Vatted Islay Malt Scotch Whisky released for the 150th anniversary of the Glasgow Islay Association

At the Home Gathering to mark its 150th anniversary on 28 July 2012 in Bowmore, the Glasgow Islay Association presented a Vatted Islay Malt Scotch Whisky. Created by Bruichladdich’s Master Blender Jim McEwan and bottled at the Bruichladdich distillery, the whisky consists of single malts from all eight active Islay distilleries. The edition is 150 bottles with an alcohol content of 50%.

The Glasgow Islay Association (An Comunn Ileach) was founded in 1862, making it the oldest association of its kind in Scotland. The aim of the association was and is to bring together natives of the island of Islay who live in Glasgow and the surrounding area, to foster links with the locals and to collect and preserve traditions, stories and poetry of Islay, but also to support members in need.

Master Distiller Jim McEwan told the local newspaper Ileach: “The distilleries wanted to come together and join in the celebrations of this momentous event. We have created a unique vatted malt using whisky from all eight of Islay iconic brands. I was keen to make this a truly memorable dram, with its own particular character and made a conscious decision to avoid creating something that could be compared to the magnificent, heavily peated malt.
To do this, I have used the (in)famous X4 as the Bruichladdich element. This is the dram inspired by the ancient, powerful, ˜Perilous Whisky” about which Martin Martin wrote in 1695: One sip and you live forever, two sips you go blind, three sips and you expire on the spot. Happily, the X4 is tempered by its elegant colleagues in this instance, and the finished product presented at a more civilised 50% abv. I am absolutely delighted by the result. We have produced just 150 individually numbered bottles, some of which have been distributed to each distillery.”

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