Whisky galore as US milestone is marked
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THE master distiller behind a distinctive Ross-shire dram has played his part in marking the massive importance of the US market at a special ceremony.
Bill Lumsden, master distiller for Glenmorangie was in the United States to help celebrate the centenary of the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).
He was joined at Mount Vernon by Andy Cant, master distiller at Cardhu Single Malt Distillery and John Campbell, distillery manager at Laphroaig, who hooked up with George Washington distillery master distiller David Pickerell to mark the occasion.
The top Scottish whisky distillers took part in a special whisky making and barrel filling ceremony to mark the significance of a market worth £600million.
The ceremony, toasting the Scottish connection to George Washington’s distillery in Mount Vernon, was the culmination of three days of work using 100 per cent Scottish barley and specially-constructed oak barrels to produce the dram.
After three years of aging in accordance with the maturation period for Scotch whisky, a limited edition of one hundred of the bottles - marking the 100 anniversary of the SWA - will be auctioned for charities around the world.
The US distillery, outside Washington DC, has strong Scottish roots.
In 1797 George Washington's farm manager, a Scot named James Anderson, convinced his employer that producing whisky made from corn and rye grown on the plantation would be a natural complement to his milling business.
The distillery was built and by 1799 it was producing 11,000 gallons of whisky.
Gavin Hewitt, chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association, said: "This exciting project brings together three master distillers of Scotch Wwhisky to produce what will be a unique single malt. It is a fitting way to celebrate Scotch whisky's continued success in the United States and the Association's centenary year."
Exports of Scotch Whisky to the US broke through the £600 million mark for the first time last year, to reach £654.9m.
The George Washington Distillery ceased operating in 1814 when the building burned down. Starting in 2000, the distillery was rebuilt on the site and was re-opened in 2006 by HRH the Duke of York Prince Andrew.
