CHAT ON WHISKY

Evening Star, Issue 20128, 19 March 1929, Page 7

CHAT ON WHISKY

PRODUCE Of BRITAIN DEVELOPING TRADE WITH HEW ZEALAND Reciprocity in trading between the United Kingdom and the British dominions is now quite rightly recognised as one ol; the basic influences in cementing the integral units of the Empire, and moulding them into one complete whole, thus building up a nation which can successfully withstand the inroads of foreign competition. Among the many representatives of British manufacturing firm who, in the endeavour to create substantial trading with this country have journeyed through the dominion, is Mr A. 0. MacGillycuddy, the Australian representative of Messrs Robert M'Nish and (Jo., Ltd., of Glasgow and London, one of the few independent firms of distillers who have kept aloof from the whisky combines. Mr MacGillycuddy, accompanied by Mr C. A. Quane, of Messrs H. Quane and Co., the New Zealand representatives of the firm, is at present in Dunedin, and in conversation with a ‘ Star ’ man this morning he supplied much interesting information concerning the commodity in which he deals. The visitor said that the object ol his two months’ tour through New Zealand was to make the M‘Nish_ product feature to a greater extent in the yearly exports from Scotland to New Zealand. Having explained that Dr M'Nish oyer 100 years ago was the pioneer physician in the matter of specialising in the effect of alcohol on the human system, the visitor went on to say that the house of M‘Nish was founded over seventy years ago to carry out the conclusions of the doctor’s research on the best methods of blending Scotch whiskies to create a high-class stimulant which would not leave any deleterious effects. This house had been continuously under the control of the M’Nish family since its loundation, and to-day the brothers M’Nish were still the managing directors.

After referring to the fact that since the war rapid strides had been made in the manufacture of whisky, Mr MacGillycuddy said that the Old Country was now utilising the latest modern equipment to produce a tremendously improved typo of whisky, and export trade was going to almost every country in the world. Ths whisky lay at the various distilleries for over six years, and then was brought to Glasgow, turned into huge vats, and blended by electricity. It was never touched by hand. The cases were cut and nailed by machinery on the premises from wood imported from British Columbia and Scandinavia. The warehouses were close to the docks, thus giving easy facilities for despatch. The M'Nish whisky consisted of Scotch malts and grains distilled entirely in Scotland, and although the Governments throughout the world required an age of three years before shipment the M'Nish company guaranteed every drop being not Jess than seven years old.