Distilleries Scotch Whisky Is the World’S Leading International Spirit Drink, Exported to Over 200 Markets
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Did You Know? Distilleries Scotch Whisky is the world’s leading international spirit drink, exported to over 200 markets. to Visit Whisky can only be called Scotch if it is distilled and matured in Scotland. This is defined in UK and EU law, and is accepted internationally, ensuring that when you buy Scotch Whisky you can be sure you are getting the real thing. 2011 Single Grain Scotch Whisky, a key component of blended whiskies, are Scotch Whiskies in their own right. Their characteristics are as individual as those of each Single Malt Scotch Whisky. A pub measure of Scotch Whisky contains only 50 calories – less than a standard glass of wine or half pint of beer. The French drink more Scotch Whisky in a month than Cognac in a year. The “cup o’ kindness” in the familiar New Year song, Auld Lang Syne, written by Scotland’s Robbie Burns, refers to Scotch Whisky, the spirit of friendship. Queen Victoria, responsible in part for creating a demand for Scotch Whisky outside Scotland, used to enjoy a daily dram in her tea. Scotch Whisky distilleries play an important role in welcoming visitors to Scotland. Around one million people visit distilleries each year. Scotch Whisky is matured over many years – it should be savoured. Please enjoy Scotch Whisky responsibly. 20 Atholl Crescent Edinburgh EH3 8HF t: 0131 222 9200 f: 0131 222 9237 e: [email protected] w: www.scotch-whisky.org.uk 14 Cork Street, London W1S 3NS t: 020 7629 4384 f: 020 7493 1398 e: [email protected] From the source of the water to 26 the shape of the still, a distillery tour will help to explain what 7 makes every Scotch Whisky 20 30 34 32 12 different. No two distilleries are 14 2 16 5 17 the same. Each has a unique 22 setting and story, as well as a 13 distinctive way of doing things Kinglussie Speyside that has evolved over many years. Highland 23 Speyside Visiting a distillery allows you to 35 24 indulge your passion for Scotch 21 37 and, at the same time, discover the 18 environment and meet the people that have done so much to shape that Kinglussie 15 instantly recognisable taste. 6 33 Many distilleries welcome visits by 36 8 members of the public. It is often 1 31 necessary to make arrangements in 25 advance, but many distilleries have extensive visitor facilities and do not Islay 19 require prior warning of a visit. 4 Islay 21 10 Lowland No matter which distillery you 11 choose to visit – be it island, Campbeltown 27 mainland, large or small – you 9 can expect great Scotch Whisky, a warm Scottish welcome, and a 29 28 3 fabulous day out. Scotch Whisky is Scotland’s leading indigenous product, and is of major importance to the economy not only of Scotland, but of the United Kingdom as a whole. Sold around the world for more than 100 years, Scotch Whisky is now established as the leading international spirit drink, making it one of Britain’s most important exports. Scotland is the home of Scotch Whisky and host to the greatest concentration of distilleries in the world. There are around 100, making Malt Whisky by the centuries-old Pot Still method or Grain Whisky in the Coffey or Patent Still which has been in use since 1831. Few products are so closely linked with the environment, culture and people of their country of origin as Scotch Whisky. Scotch Whisky is subject to a tight legal definition. Made only from barley and other cereals, water and yeast it can only be called Scotch if it has been distilled and matured in Scotland. Distilled in a land of breathtaking natural beauty, it takes nothing from nature which nature will not replace. It is a natural drink, a distillation of the riches with which Scotland is so abundantly endowed – fields of golden barley, water tumbling down glens of granite and over moors of peat; and cool pure Scottish air. Scotch Whisky is classified in one of five main categories – Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Single Grain Scotch Whisky, Blended Scotch Whisky, Blended Malt Scotch Whisky and Blended Grain Scotch Whisky. Further legal protection for consumers is given to the regional names associated with Scotch Malt Whisky production – Highland, Lowland, Speyside, Islay and Campbeltown – according to the location of the distillery in which the spirit is made. Islay Islay, a small island off the west coast of Scotland, may be only 25 miles long but is home to 8 distilleries. The whiskies from this area have more than a hint of saltiness due to the fact that Islay is frequently lashed by Atlantic storms. Sea spray blows across the island, impregnating the peat used in the malting of the barley and blows into the warehouses where casks of Scotch Whisky lie maturing, thus affecting the taste and aroma. The result is that some of the Islay whiskies are pungent and powerful with a distinctive whiff of sea air in them. Other distilleries that are in a more sheltered location, and use less peat during the malting have a gentler but still clearly identifiable character. Ardbeg Distillery ___________________________map ref: 3 (Glenmorangie Co Ltd) All year: Monday-Friday 10am-5pm Port Ellen, Easter weekend-September: Monday-Saturday Isle of Islay PA42 7EA 10am-5pm t: Visitor Centre 01496 302244 June-August: Monday-Sunday 10am-5pm e: [email protected] Tours 10.30am & 3pm, from Easter-September www.ardbeg.com also 12noon & 1.30pm Old Kiln Café open 10am-4pm Group bookings: by appointment Contact distillery for other tours/tastings Admission charge £5 with redemption in shop Bowmore Distillery _________________________E map ref: 9 (Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd) Easter-June: Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm – tours School Street, 10am, 11am, 2pm & 3pm Bowmore, Isle of Islay PA43 7JS July-August: Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm – tours t: Visitor Centre 01496 810441 10am,11am, 2pm & 3pm e: bowmore.distillery@ Sunday 12noon-4pm – tours 1pm & 2pm, morrisonbowmore.com September-Easter: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm – www.bowmore.com tours 10.30am & 3pm Saturday 9am-12noon – tour 10am Group bookings: by appointment Admission charge £5, concessions £3 under 18s free. Craftsman tour £40 Monday-Thursday please book in advance. Bowmore distillery has 6 self catering cottages available to rent Bunnahabhain Distillery ____________________map ref: 10 (Burn Stewart Distillers Ltd) 28 March-28 October: Monday-Friday – tours Port Askaig, 10.30am, 1.30pm & 3.15pm Isle of Islay PA43 7JH 31 October-16 December: tours by appointment t: Distillery Office 01496 840646 5 January-27 March: tours by appointment e: lillian.macarthur@ Standard tour £4 burnstewartdistillers.com Tasting tours available by appointment £15 www.bunnahabhain.com or VIP tours arranged by appointment £25 on www.blackbottle.com Tuesday & Thursday The distillery will be closed for tours from 25 April-2 May, 30 May & 29 August Distillery shop open: 10am-4.15pm Caol Ila Distillery ___________________________map ref: 11 (Diageo) 15 February-2 April: Monday-Friday Port Askaig, 1.30pm-4.30pm – tour 2pm & 3.15pm Isle of Islay PA46 7RL 3 April-May: Monday-Friday 9.15am-5pm – tours t: Distillery Office 9.30am, 10.45am, 1.45pm & 3.15pm 01496 302769/302760 April-May: Saturday 1.30pm-4.30pm – tours e: [email protected] 1.45pm & 3.15pm www.discovering-distilleries.com June-December: The distillery will be closed for an upgrade, please contact the visitor centre for details of special classes and tastings. Admission charge £6 which includes a £3 discount voucher, redeemable towards the purchase of a 70cl bottle of Single Malt whisky & entry to Lagavulin Distillery. 4 April-May: Monday & Friday – Premium Tour and Tasting £15 includes tour of the distillery followed by a look at a medley of award winning whiskies. Booking is advisable. Children under 8 are welcome but are not admitted to the production areas Kilchoman Distillery ________________________map ref: 27 (Kilchoman Distillery Co Ltd) All year: Monday-Friday 10am-5pm Rockside Farm, Bruichladdich, April-September: Saturday 10am-5pm – tours Isle of Islay PA49 7UT 11am & 3pm t: Distillery Office 01496 850011 Group bookings: by appointment at above times e: [email protected] or to include lunch by special arrangement, please www.kilchomandistillery.com phone or email for details Lagavulin Distillery _________________________Emap ref: 28 (Diageo) April-June: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm – tours Port Ellen, 9.30am, 11.15am, 2.30pm & 3.45pm Isle of Islay PA42 7DZ Saturday 9am-12.30, tours 9.30am & 11.15am t: 01496 302749 or July-August: Monday-Friday 9am-7pm – tours 01496 302730 9.30am, 11.15am, 2.30pm, 3.45pm & 5.15pm e: [email protected] Saturday 9am-5pm – tours 9.30am, 11.15am, www.discovering-distilleries.com/ 2.30pm & 3.45pm, Sunday 12.30pm-4.30pm – lagavulin tours 1pm & 2.30pm September-October: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm – tours 9.30am, 11.15am, 2.30pm & 3.45pm Saturday 9am-12.30pm – tours 9.30am, 11.15am, 2.30pm & 3.45pm November-December: Monday-Friday 9am-12.30pm – tour 9.30am & 11.15am Admission charge £6 includes complimentary Lagavulin whisky glass & entry to Caol Ila Distillery Warehouse demonstrations – Tuesday & Thursday at 10.30am £15 includes a complimentary Lagavulin whisky glass & free entry to the 9.30am distillery tour prior to the Warehouse demonstration. Booking advisable. Children under eight welcome but are not permitted into production areas Laphroaig Distillery _________________________E map ref: 29 (Beam Global Spirits & Wine) March-October: Monday-Friday 9.30am-5.30pm Port Ellen, March-October: Saturday-Sunday 10am-4pm Isle of Islay PA42 7DU Tours run daily, ring for times t: Distillery Office 01496 302418 November-February: Monday-Friday 10am-5pm e: [email protected] November-December: Saturday-Sunday www.laphroaig.com 10am-4pm Admission charge £3 Specialist tastings, ring for information Hunters Hike to the water source and peat cutting, March-September, book in advance Highland The Highland region is geographically the largest Scotch Whisky producing region.