Dark Island brew!

In our blog of 12th October 2018 (Links between drinks), we reported on a tour of the Lustau Bodega, in Jerez de la Frontera in Spain, which specialises mainly in the production of sherries and vermouths. Lustau’s guide pointed out a section of their oak casks which are being aged in Spain, specifically for export to whisky distilleries in Scotland, in this case Highland Park, distilled in Orkney. We noted that these are not, in fact, old sherry casks, but ageing them at Lustau can still take up to 15 years, before the casks are ready to be shipped to Scotland to lend the whisky a distinctive additional flavour, as it matures.

Whilst on a trip north to the wonderful Orkney Isles in June/July 2019, we toured the famous Orkney Brewery, located on the island known as Mainland.  The tour was quite short (30 minutes) but well presented and informative.  It was followed by an enjoyable tasting of three of the brewery’s products, 1/3 pint each in a beer flight, in the former school room which is now the brewery’s bar and restaurant.

During the tour mention was made of a beer which the brewery is justifiably particlularly proud of.  Dark Island Reserve, Orkney Brewery’s speciality 10% ABV ale, is a rich strong Orcadian ale, which secured the UK country winner accolade, in the dark beer (strong) category, at the 2017 World Beer Awards in London.  After a gentle fermentation at the Orkney Brewery in Quoyloo, the beer is finished in old oak casks, which were formerly used to mature fine scotch malt whisky.  The beer is so strong that you might consider drinking it out of a quaich!

So, on the same small island, we have a world renowned distillery using oak casks from Andalucia, to mature its malt whisky in.  We also have a world famous brewery, using oak casks from the whisky industry, to help mature its distinctive, award winning flagship dark beer.  So  we uncovered an another unexpected connection between  famous Scottish drinks – everything seems to join up sooner or later!

On a different tack, it’s always good to try one’s hand at new skills, whilst not neglecting quaich-related matters.  Not more beer making, as in our April 2019 blog – we do have other interests!

Orkney is also home to a wide range of highly talented crafts people, from potters to wood carvers to glasss artists.  Amongst the last named group is our long time friend Carrie Paxton, who works from her new studio at her home in St. Ola, just outside Kirkwall.

Whilst she was acting as the perfect host, she offered to instruct Fiona and Jo in the art of producing attractive painted glass.  A few hours of (mostly) pleasure were then spent in the glass studio, preparing the glass, then using two different techniques (frits and enamels) to decorate each piece.  The whole process took place over two days, and involved two firings in the kiln.  Both “students” enjoyed the experience, but appreciated these were quite difficult skills to learn, giving them a real insight into Carrie’s creative process and the high levels of skill and concentration involved in producing her wonderful pieces.