Well after a hectic last few days before Christmas we were all looking forward to a Christmas break which started mildly enough in Portsoy with the snow which had fallen just before Christmas totally disappeared by the 25th. However by the time New Year came we had our share of cold weather and snow which got worse in the first week of January. Some of the team couldn’t make it in due to the roads being closed and so with threats of the gas supplies possibly being shut-off we have delayed start-up for a week. We should now be ready to start next week by which time I will be in Canada heading for the Victoria Whisky Festival.

For those of you who have been following my ramblings during last year, you will remember that we produced a small amount of peated spirit at the end of the year. While we are still awaiting the analyses of the spirit and the measured phenol levels, both Graham and I were pleased with the taste of the spirit and are sure that this will produce excellent whisky in future years. Later this year we will make available a very small amount of bottles of the peated new make spirit and more details of the unique way in which we will sell this product will be available shortly.

Finally although we have had some snow, I know that many of you have fared worse than us and indeed some of other Scotch Whisky companies have suffered considerably with warehouse roof collapses. To date we have not been affected by this and I can only hope that the thaw, when it comes, does not do too much damage.

Slange

Stuart