Salivating...
Mmmm... From the BBC News comes
this report of activities on the Scottish Island of Islay:
Distillery makes 'strongest' dram
A distillery on a west coast island is preparing to produce the "world's most alcoholic single malt whisky".
Managers at Bruichladdich on Islay will use an ancient recipe to distil the whisky four times and produce an alcohol content of at least 92%.
Bruichladdich believes it will be akin to a drink described 300 years ago by travel writer, Martin Martin.
Managing Director Mark Reynier said the distillery was doing it as a bit of fun and it was unlikely to be repeated.
He said: "We are doing this because we have this ancient recipe and therefore we can.
And Martin Martin's report:
In his 1695 travel book, The Western Islands of Scotland, Martin Martin refers to a quadruple distilled whisky known as "usquebaugh-baul" and wrote what is probably the world's oldest whisky tasting note.
He said: "The first taste affects all the members of the body: two spoonfuls of this last liquor is a sufficient dose; and if any man should exceed this, it would presently stop his breath, and endanger his life."
The secret lies in the drink being distilled four times - usually malt is only distilled twice.
If they have someone who knows what they are doing running the stills (and they seem to!), that will be a delight to savor in 40-70 years.
Bruichladdich was founded in 1881, purchased by Jim Beam and then closed in 1994. Four locals bought it and reopened it in May of 2001.
Website here:
Bruichladdich
Posted by DaveH at March 5, 2006 8:43 PM