OTHER BITS FROM SWR20 AMERICAN SPIES GO UNDERCOVER! After being rumbled by the world’s press, inspectors for the United States Defence Threat Reduction Agency have taken to less obvious methods to monitor Scotland’s illicit production of Weapons of Mass Destruction [as, we might add, was first revealed on the cover of SWR19]. THAT WMD STORY The WMD story made it into almost every national paper in the world including an editorial in the Independent and the whole of the (remaining) cover of the Express. France’s Figaro also reported the story on its front page (with a telling nationalistic glee). Bruichladdich’s press cutting service reported an unprecedented degree of coverage. The official response from the DTRA spies is that they have ‘no official interest in Bruichladdich Distillery’ (well which one then?). When quizzed by public relations agents eager to learn the trick, MD Mark Reynier said, “It’s just an Islay thing, a Bruich-laddich thing.” GLENCADAM Privately owned whisky company Angus Dundee has acquired the little known east coast Glencadam Distillery which was closed in 2000 as a result of Allied’s surplus capacity in distilling. Glencadam, which has already re-started distilling, is the company’s second distillery joining Tomintoul which they acquired in 2000. Angus Dundee are low profile players in the industry; they trade in own label and bulk whisky and are headed by Terrance Hillman, formerly of Burn Stewart (see this edition’s interview feature). TULLIBARDINE Edinburgh property developers have bought Tullibardine Distillery, closed since 1994, to develop an up-market retail park headed by Baxter’s Foods. The new owners say they will finance whisky production from the sale of land... A CURE FOR DECADENCE! It’s a myth that these sailing trips are for pleasure you know; where else can we find the correct conditions for the scientific development of a new toddy? The stores on Grampus yielded a fine new hot beverage worthy of LFW’s highest recommendation: 1 Oxo cube, 1 tsp. balsamic vinegar, a grind of black pepper, hot water and a measure of Decadence! The perfect mid-morning pick-me-up! Pictured are skipper and world-famous inventor Stewart Robertson, James Hardie, mixologist (well, he’s always stirring things up) and Charles MacLean who is Scotland’s foremost whisky. [There! Got you back Charlie!] FARMER MISSING You may be amused to know of a quote from Charlie’s new book Scotch Whisky—A Liquid History published by Cassell, £25. A very authoritative book revealing a huge amount of research and perfect in every respect except one on page 270: “Loch Fyne Whiskies was founded in the picturesque and historic town of Inveraray in 1992 by Richard Joynson, who until then had been a fish. It trades mainly...” Here's Charlie... and Alfred Barnard... or is it?