Cardhu Distillery, Knockando Tel: +44 (0) 1340 810204

Cardhu, the only malt distillery pioneered by a woman, stands in Speyside, close to the secret of its success - the ice-cold, fresh mountain spring water. The distillery also has a coffee shop, exhibition, gift shop, picnic area. Admission: Adults £2 including a £3 voucher redeemable in the distillery shop against the purchase of a 70cl bottle of malt whisky. Under 18s free. Opening Times: Open all year: Mondays to Fridays, 9.30am to 4.30pm. Also May to September: Saturdays 9.30am to 4.30pm. Other times and large parties by appointment.

Dallas Dhu Historic Distillery, Forres Tel: +44 (0) 1309 676548

This is the last distillery to be built in the nineteenth century. Visitors can wander at will through this completely preserved time capsule of the distiller's craft. Explore this fine old Victorian distillery and then enjoy a dram in the audio-visual theatre as the story of Scotch Whisky unfolds before you. Audio-visual theatre, exhibition, gift shop, picnic area. Admission: Adults £2, senior citizens and UB40 holders £1.25, children 75p. Opening Times: April to September: Monday to Saturday, 09 .30 to 18.30, Sunday 14.00 to 18.30; October to March: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, 09.30 to 16.30, Thursday 09.30 to 12.30, Sunday 14.00 to 16.30.

Glenfarclas Distillery, Ballindalloch Tel: +44 (0) 1807 500245/500257

Glenfarclas Distillery is rooted in a family tradition stretching back over 150 years. Gift shop, audio-visual, whisky exhibition (in four languages), cask filling gallery, picnic area. Admission: Adults £2.50 including a voucher redeemable in the distillery shop. Opening Times: Early January to mid-December: Monday to Friday, 09.00 to 16.30 (Winter 10.00 to 16.00). June to September: Saturday 10.00 to 16.00 and Sunday 12.30 to 16.30. Other times by arrangement.

Glen Grant Distillery, Rothes Tel: +44 (0) 1542 783318

Glen Grant Distillery was founded in 1840 in a sheltered glen by the two Grant brothers. Enjoy the delightful Victorian garden originally created by Major Grant and restored to its former glory. Gift shop, audio-visual, gardens. Admission: Adults £2.50 for gardens visit and distillery tour. Under 18s free. Children under 8 are not admitted to the production areas. Opening Times: Mid-March to end of October: Monday to Friday 09.30 to 16.00. Also mid-June to mid-September: Saturday, 09.30 to 16.00. Sunday, 12.30 to 16.00. Other times by arrangement.

The Glenfiddich Distillery, Dufftown Tel: +44 (0) 1340 820373

The Glenfiddich Distillery is still owned and managed by the Grant family who built it over 100 years ago. Audio-visual in 6 languages, exhibition, gift shop, picnic areas. Admission: Free. Opening Times: Open early January to mid-December: Monday to Friday 09.30 to 16.30. Easter to mid-October: Saturday 09.30 to 16.30, Sunday 12.00 to 16.30.

The Glenlivet Distillery, Glenlivet Tel: +44 (0) 1542 783220

The Glenlivet Distillery was established legally in 1824 by John Smith. Gift shop, audio-visual, coffee shop, picnic area, exhibition. Admission: Free. Opening Times: Open mid-March to end of October: Monday to Saturday 10.00 to 16.00. July and August: 09.00 to 18.00. Other times by arrangements. Children under 8 are not admitted to production areas

Strathisla Distillery, Keith Tel: +44 (0) 1542 783044

Strathisla Distillery is the home and heart of Chivas Regal. Enjoy the hospitality and the unhurried pace of the self-guided tour of the oldest distillery in the Highlands, founded in 1786. Free coffee and shortbread, exhibition, free guide book, whisky nosing, gift shop. Admission: Adults £4 including £2 voucher redeemable in the distillery shop against the purchase of a 70cl bottle of whisky. Under 18s free. Opening Times: Open end-January to end-December: Monday to Friday, 09.30 to 16.00. July and August, also Saturday 09.30 to 16.00. Other times by arrangement. Children under 8 are not admitted to production areas.

Speyside Cooperage, Craigellachie Tel: +44 (0) 1340 871108

This is the only working cooperage in Britain with a visitor centre. Each year, around 100,000 oak casks are repaired which will be used to mature many different whiskies. Exhibitions (5 languages), viewing gallery, gift shop, picnic area. Admission: Adults £1.70, children and senior citizens £1.20, family ticket £4.90. Opening Times: Open early January to mid-December: Monday to Friday 09.30 to 16.30. Also Easter to September: Saturday 09.30 to 16.30.

Tamnavulin Distillery, Tamnavulin Tel: +44 (0) 1807 590442

The Tamnavulin Visitors Centre is housed in a charming old carding mill over 100 years old. Set in spectacular scenery on the banks of the River Livet, a more pleasant spot to be guided through the mysteries of transforming barley, peat and water into malt whisky would be hard to imagine. Gift shop, audio-visual, picnic area. Admission: Free. Opening Times: Open March to October: Monday to Friday, 09.30 to 16.30. Also April to September: Saturday 09.30 to 16.30. Last tour leaves at 15.45.

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ISO the Perfect Drinking Companion: A Guide to the Whisky Guides

by Barry Forbes

The single malt lovers' bible is undoubtedly Michael Jackson's Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch: A Connoisseur's Guide to the Single Malt Whiskies of Scotland (Running Press Book Publishers, third edition , 1994, 270 pp, $24.95). As the "complete guide," the book does a good job of covering the whisky distillation process, storing and serving whisky, visiting the distilleries, and the requiste whisky listings. Although touted as "complete," some labels are not included. However, the listings are handily listed by alphabetical order, tasting notes include different versions of a single distilery's whiskies, and the rating system is based on Mr. Jackson's own discerning tastes. Although tastes differ, this is good starting point.

A close competitor to Jackson's guide is The Single Malt Whisky Companion: A Connoisseur's Guide by Helen Arthur and published by Quintet Publishing Ltd., "A Simon & Schuster Macmillan Company" (256 pp, $24.95, 1997). The guide is lush with big, full-bottle pictures (compared to Jackson's guide with labels only), maps, engravings, and full color photos of distilleries and the Scotland countryside. However, Arthur lists about 25 fewer distilleries than Jackson, fewer individual tasting notes, and no rating system

Wallace Milroy's The Malt Whisky Almanac (Neil Wilson Publishing, 160 pp., $14.95, 1995) is handier in size than the two mentioned above -- but far less handier to use. The listing of whisky by region means the user spends unnecessary time flipping between the listings and the index. Information is more limited, with usually one (small) page devoted to each distillery and not all labels are pictured. However, the guide does list more distilleries than do Jackson's and Arthur's books. One good feature is a section on "lost distilleris."

Carol P. Shaw's Collins Gem: Whisky (HarpersCollins Publishers, 236 pp, $13.95, 1995) is definitely for the whisky-lovers on the go. This pocket-sized (3-1/4" X 4-1/2") guide boasts "over 150 Scotch whiskies" but this includes about fifty blends, "de luxe" blends, liquers, vatted malts, and grain whiskies. A lot of information is packed into this "palmtop," including a taste rating system which uses a spectrum from "very mild flavour" and "good for beginners" to "robust; only for the well developed palate."

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Turn your coffee table into a whisky table:: Art Book Features Single Malt Scotch

By Matthew Menke

Bill Milne's and Roddy Martine's Single Malt Scotch (Freidman/Fairfax Publishers, 1997) is a fine addition to any whisky lover's coffee table. Large pages and close-up photos rish with color are the outstanding features of this new book on Scotch Whisky. Many are taken inside the distillary plants, and show technical details of the stills, malting and mashing processes, and cooperage that other books by-pass in favor of photos of valleys and building exteriors. The overly artsy angles on a number of photos weren't necessary to make it all beautiful.

The text is divided into three parts: history, "how-to," and a brief geographical tour. This 140 or so page book is a quick and easy read since the type is large, the words are well-spaced, and the photos are numerous. The train of thought follows easily and coherently. The history section covers the common timeline of whisky's evolution without adding any details to the basic story of taxes, wars, and marketing. It makes for light review.

The "how-to" portion is more meaty. It describes the whisky production from raw barley to the bottle over about thirty pages, which include more photos than text. Only a couple of minor errors are mixed in with a brief but precise explanation of the chemistry involved. The "Whisky Tour" takes up over half of the book. The city-by-city commentary covers the local distillaries and their histories. It includes the names of the people and places worth visiting, with a minimum of tasting notes. This is a relief to anyone who can't taste all the seventeen distinct essences and unguents in every whisky! Instead, the authors provide more interesting tidbits about the various towns and regions.

Another feature is the interspersion of wonderful-sounding recipes throughout the book, rather than the standard approach of burying them at the end. Dalwhinnie Souffle' anyone? Saddle of Venison on Potato Glaettes with Minted Juniper Sauce...? Sure, just don't drip on any of the photographs!

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Purchasing Single Malt Whisky in Virginia

Regrettably, Virginia ABC stores are unable to offer our membership discounts like the DC and Maryland liquor stores are. What they can do for us, though, is special order single malts. Ask to see their order book. No deposit is required and you can arrange to pick up your order at any ABC store in the state. The list is quite extensive (over 50 distilleries listed). Your order will arrive in pproximately a week. Also, at least two single malts go on sale each month, either a distributors special or a sale being made by ABC management. ACUB members will now be able to get advanced notice of these sales. So be sure to check the next issue of the Pot Still!

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December Whisky Tasting:Glenfarclas 104 and 'Black Whisky'

The December whisky tasting was held at the Sheraton City Centre Hotel on December 14th. ACUB convenor Rebecca Aronson provided whiskies which definitely encouarged discussion and debate among the members of the group! The 10-year-old Tamnavulin had very pale color, with a light nose -- reminiscent to some of musty wood. The body was also light and smooth. The palate tasted slightly of currants and lemon. Many found it a bit too light. On the opposite end of the scale, the Finlaggan (no age noted) had a strong iodine and smoky palate. This was a favorite for many.

The 12-year-old Poit Dhubh ("potch ghoo") had a light amber color. The palate was peppery with a dash of salt and a hint of iodine. Amongth favorites of the group. Most found the 10-year-old Inverarity to be another lightweight, with its thin, slightly sweet palate and strong caramel finish. "Immature" was one term used.

The generaly acclaimed best of the lot was the Glenfarclas 104 cask strength. The amber color and slightly caramel nose was a prelude to a fruity palate and a strong finish. Making its return engagement was the notorious 10-year-old Loch Dhu. The whisky had a distinctive dark brown color, the nose had strong overtones of licorice and, as one taster noted, "overripe banana peels." The body was slightly oily, the palate was redolent of anise, and the finish was slightly bitter. Although a favorite for a couple of tasters, this was generally not included on many members' "must buy" list.

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February Whisky Tasting:From Royal Brackla to "Sheep Dip!"

The Sheraton City Centre Hotel was once again the site for the February whisky tasting on Sunday the 15th. As usual, ACUB coordinator Rebecca Aronson provided a interesting and wide variety of whiskies to sample!

The 1979 Royal Brackla had a delicate smoky yet sweet nose. The palate was full and a bit dry. The finish was sweetish, almost sherry-like. The 15-year-old Caol Ila was a lightly peaty cousin to the usually pungent whiskies of the Islay distilleries. The nose was complex and aromatic -- and the body surisingly light. The palate had a touch of peat and a a dash of the sea. Nicely balanced -- and one of the favorites of the day.

The Whyte & Whyte 1980 Longmorn was another popular choice with its fragrant bouquet and nutty, sherry-like palate. The finish was long and warming. A great apertif! A perennial favorite, the 15-year-old Dalwhinnie continued to please the discerning crowd. The aromatic nose was prelude to a complex palate of tastes: honey, malt, and a touch of peat. A long finish added to the full enjoyment of a classic whisky.

An interesting addition was the 8-year-old Sheep Dip. The odd name is said to have come from the time Scottish farmers escaped paying excise fees by hiding their home-made whisky in barrels labeled as "sheep dip." Some of the ACUB tasters suggested that these farmers were probably illiterate and mixed up the barrels. An unremarkable but serviceable single malt.

Check the Calendar of Upcoming Events for future whisky tastings.

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Robert Burns Night Dinner

In place of a tasting in January, ACUB members and guests gathered on the 24th to celebrate the birth of the Scottish bard Robert Burns. All were treated to Alan Sturrock's presention of the life and poetry of the Bard, period music performed by "Kindred Spirits," and of course the traditional "Address to the Haggis."

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