individuals or businesses that passionately keep the traditional skills and crafts of Scotland alive. The awards are segmented by 3 Categories with one Artisan of the Year named.

How can one enter to win one of these awards?

Simply by applying. It’s open to all those with a craft or trade. However, the individual or business must earn their living from the skill or craft they represent.

What do the winners receive?

Each category winner receives £1,000 plus a selection of single malt Scotch whiskies from The Balvenie® range. The Balvenie Artisan of the Year 2005 also receives £2,000, a trophy specially created by previous Artisan Award winner Paul Hodgkiss and a selection of single malt Scotch whiskies from The Balvenie range, to include a bottle of The Balvenie® Thirty. Commended entries will each receive a certificate and a bottle of The Balvenie Doublewood 12 Year Old®.

So you want to know a little bit about some of the past winners?

They’re craftspersons who have demonstrated a passion for weaving and textile design, glass blowing and ceramics to working with wood, leather, metal, coopering, making musical instruments and a host of other skills.

Artisan of the Year 2004 was boat and fiddle maker Tommy Isbister, who uses centuries-old skills to hand-craft these cherished items at his Shetland Island workshop.

You mean there’s more to these Artesan Awards?

CATEGORY ONE: BEST USE OF A TRADITIONAL SKILL OR CRAFT – Laura West, Bookbinder

CATEGORY TWO: BEST NEW START-UP BUSINESS BASED ON A TRADITIONAL SKILL OR CRAFT – Orkney Handcrafted Furniture

CATEGORY THREE: OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT TO CARRYING ON A TRADITIONAL SKILL OR CRAFT – P Johnson & Co. – Blacksmiths

Oh yes, and the 2005 Artisan of the Year goes to — Di Gilpin – Designer, Handknitter

Slanthe

I found a great resource for whisky.
Surdyk’s
They’re in Minneapolis but don’t let that scare you. They’ll ship for a reasonable price.

Some pricing examples:
Lagavulin 16yo: $80 Sams; Surdyk’s $57
Laphroaig 15yo: $64; $44
Balvenie “Port Cask” 21 yo: $90; $70
Ardbeg 10yo: $55; $38

At these prices, we may be able to get more out of our quarterly events.