Whisky Fundamentals
Charles Doig and the pegoda distillery roof
Published 05/04/2021
Today the pagoda roof is a recognisable symbol of Scottish whisky distilleries but it rarely serves a functional purpose as fewer and fewer distilleries dry their whisky on their own malt floors. Once upon a time though the pegoda was cutting edge technology designed by the brilliant and pragmatic architect Charles Doig. An Iconic Landmark An architectural landmark of many distilleries in Scotland are the pagoda roofs of the malt kilns.
Charles Doig and the pegoda distillery roof
Japanese Whisky Gets A Legal definition
Published 02/04/2021
Whisky has been officially distilled in Japan since 1923 but was largely unnoticed for most of this time. In the last few years spirits from the East, whisky in particular have been gaining global recognition, not least because the manufacturers have placed greater emphasis on marketing and the optimization of their production conditions. Such has been the success of Japanese whisky that one, the 35-year-old single malt “Karuizawa 1978”, ranks among the most expensive whiskie in the world.
Japanese Whisky Gets A Legal definition
The History of Warehouse Maturation
Published 10/03/2021
The history of whisky production is closely linked to law, taxation and the attempts of distillers to avoid the latter. Taxation dates back to 1643 in Ireland and 1644 in Scotland. A state license for distilling whisky has been required in Ireland since 1661, and in Scotland since 1707. The number of illegal distilleries throughout history has far exceeded the number of legal ones. That changed in Scotland with the Act of Excise 1823.
The History of Warehouse Maturation
Whiskey Rebellion and the Origin of Bourbon
Published 27/02/2021
At a time when France was bringing down the monarchy, another revolution was taking shape across the Atlantic. Less violent, but at least as unprecedented. The whiskey rebellion would ignite the minds of the very young republic. To get around the prohibitions, the colonists would find a solution that would ultimately give birth to bourbon as we know it. “Perhaps there is no other nation on the earth, that has in so short a period experienced such various and interesting scenes as the people of the United States.
Whiskey Rebellion and the Origin of Bourbon
What is Paxarette?
Published 24/01/2021
The worldwide consumption of sherry has been declining since the late 1970s, but the demand for Scottish single malt whisky is constantly increasing and with it the demand for sherry casks - an unhealthy relationship. To make matters worse, since 1981 sherry can legally only be exported in bottles. The earlier synergy of the simultaneous export of sherry and casks has therefore been eliminated. This is the most common reason given for the introduction of paxarette but as with all aspects of whisky the truth is a little more complex.
What is Paxarette?