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 Organic Futures
- How Green is my Laddie!
The Story
Ever wondered what whisky used to taste like a hundred, two hundred, even five
hundred years ago? In the nineteenth century all whisky, would have been
distilled from organically grown barley. It was the birth of intensive farming
during the wars, integral to the survival of these islands, which ended the
traditional farming ways known to our forefathers. Whisky must have tasted
different back then.
Industrial Distilling
Subsequently, as the agrochemical corporations have dominated farming so the
multinationals have the brewing and distilling industries. The two giants
feeding the need for spiralling barley yields, in the search of ever greater
economies. There have been almost thirty improved varieties since the sixties
alone.
Forgotten Scottish Terroir
Today organic farmers are rediscovering farming of a pre-industrial era, the
reconnection with time-honoured working of the land that had been unchanged for
five thousand years. It celebrates individuality, the delicate harmony between
soil, subsoil, bedrock, microclimate, and plant. The French have a word for this
concept: ‘terroir’. Scotland, by default, had its own terroir too: specific
farms that grew barley in a soil that lived and breathed – not inert, dead,
waiting for its next chemical fix. This produced the whiskies of the nineteenth
century and before. Sadly, today it is homogenous, standard barley, most of it
not even grown in Scotland.
Original Distillation
Distilleries nowadays are computer-controlled, the human judgement, the art and
skills of distilling acquired over decades, generations of experience,
forgotten. But time has stood still at Bruichladdich. Here, the original
Victorian machinery is still in use, run by true artisanal craftsmen.
 Green
Bruichladdich
In December 2003, Bruichladdich distilled the first, Organic Islay Whisky,
certified by Demeter. The Chalice barley was grown at Culblair Farm near
Inverness in a Site of Special Scientific Interest on glacial gravel deposits
with sand and loam and a touch of clay, one mile from the sea. It was malted and
shipped to Islay.
And the result?
Jim McEwan explains what happened next: “The middle cut was different from our
regular Bruichladdich. We ran the distillation even more slowly than normal, to
preserve the creamy texture of the spirit, which has a wonderful spring-like
quality to it.”
“It’s quite green and herbaceous with flowering currant, geranium and mossy
riverbank notes, but there’s a balance of fruit in there, which you’d expect in
new spirit - soft pears and sweet stewed apple. Our usual spirit is pretty damn
good, yet here there is just more of everything. I never thought there could be
such a difference!”
Certification
Now you too will have a chance to know what a nineteenth century whisky actually
tasted like. Islay’s first organic whisky was distilled at Bruichladdich on 10th
December, under the supervision of the certifying body ‘Demeter’ - the
Biodynamic Agricultural Association.
Eight hundred cases exclusively from that first day’s production were filled
into Bourbon casks on the 16th and have been reserved for sale as ‘futures’.
Only these 12 bottle cases will have a unique label, with a personally signed
back label by Jim McEwan to celebrate whisky from a bygone age, the (re)birth of
Bruichladdich Organic.
Organic Futures
The remaining barrels that have been laid down are not for sale in cask, even
though we have experienced an unparalleled level of interest from wealthy
private individuals. There is no question that demand will far exceed our
limited supply, as every whisky connoisseur and enthusiast will want to taste a
true nineteenth century spirit. To avoid disappointing too many of our friends,
we have decided to offer some of this precious stock for sale now, like with
Bordeaux wines, and our own Octomore, as ‘futures’. The whisky will mature in
Warehouse 5 until Jim decides that the first Organic whisky is ready to be
bottled, which is anticipated to be no less than eight years. The first 800
cases, actually distilled on the 10th December 2003, will be reserved for those
who have purchased their dozen bottles as ‘futures’. Only these will have a
special label, with a back label personally signed by Jim McEwan, to commemorate
the (re)birth of Organic Bruichladdich.
The Offer...
One case comprises of 12 x 70cl bottles bottled at
46% Vol, without chill-filtration, and caramel-free
The distillate has been certified Organic by Demeter
Orders are restricted to one case of 12 bottles per person, credit card holder
and address. The Distillery reserves the right to refuse any orders to anyone
who the distillery believes may already own a case of Organic 2003
Title of Organic 2003 Futures is non-transferable.
The Organic bottles sold as 'Futures' 2003 will have a unique livery. Labels
will be numbered and autographed.
Purchase online via the laddieshop
here
or download the offer here
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