The Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom

by Alfred Barnard

The object of this Work is to give a familiar description and history of all the Whisky Distilleries of Great Britain, the product of which brings the largest revenue to the Imperial Exchequer of any industry in the Kingdom. Also to draw attention to the rapid increase of the Whisky Trade, and the vast field of Distillery enterprise now existing in this country; the annual output of Scotland alone being for the year 1885-6 17,982,338 gallons, whilst that of Ireland was 10,620,584 gallons. In these pages I have made no pretensions to observations, scientific or otherwise, on the art of distilling malt and grain spirit, but have simply given a description of the Distilleries and what I have seen therein. That I am not a practical distiller or connected with the trade is not an assumption of merit, as will probably be proved by the censure which, from some quarters, the book may receive; therefore, I earnestly bespeak the leniency of the Distillers, who will doubtless see faults and technical errors in my description of the various methods, now in use for making malt and grain whisky at the different establishments herein described. The book makes no pretension to literary merit of any sort, and should not be judged by any such standard. It is simply the product of a run through the Distilleries, with an endeavour to give descriptive sketches upon each in more or less detail. So far as is known to the author, there has never been a work of the kind published before, and as many blenders and whisky merchants have very little knowledge of the "inner workings" of a Distillery, it may, I trust, prove in some measure interesting, if not useful, to them. Again, I wish to stimulate an interest in the art of distilling among those who trade in whisky, and to aid in demonstrating, what I am convinced is correct, that good whisky, as a beverage, is the most wholesome spirit in the world. Should I succeed in doing this, and my book proves of interest to my readers, I shall be gratified, and the publication of this volume will afford me pleasure to the end of my days. I may state that at first I found my descriptive task beset with difficulties far exceeding what I had contemplated; but, after a few weeks’ experience, I got acquainted with the nature of the business, the names of the vessels, and the process of mashing and distilling, when my interest grew with the work, making it easier for me; until, after a time, I acquired quite a zest for these distillery studies.

It is well known that most of the Scotch and Irish Distilleries, in addition to the interest they awaken as important sources of commercial interest, are invested with no ordinary attractions, by their picturesque surroundings and the magnificent country in which they are planted. In these pages I have endeavoured to give permanence to impressions made on my mind by the beautiful scenery it was my good fortune to behold in the most favourable weather during a two years’ tour. If my readers think that I have gone rather too freely into the history and description of the lovely places visited, I trust that I shall be pardoned, and some allowance made for the exuberance of one in "city pent" who has been released to enjoy the pure air of heaven among the mountains, lakes, and valleys of Scotland and Ireland. I have endeavoured to confine myself exclusively to observations on the most striking objects that presented themselves to my view in passing through the Distilleries, even at the risk of repetition, and although many chapters may appear alike, in reality there is a difference in detail of each one of them. In several "out of the way" places I was detained a day or two waiting for a steamer or other conveyance, which gave me the opportunity of exploring the locality, hence some of the sketches are much longer than others.

I cannot refrain from expressing the delight with which I look back upon my visits and associations with the Distillers themselves, as apart from my extremely pleasurable intercourse with them, without their assistance this book could not have been written, and from stating that a more agreeable and hospitable class does not exist. Everywhere I was received courteously, and in many places with kindly hospitality,

"When death’s dark stream I ferry o’er,
A time that surely shall come,
In heaven itself I’ll ask no more
Than just a Highland welcome!"

Burns

In alluding to those persons who have rendered me assistance, I must not omit to mention a dear friend, who will not let me "present him", for his able articles on "Distillation", whose talent has left nothing for me to say on the subject, and to whom I feel deeply indebted. Also to Messrs. A. & C. Dawson for the admirable reproduction of an old family relic, which appears as the frontispiece to the work and which has been photo-engraved on copper direct from the object; also for the maps. To Messrs. Walker & Boutall for many of the etchings which have done much to embellish and increase the value of the work.

London
January 1887

Alfred Barnard