Miscellaneous Whisky Facts

Question 1

What is Kilchoman’s Loch Gorm named after?

Answer 1

Islay’s largest freshwater loch, neighboring the distillery

Question 2

Who is the one person that services the Porteus mills in Scotland?

Answer 2

Ronnie Lee

Question 3

Why, and what year did the Scotch industry transition to using Bourbon Barrels as their main source for maturation?

Answer 3

1930’s - the Cooper’s Union in the United States lobbied for legislation for Bourbon to be NEW charred oak barrels, to ensure jobs after Prohibition. That led to surplus Bourbon barrels and lower pricing for barrels for Scotch.

Question 4

What distilleries have Stainless Steel Condensers and what does that do to the spirt?

Answer 4

Roseisle - has the option to use stainless vs. copper shell and tube - and it leaves the heavier components in the spirit

Question 5

Which Distilleries does Suntory Own

Answer 5

Bowmore
Laphroaig
Glen Garioch
Ardmore
Auchentoshan

Question 6

Name 7 Distilleries Diageo Owns

Answer 6

-Talisker
-Oban
-Lagavulin
-Caol Ila
-Roseisle
-Mortlach
-Clynelish/Brora
-Cardhu
-GlenKinchie
-Craggonmore
-Mannochmore

Own about 30

Question 7

Which Distilleries does Chivas (Pernod Ricard)
Own?

Answer 7

-Longmorn
-Aberlour
-Edradour
-The Glenlivet
-Scapa

Question 8

Name the three new distilleries in Campbeltown

Answer 8

-Machrihanish (R&B Distillers)
-Dal Riata (South Star Spirits)
-Witchburn (Brave New Spirits)

Question 9

Most Northerly distillery on Scottish mainland?

Answer 9

Wolfburn

Question 10

Why are many whisky’s bottled at 57.1 abv?

Answer 10

the reason for this specific percentage is that it roughly corresponds to “100 British Proof,” an old measurement system, and is often used when a distillery wants to showcase a whisky’s full flavor profile without significantly diluting it with water

Question 11

Why is Scotch put in barrel at a 63.5% abv?

Answer 11

-cask trading, for equity
-optimal flavor extraction

Question 12

Who puts whisky into barrel at higher than 63.5% abv?

Answer 12

-Bruichladdich
-Highland Park

Question 13

What does yeast type creamed mean?

Answer 13

liquid yeast

Question 14

Name a Distillery that does not use the standard grist ratio. And what ratio to they use?

Answer 14

Glenfarclas: Grist 5/21/74

Question 15

Name 5 distilleries that use worm tubs.

Answer 15

Cragganmore
Oban
Springbank
Brora
Talisker

Question 16

Why does Scotch go into a barrel at 63.5%

Answer 16

Biggest reason is because of cask trading. So pound for pound, the longstanding tradition of trading casks is fair among distilleries.

Question 17

Which distilleries were open in the 1700s?

Question 18

Which distilleries have been operating continuously since the 1800s?

Question 19

Which was the first distillery to have a license?

Question 20

The largest wash still in Scotland

Answer 20

Glenkinchie

Question 21

Where are hammer mills used and why?

Answer 21

Teaninich and Inchdarnie

Question 22

Name a distillery that is experimenting with filling strengths?

Answer 22

Torabhaig - 58, 61.5, 63.4

Question 23

Name two distilleries who’s new make is full of dark fruits.

Answer 23

GlenDronach
Raasay

Question 24

Why does Glen Garioch have sulfur in new make spirit?

Answer 24

Pear/straight stills. No reflux, resulting in less purification of spirit

Question 25

Why does Bruichladdich use so many different casks?

Answer 25

Mark Reyneir revived Bruichladdich after working as a wine merchant. He brought his knowledge of casks.

Question 26

What two distilleries are named after a man, rather than a town?

Answer 26

Old Pulteney (named after Pulteney, for which an area in Wick is called Pulteney, and Old Pulteney was the man's nickname). Glen Grant

Question 27

Which distillery has a purifier on both wash and spirit stills?

Answer 27

Glen Grant

Question 28

What whiskies are in the Singleton Range?

Answer 28

Glen Ord

Question 29

Which distillery has the longest lyne arms in Scotland?

Answer 29

Ardnahoe, 7.5 meters

Question 30

How many operational distilleries on Islay?

Answer 30

10 Bunnahabhain - unpeated malt Ardnahoe - worm tubs Caol Ila - diageo producer for blends (seawater cooling) Lagavulin - Ardbed Laphroaig Bowmore Kilchoman Port Ellen Bruichladdich

Question 31

Which three Islay distilleries have floor maltings?

Answer 31

Laphroaig - 20% of its own malt Kilchoman - Bowmore -

Question 32

Which distilleries have a rake and plough mash tun?

Answer 32

Bruichladdich Springbank GlenDronach

Question 33

Name three distilleries that use each type of mash tun.

Answer 33

Stainless steel with copper lid: Bunnahabhain Rake and plough: Bruichladdich, Springbank, GlenDronach Full Lauter: Semi-Lauter: Lauter:

Question 34

Name three distilleries that use hard water.

Answer 34

Glenmorangie Glenkinchie Highland Park

Question 35

Name two distilleries that a second distillery is housed within the first.

Answer 35

Little Mill - Lagavulin wants to recreate Laphroaig Girvan and Ailsa Bay

Question 36

Two distilleries attached (as diageo modernizes, the new distillery, but the old one still runs)

Answer 36

Clynelish and Brora Mannochmore and Glenlossie

Question 37

Six Lowland Distilleries

Answer 37

Annandale Auchentoshan Bladnoch Daftmill (family owned in Fife) The Girvan Distilleries Glenkinchie New ones: Bonnington Borders Clydeside Eden Mill

Question 38

Grain Distilleries - who owns each and what grain gets used?

Answer 38

Cameron Bridge Girvan Starlaw Invergordon Loch Lomond North British Strathclyde