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William
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Location: Scotland
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 Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 10:47 am Post subject: Clynelish and Glen Ord Expansion |
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In the latest major milestone in Diageo's £1billion programme to increase Scotch whisky production they announced plans for a £30million expansion of its Clynelish Distillery in Sutherland, in the North-East of Scotland.
www.scotchmaltwhisky.co.uk/clynelishexpansion.htm
Glen Ord is now seeing the delivery and installation of new stills as part of the £25 million expansion plan for the distillery, which is seeing its capacity doubled to over 10 million litres per annum.
www.scotchmaltwhisky.co.uk/glenordexpansion.htm
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albo
Master Of Malts
Joined: 22 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 11:53 am Post subject: |
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I enjoy whisky from both of these distilleries so I hope this is a good thing. Hopefully it doesnt have any negative impact on the quality and care put into the distilled spirit.
Also with this much new make about one wonders about the quality of the casks that will be used, is there a risk that we are going to see plenty of spirit ageing in creaking barrels used over and over? Or the quality of the casks are not as well scrutinised? |
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TheWM
Master Of Malts
Joined: 26 Nov 2012
Posts: 2037
Location: Cheshire
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| Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 12:20 pm Post subject: |
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| albo wrote: |
Also with this much new make about one wonders about the quality of the casks that will be used, is there a risk that we are going to see plenty of spirit ageing in creaking barrels used over and over? Or the quality of the casks are not as well scrutinised? |
Yes. 100%.
Who is going to scrutinise the casks?
Not the SWA who if you accept they have a valid job to do, are not even issuing best practice guidance for their members to advise them on barrel control/quality.
And definitely not the big players who are are all releasing NAS whisky en masse to keep their profit levels rising. Perhaps we are already seeing a beginning of over used casks with the advent of the rise of using finishing casks to help disguise the flavour?
I'm sure it is not out of the realms of possibility that a conversation is happing at a distillery along these lines:
Worker: "Have you tasted this latest batch, taste like shit. Certainly isn't as good as when it was when I started years ago"
Foreman: "Well, in my day, they wouldn't have ever used an oak barrel more than twice as we knew that 20 years is when the quality starts to go, either two ten year runs or one long rest would be enough."
Owner: "Times are changing boys. What do you expect for a 3 year old? Besides, it don't taste as bad once we whack it in this [take your pick] barrel. Get the girls in marketing to jazz it up, think of a price and double it and we're all getting crimbo bonuses this year. Now get back to watching the computer, or whatever it is that you do." |
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albo
Master Of Malts
Joined: 22 Mar 2011
Posts: 1888
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| Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 12:46 pm Post subject: |
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| TheWM wrote: | | albo wrote: |
Also with this much new make about one wonders about the quality of the casks that will be used, is there a risk that we are going to see plenty of spirit ageing in creaking barrels used over and over? Or the quality of the casks are not as well scrutinised? |
Yes. 100%.
Who is going to scrutinise the casks?
Not the SWA who if you accept they have a valid job to do, are not even issuing best practice guidance for their members to advise them on barrel control/quality.
And definitely not the big players who are are all releasing NAS whisky en masse to keep their profit levels rising. Perhaps we are already seeing a beginning of over used casks with the advent of the rise of using finishing casks to help disguise the flavour?
I'm sure it is not out of the realms of possibility that a conversation is happing at a distillery along these lines:
Worker: "Have you tasted this latest batch, taste like shit. Certainly isn't as good as when it was when I started years ago"
Foreman: "Well, in my day, they wouldn't have ever used an oak barrel more than twice as we knew that 20 years is when the quality starts to go, either two ten year runs or one long rest would be enough."
Owner: "Times are changing boys. What do you expect for a 3 year old? Besides, it don't taste as bad once we whack it in this [take your pick] barrel. Get the girls in marketing to jazz it up, think of a price and double it and we're all getting crimbo bonuses this year. Now get back to watching the computer, or whatever it is that you do." |
Its quite sad that despite all the mirth and cynicism in your post, I can see it happening |
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TheWM
Master Of Malts
Joined: 26 Nov 2012
Posts: 2037
Location: Cheshire
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| Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 12:57 pm Post subject: |
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| albo wrote: |
Its quite sad that despite all the mirth and cynicism in your post, I can see it happening |
I know I come across cynical, but I'm glad you enjoy the humour I try to throw in.
It's happening now I tell thee   |
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bifter
Master Of Malts
Joined: 10 Apr 2012
Posts: 1403
Location: East Lothian
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| Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 11:22 pm Post subject: |
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| albo wrote: | I enjoy whisky from both of these distilleries so I hope this is a good thing. Hopefully it doesnt have any negative impact on the quality and care put into the distilled spirit.
Also with this much new make about one wonders about the quality of the casks that will be used, is there a risk that we are going to see plenty of spirit ageing in creaking barrels used over and over? Or the quality of the casks are not as well scrutinised? |
Got a lovely 25yo SMWS GO. However the cask situation is concerning. It's no secret that casks are in short supply and all this extra whisky has to end up in some kind of cask.
Talisker have innovated with the Storm by 'reconditioning' casks but I'm not convinced that's been a success. Whisky has a very symbiotic relationship with other drinks but sherry is going nowhere fast and Bourbon isn't booming in the same way as whisky.
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"Whisky is liquid sunshine."
[George Bernard Shaw] |
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