RESURRECTION! By James McEwan I am proud to be part of the new team responsible for the seventh Islay Distillery, Bruichladdich. The distillery was sold by Jim Beam Brands who had acquired it from Invergordon Distillers in 1994 since when the distillery has hardly worked. A consortium of investors including Ileachs, men from Islay, has been assembled by the directors of Murray McDavid and their offer of £6m for the distillery and stocks resulted in a transfer of ownership at the beginning of 2001. After consideration of their business plan and without much further persuading I have decided to join the new Bruichladdich Distillery Company after 37 years with Morrison Bowmore with whom I maintain good relations. This job gives me the chance to get back to Islay and to be part of the revival of this truly exceptional distillery. Bruichladdich is special and is known as one of Islay’s most characterful malts—it is what the locals drink. It would be a tragedy to let the distillery die—it has a magical quality and heritage which must be preserved. I hope our move will encourage others to see that other closed distilleries like Scapa, Glendronach and Glen Scotia will someday return to their former glory. As I write we are distilling. Bruich-laddich has the potential for producing 1.8 million litres per year. We propose to produce around one third that much in 2001. Initially we have created seven jobs. We are considering an on site bottling hall which will accommodate the Murray McDavid bottlings as well and this will bring the employment up to about fifteen. Islay will benefit by this and the new construction involved. Since coming home I have divined a new spring which has beautiful clear water in abundance, so look out for the return of Islay Water! Over the last few months I have been going through the maturing stocks that we acquired with the distillery and soon we propose to launch a standard 10, 15 and 20 year-old range plus some single casks aged as much as 36 years on Islay. Those familiar with the 27 year old Stillman’s Dram selected by my friend Richard Paterson of JBB will know that Bruichladdich had produced some of the finest single malt whisky possible and some of the casks residing here now are truly exceptional. Fans of Murray McDavid bottlings will appreciate our plans not to colour or chill-filter and to bottle all our whisky at 46%. This gives the full character of the whisky without going to the expense of cask strength. The distillery character is of soft over-ripe fruit, tons of sweet oak, lemon meringue and barley sugar. It is luscious on the palate with no heat whatsoever. Bruichladdich also has potential for trading with the rest of the industry; we will supply blenders and consumers with our regular spirit or with the option of a heavily peated variant called “Port Charlotte” which will be malted to 40ppm phenols. I have also increased the specification of the regular spirit from 3 to 10ppm, still a relatively light peating but which I expect will give even more complexity to the dram. I want Bruich-laddich in the glass to reflect the skill and art of the distiller as an old fashioned whisky. I know it can take this level of peating and bring with it more appeal. I have a bottle in my office of pre 1961 Bruichladdich at which time peating levels were usually about 30-35ppm—fairly heavy and it is superb. So we have something to offer blender and single malt lovers to whom we are also offering the opportunity to purchase casks of new spirit of either type in a variety of size and specification, direct from the distillery. See our website for more information (www.bruichladdich. com). Another first will be the “Bruichladdich Valinch”. This will be special casks selected from our cellars but held duty paid. From now, when you come to visit us you can fill your own special 50cl bottle direct from the cask. You and one of the distilling team will then sign the label—it’s cool! My first choice is three 31yo hogsheads of 1st refill American oak, average strength 47%alc., distilled in 1970; for £50.00 per bottle—it’s a steal! And the spirit is magical. The Bruichladdich Valinch will be an ongoing project. My next selection is already made; a second refill sherry butt, 10 years old, young but it knocked me to the floor when I tried it! My dream of an academy for single malt whisky is to be realised. Whisky fans (especially customers of Loch Fyne Whiskies) from all over the world will be welcome to attend seminars on this beautiful island a learn the intricacies of what makes this industry so special. Warehouses will be converted into residential tasting suites where enlightenment and fun will be the order. There is so much to talk about, so much to explain and understand. I’m very much looking forward to this aspect, to continue my ‘ambassadorial’ work I was doing with Bowmore without leaving the island is a dream I never dared consider in the past. The courses will help to finance the distillery and its operations. This is a bold step taken by our team and investors and there will be a long lead time developing the market for Bruichladdich before the distillery is a self supporting concern. I’m confident that the funds raised will see the necessary improvements to the distillery and see us distilling long into the future. It has been an emotional roller coaster ride for the past months, I can tell you. We have hired the old crew and they are so full of enthusiasm, it’s touching. I’m amazed at the response of the whole island to Bruichladdich reopening and I am proud to be one of them. Their Celtic spirit burns brightly over Lochindaal but we need your help to make it work. Without the consumer support the circle of the water of life will never be complete. Spread the gospel of Scotland and whisky, both malt and blend, wherever you can. Do it for Scotland!