Direct-Fired Stills

[Luke Gough]

Sorry to bore everyone rigid re Glendronach (again), but here's a short and sweet article re the more general subject of Direct-Firing:

http://themaltdesk.blogspot.dk/2013/05/glendronach-1992-16yo-dk-exclusive.html

Please note that Springbank/Longrow/Hazelburn and Mortlach still use Direct-Firing to a greater or lesser extent.

Any thoughts?

P.S. Another Scots distillery uses direct-firing but I've forgotten which one! Does anyone out there know?

[Fionnán]

interesting stuff Luke! On the subject of Springbank, now that John MacDougal's here often enough for Dingle, we should try to get his thoughts on the subject at some point

[Luke Gough]

interesting stuff Luke! On the subject of Springbank, now that John MacDougal's here often enough for Dingle, we should try to get his thoughts on the subject at some point

For the record, the Wash Still in Springbank has steam heat exchange as well as direct firing.

(Not forgetting and the legendary "rummager", and its cow-bell )

[Joel1802]

Aren't Glennfiddich and Glen Keith gas?

[Luke Gough]

For those who are interested in this style of distilling there's new stock of Glendronach Single Cask (Batch 7) in Celtic Whiskey as of yesterday:

http://www.celticwhiskeyshop.com/Scottish_Whisky/Speyside_Single_Malts/GlenDronach_Distillery-category-25-distillery-4-brand-61-z-brand.htm

The Warehouse/Wood management on these Official Single Casks is brilliant, but the quality of the Spirit is the Main Show here (as it always should be). The well-mannered hint of caramel, due to the direct-firing, is a delight.

Batch 7 is now sold out in the UK and, barring a putative Batch 8 this year, this may be the last chance to buy Pre-1996 Single-Cask for sane money.

Just to re-iterate, Pre-1996 Glendronach had their own maltings as well as coal-fired stills.

To enjoy this style in future we'll just have to make do with Springbank, not a bad thing...

[Joel1802]

I've been buying quite a bit of Glendronach over the last number of years for this very reason!