John's Blog

They say I’m a Master Distiller & Master Blender

2 July, 2015

Ok, I suppose I held both posts simultaneously, during my career. It obviously is a Great Honour and a Privilege to be recognised in such a way, and it is also extremely humbling. This is a wonderful Industry with which to be involved, I love each and every day, and hopefully for a good few…

Continue Reading

Scotch Whisky: Interesting Times

2 July, 2015

Another company reports lower sales, this time it is Edrington. So, Famous Grouse now joins Johnnie Walker in reporting a downturn. Not really surprising, as the Graph has continually risen over the last 10 or so years, and cannot go on forever like this. Downturns in this Industry are nothing new of course, I have…

Continue Reading

Secrets of a Long Life

26 June, 2015

James Hogg – a shepherd from the Ettrick area in the Scottish Border country – wrote in previous times that “if a body knew the exact quantity/ of whisky to take each day and stuck to that dose, I verily trow that he might leave for ever, and that doctors and Kirlryards (Church graveyards) would go out o’…

Continue Reading

Scotch Whisky Sales Down

26 June, 2015

Many people in Scotland laboured under the impression that the world wide sales of Scotch Whisky would keep on rising forever. How so ? Nothing keeps on rising forever, and it is disturbing to learn that the so called “Scottish Government” is now embracing this old industry like hugging a little baby, now that they…

Continue Reading

Let’s Clear the Air

24 June, 2015

Nicola Sturgeon the 1st minister of the Parliament in Edinburgh, has only this week hailed the Scotch Whisky Industry as a winner for Scotland’s economy. That is really amusing for me as I well recall Winifred Ewing in circa 1974/5 when she was MP for Moray & Nairn and was canvassing at the time I…

Continue Reading

The World of Experts

24 June, 2015

The world appears to be chock full of “experts” these days. You can hardly turn on an information or documentary programme without being subjected to at least one “expert” ! Now, there is nothing wrong with Genuine Experts, that’s ok, but I really “Rail” when we are subjected to the type of “expert” who quite…

Continue Reading

Whisky World Happenings

24 June, 2015

There is certainly a lot happening in the Whisky World. A new Distillery was opened early this week at Carron on Speyside, it has been built by Chivas Bros., who are committing investment of £60m per annum in Scotland over the next few years. there has also been recently opened the Kings Barns Distillery in…

Continue Reading

The Big Bang Theory

30 March, 2015

The Hadron Collider has split the atom thousands of times to put the myth of The Big Bang Theory to Rest.

Continue Reading