N. 25 | MARCH 2020 SUPPLEMENT OF BARTALES FACE TO FACE / INDEPENDENT DISTILLERS THE LORD OF THE ROCKS EVENT / SANT ANDREW’S NIGHT HOT SPIRIT / BRUICHLADDICH NOT JUST WHISKY AUTHENTIC TERROIR grazie to the world’s best bartenders and to all the vermouth lovers #1 #1 BEST Top selling vermouth trending vermouth 2020 Year of the Vermouth di Torino BEBE CON RESPONSABILIDAD @GIULIOCOCCHI - WINERY IN COCCONATO ( ASTI) ITALY - WWW.COCCHI.COM Cocchi Best 2020 Footer.indd 1 07/01/20 14:34 BAR EDITORIAL by Melania Guida TALES WARM SHIVER return to Islay – in that paradise where the land is brackish and the sea restless, where peat is everywhere. In a rocky place that is considered mystical, a Whisky with a wild heart is born that feeds on legend; that of Loch Ardnahoe where it is told that the ghost of a white steed rises from the dark waters during nights Iwith a full moon. Don’t put yourself out trying to find out if it’s true, and for once try to loosen those bounds of rationality. “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy”, suggests Shakespeare. This happens in a special way on Islay, the undisputed queen of the Hebrides, a wild Eden with peaty scents. Where the impalpable aura of otherworldliness pleasantly clashes with the warmth of the islanders and the burning flame of spirits with authenticterroir . Like Bruichladdich, for example. At the distillery of Loch Indaal they have made terroir their mantra. A special approach that reflects the crucial interaction of soil, subsoil, exposure, orientation, climate and microclimate. Because barley is a live and organic expression of the land, and the farmers from those parts know the stories of the soil, wind, drainage and aspect of every single field, convinced as they are that the land provides subtle nuances and variety to sensory experiences and that it can have a significant effect on any food or drink. In the end, the more complex the inherent flavours of a food or drink, the deeper its effect produced. And if single malt Scotch Whisky is the most complex spirit in the world, how can we blame it? Follow us N. 25 | MARCH 2020 EXECUTIVE EDITOR DIGITAL EDITION BY Melania Guida SKILL LAB srl ([email protected]) ([email protected]) STAFF EDITOR Fabio Bacchi Registrazione. n. 35 del 8/7/2013 Tribunale di Napoli ([email protected]) www.bartales.it ART DIRECTOR © copyright Cinzia Marotta BARTALES - All rights reserved. No part of this ([email protected]) publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means. Any violation will be persecuted according to law. CONTRIBUTOR Anyone with a claim on the copyright of unidentified Giulia Arselli, Alessandro Palanca pictures please contact Bartales TRANSLATION BY LMP International - Lonato (BS) Italy DRINK RESPONSIBLY March 2020 3 face to face INDEPENDENT DISTILLERS THE LORD OF THE ROCKS At Villa Wolkonsky with Scott Laing of Ardnahoe, the most recent distillery on Islay BY MELANIA GUIDA ike most Scots, Scott Laing, direc- tor of Ardnahoe Distillery (Islay) loves good company, wholesome food and Italy especially. “And you Lknow why? Because of the vibrant energy of the people”, he explains while sitting in the elegant lounge of Villa Wolkonsky, home of the British Embassy in Rome, sipping an ice-cold beer, “and because of the enthusiasm and industriousness of small family businesses. It’s a feature that is unique in its kind, and typical of your country. Truly special.” He often visits Italy. It is his fifth time already, and he mainly comes to Rome. But he is quite happy to make a stop at Naples, that for someone from Glasgow comes across as a “chaotic city but incredibly exciting.” The ice has been broken, Laing is candidly delightful and while I wait to taste the first single malt from the Isle of Raasay (the first “scotch” aged in Bourbon and Tuscan red wine casks, and which will soon be on the market), I ask him about Islay. Or rather, Ardnahoe. It is the most recent farm on the queen of the Hebrides (opened last April 4 March 2020 and the first distillery to be built after the location. Identifying the right place Kilchoman in 2005), which gets its name was not easy; and then the permits and simply from its location. Ardnahoe in fact the license. If there hadn’t been a local means “Height of the Hollow”, which in person helping us it would have been Scottish Gaelic perfectly describes the impossible.” beautiful surroundings of the distillery. But did the island really need another Port Askaig, next to Lock Ardnahoe distillery? Laughing he replies, “I can tell (legend tells of the ghost of a white steed you that we were of the opinion that we that comes to the surface during a full needed Islay more than Islay needed us.” moon) provides the exceptionally sweet It is clear that a great deal of tourism water filtered through the peat and rock has been created around whisky, and on over thousands of years, which is fun- Islay especially. Do you think that this will damental in all phases of whisky pro- grow and become more entrenched, or is duction. it just a passing fad? “Tourism was an in- Were there any difficulties in estab- evitable outcome, especially in the sum- lishing the distillery? “First was finding mer months. And it is a growing trend. March 2020 5 PRODUCERS SCOTT LAING WITH FABIO ERMOLI, EXCLUSIVE IMPORTER FOR ITALY. The challenge, however, at least from our prefer blended whiskies. Italy has always point of view, is combining quality with focused on quality and I am quite sure the increase of visitors.” that it contributes quite significantly to Back to us. Italy is a country of collec- furthering the trend. There are also well- tors and has always valued malt whisky. known collectors, I know a few, who are What are your thoughts on the Italian particularly influential.” market? “You were the first to drink sin- Where are your whiskies aged? “In gle malts when the others continued to three locations essentially. One part March 2020 7 is where the casks are, in a dedicated space within the distillery. Most of the distillates age in a large warehouse and a third part remains in Glasgow.” Together we taste some Scarabus, a single malt that is deliciously peated, golden and warmed up by hints of leath- er, rhubarb and vanilla. The name means “rocky place” in ancient Norse language, able. It would have been almost taboo which refers to a mystical area of Islay. to even think of using them in mixing. “Only those who seek shall find”, is the These days, I think it could even become motto of a surprising and mysterious a trend; perhaps drinking them in the whisky (we don’t know anything about the right place, suited to niche products and aging and casks), like the arcane sym- a high range. I’m thinking of a boutique bols on the vintage bottle, inspired by the bar, for example.” works of artist John Francis Campbell. A final question: any future plans? A smooth and decidedly versatile “There are many ideas and a plan – that whisky. It is easy to imagine it mixed. of opening a warehouse on Islay as soon What does Laing think? “On the whole I as possible. It will be used to age our don’t object to it. Times have changed. whiskies.” SHALL WE MIX? Initially certain products were untouch- Melania Guida www.varnelli.it 8 March 2020 DRINK RESPONSIBLY SHALL WE MIX? www.varnelli.it DRINK RESPONSIBLY event SANT ANDREW’S NIGHT NOT JUST WHISKY At Villa Wolkonsky the best in Scottish tradition. Including gin BY GIULIA ARSELLI t Andrew is the icon that Scotland Rule to sail west with the saint’s relics. celebrates on 30 November. The He was told to found a church wherever saint most likely did not visit Scot- he was to land or become shipwrecked. land while he was alive, but the The ship arrived at the coastal village of SScots have been celebrating him since Kilrymont that would later be named St 1000 AD. In addition to the religious as- Andrews. In 1318 a church was built, and pect, the occasion is celebrated by the the village became an important place of Scottish people in a hospitable and fun pilgrimage for Christians. way with dances, music, typical food and The changes brought about by the Scot- drink. tish Reformation in 1560 led to the de- Following his death, certain relics of struction of the church and the relics were the saint, some bones, arrived in Scot- lost. Other relics were kept in other parts land. There are a number of stories as to of the Christian world, however. It was how this happened. Among these, the one then that the Archbishop of Amalfi gave where an angel gave instruction to Saint the Scots a piece of St Andrew’s scapula as a gift, so that part of the saint could remain in Scotland forever. In 1320 Scotland declared its indepen- dence and St Andrew became the coun- try’s patron saint. On 29 November last year in Italy, the saint’s day was celebrated in Villa Wolkon- sky, the official residence of the British Ambassador in Rome. Folk dancing, kilts and tartan, a festival atmosphere, import- ant guests, typical Scottish food and drink livened up the halls of the residence of ambassador Jill Morris. The culture and traditions of a country can also be expressed through gastronom- 10 March 2020 ical delicacies and typical drinks that repre- sent the identity of the region.