Ladybank members have begun a series of London based tastings to look closely at different malt whiskies and how the production process influences a variety of single malt whisky characteristics.

Not only the peat level, and how young peated whiskies are becoming a very impressive new trend (surprising results have been created from heavily peated whiskies less than 10 year sold), but also the influence of oak and special wine barrels now being used for ageing and for the ‘finishing’ (a second shorter maturation) of malt whiskies.

Some of the areas we started to look at are listed below. We think we should continue this involvement via tastings in January and February, involving our members in production options; we’ll even extend our research into the more valuable collectable whiskies that can be found at whisky auctions and that are revered by investors and whisky collectors. Here’s the list of points covered from last weeks discussion.

1. Relevance of base Ingredients (Water - Spring, stream, river or town supply; Barley - Variety, source & season; Yeast – varieties  2. Malting Phenol Levels (Lightly, medium or heavily peated. 3. Milling & Mashing (Milling, Mash filtering, worts filtering) 4. Fermentation (Long and or short fermentation time; Temperature of fermentation) 5. Distillation (Filtering wash, two or three distillations, rate and temperature of distillation, Cut points from spirit to feints and length of foreshots. 6. Filling & Maturation ( % of 1st fill American oak ex-bourbon, European oak, usually ex-sherry, first or second fill, use of ex-portwood, ex-winewood and other oaks; use of 500 litre butts, 180 litre barrels, strength of spirit filled into barrel, re-racking at the end of maturation. 7. Bottling (chill-filtering, bottling strength)  

The foundations are the people we have and how they are behind the project and  interacting with it.

We are having our second members meeting in London this week. These meetings, the first time members have come together to throw ideas around and feed off each others enthusiasm and interest, is inspiring.

Its much more of a “consumers in control” model than many businesses in the past; and for our overseas members we have an Online Boardroom so they can equally engage in the processes we are now going through.

Feedback from the members present, who are able to immerse themselves in any, or every, aspect of distillery creation and future whisky making plans, was exceptional. It really does look like we have a growing community of committed, and highly resourceful, people. You can read an article by Ian Green, who also attended, as part of his research into our project.

Ladybank Diary Photo Gallery (this link navigates from this page)

Ladybank Diary Photo Gallery (this link opens a new browser window)

This was where the Stillroom roof had got to yesterday. The two stills will sit in the space photographed, but on a mezzanine floor level.

The oak roof trusses have been designed to allow enough space for the top of the stills to reach up into the roof space.

This is the first time since we started renovations just over three weeks ago that I have visited in the rain. You have to delay roof work if it gets too wet for safety reasons, as everything become too slippery.

This picture is taken facing the same way as the one on September 1st - but this is from ground level within the Stillroom

With this in mind we chose the location of Ladybank carefully but for a whole lot of different reasons. The idea of regenerating unused farm buildings, finding these buildings set in a tranquil, undisturbed setting, while not going to the ends of the earth (ie middle of nowhere; remote island; far,far north etc) was important.

We think we found the perfect place. In fact we would go even further and describe it as a really magical place. The buildings have remained untouched (and unused) since the 1950’s. There is wildlife and countryside all around. It’s hidden down a rough farm track next to a small stream. Apart from the days when it rains (which is not that often in Fife) it has all the ingredients for the perfect place for a lazy, undisturbed picnic. All of our members who have visited love it. I hope these two pictures capture what I have described.

This is our stillroom! No roof, no still, no whisky yet. I expect the whole of the oak frame roof to be pretty much completed by the end of next week - so we’ll update with a new round of pictures then.

Another new distillery is being built in Norfolk and work started a few months ago. Here at Ladybank we had to go as far as Norfolk to find enough reclaimed pantiles to restore our roof in the traditional way. The guys at the Norfolk distillery meanwhile had to come as far as Scotland to recruit a skilled distillery manager (Iain Henderson who I know has a house just along the road from ladybank in a village called Freuchie).

This is my son Hector at the yard of Aspect Roofing in Norfolk when we went down to inspect the pantiles. 7000 of them arrived with us 2 days ago but it will be a few weeks before the replacement oak framed roof is ready to have the tiles fitted.

I was in a bit of a ‘rant mood’ so it will be interesting if Mark’s skilful editing will keep the interview orderly. We’ll see!