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Distillery to Revive 184-Proof Whisky

 

By JENNIFER PRICE, Associated Press Writer Mon Feb 27, 3:02 PM ET

 

LONDON - A Scottish distillery said Monday it was reviving a centuries-old recipe for whisky so strong that one 17th-century writer feared more than two spoonfuls could be lethal.

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Risk-taking whisky connoisseurs will have to wait, however — the spirit will not be ready for at least 10 years.

 

The Bruichladdich distillery on the Isle of Islay, off Scotland's west coast, is producing the quadruple-distilled 184-proof — or 92 percent alcohol — spirit "purely for fun," managing director Mark Reynier said.

 

Whisky usually is distilled twice and has an alcohol content of between 40 and 63.5 per cent.

 

Bruichladdich is using a recipe for a spirit known in the Gaelic language as usquebaugh-baul, "perilous water of life."

 

In 1695, travel writer Martin Martin described it as powerful enough to affect "all members of the body."

 

"Two spoonfuls of this last liquor is a sufficient dose; if any man should exceed this, it would presently stop his breath, and endanger his life," Martin wrote.

 

Reynier put Martin's test to the claim and consumed three spoonfuls.

 

"I can tell you, I had some and it indeed did take my breath away," Reynier said.

 

Bruichladdich, a small privately owned distillery founded in 1881, plans to make about 5,000 bottles of the whisky, which Reynier estimated would sell for about 400 pounds (US$695, euro590) per case of 12 bottles. Although whisky lovers can place their orders now, the actual spirit will not be delivered for about 10 years.

 

"You get a better drink if you wait because of the basic oxygenation through the oak barrels," Reynier said.

 

In the meantime, customers will be able to watch the whisky's progress on the distillery's webcams.

Someone will try to chug it.

I loves me some Islay single malts. They usually have a smoked peat and seasalt/seaweed earthiness to them that makes them unmistakable.

 

92% abv certainly sounds a bit extreme, but I'd like to try it.

Publicity stunt. But they'll certainly make some money -- the angel's share isn't that much.

omg

 

i don't think i would drink that whiskey

ohhh sounds like fun!

Someone will try to chug it.

and die.

 

And who in the hell is gonna watch some whisky age on a webcam???

and die.

 

And who in the hell is gonna watch some whisky age on a webcam???

I have a barrel of Bourbon with my name on it in Loretto KY. I don't watch it on webcam, but I hav a picture of it somewhere.

and die.

 

Yep........ :headshake

 

IN 2006!!!!!!

 

I have a barrel of Bourbon with my name on it in Loretto KY.  I don't watch it on webcam, but I hav a picture of it somewhere.

You might be able to command a good price for that barrel if it was crafted by a good small batch distillery.

 

I don't know anything about the vintage craft bourbon world, but in cotland there is an outfit called Cadenhead that has found quite a niche market hunting down individual casks of single malt that were laid down to represent important personal events like weddings and birthdays and such. They buy casks for up to a couple of thousand dollars each, depending on the reputation of the distiller and the region of origin. Then they bottle the scotch in their own label and resell as super-premium authentic single malt Scotch from verions endemic regions.

 

My wife bought me a bottle of Cadenhead 12 year old Invergordon single malt for my birthday a couple of yars ago and it was wonderful. Sad to know there will never be any more of that exact ingle malt ever again, but also kind of cool to think abou it that way.

 

I've tasted a couple Highland and Islay malts from Cadenhad as well, and all have been very distinct and quite nice.

You might be able to command a good price for that barrel if it was crafted by a good small batch distillery.

 

I don't know anything about the vintage craft bourbon world, but in cotland there is an outfit called Cadenhead that has found quite a niche market hunting down individual casks of single malt that were laid down to represent important personal events like weddings and birthdays and such.  They buy casks for up to a couple of thousand dollars each, depending on the reputation of the distiller and the region of origin.  Then they bottle the scotch in their own label and resell as super-premium authentic single malt Scotch from verions endemic regions.

 

My wife bought me a bottle of Cadenhead 12 year old  Invergordon single malt for my birthday a couple of yars ago and it was wonderful.  Sad to know there will never be any more of that exact ingle malt ever again, but also kind of cool to think abou it that way.

 

I've tasted a couple Highland  and Islay malts from Cadenhad as well, and all have been very distinct and quite nice.

It's not nearly as cool as all that. It's a customer appreciation thing for Maker's Mark.

 

 

Yup, my name's somewhere on there.

It's not nearly as cool as all that.  It's a customer appreciation thing for Maker's Mark.

 

 

Yup, my name's somewhere on there.

 

Eh, that's still kind of cool.

 

So how much Maker's Mark do yu have to drink before they start putting your name on the casks?

 

j/k, I recall you are in the bar biz, and I assume this is one of the perks? Along with all the beer from the drip trays I mean. . .

Eh, that's still kind of cool.

 

So how much Maker's Mark do yu have to drink before they start putting your name on the casks? 

 

j/k, I recall you are in the bar biz, and I assume this is one of the perks?  Along with all the beer from the drip trays I mean. . . 

Although I do enjoy a dram or two of Maker's from time to time, this is more of a loyalty program -- you most certainly do not have to be in the hospitality biz to join. If you wish to join, I can PM you the details.

 

The worst part is that, because of health reasons, I haven't had a drink in a month! It's a real liability when I can't even try new products. I hate using a spit bucket when I taste wine, but I have little choice.