Whisky, in all its iterations, is not just an end product, not just a drink...though it is a good one at that. It is a science, an art, alchemy and magic, geography and history, and it is people (um, not like soylent green...).
There are many exemplary sites out there on the making and tasting of whisky, and I don't intend on reinventing that wheel. I just want to bring some story to what I think is a fascinating process.
You can see more whisky photographs as well as not-just-whisky photographs and ramblings if you follow the links in the sidebar. Please take
a look...or not.

Showing posts with label Ben Nevis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ben Nevis. Show all posts

December 28, 2010

barrels

In the long history of whisky making, wood has perhaps travelled the furthest along the distiller's continuum of understanding as to its importance to and influence on the final product. Born of the need simply to contain and transport the whisky maker's art, it is now exhaulted as one of the major contributors to the flavours we have come to love. So much so that distilleries like Glenmorangie actually select their own oak from trees growing in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri where it will begin its life as barrels maturing American whiskey or bourbon.

And though the distiller appreciates the barrel for the qualities of its wood, I appreciate it for the qualities of its shape and form...the smooth flowing line of the circle, the rhythm of repetition, the stories it tells by its grizzled exterior and stencilled tatoos. They're fun to photograph.


barrels at Bruichladdich Distillery with the logo reflected in water pooled on the barrelhead

Barrels at the Bruichladdich Distillery

Bruichladdich barrels after the rain.


barrels at Arran Distillery, yellow and green barrelheads

Arran barrels.


barrels at Glenora Distillery, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada

Glenora, Canada's single malt distiller on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.


barrel hoops in the Balvenie Distillery cooperage

Balvenie barrel hoops.

SlĂ inte
...and Happy Hogmanay