A WHISKY RIDDLE

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18875, 20 February 1933, Page 2

A WHISKY RIDDLE

LIQUID ASSETS THAT DISAPPEAR. (From a Correspondent.) LONDON, Dec. 24. Whisky is a subject about which even Scotsmen sometimes make jokes, but at a “ Scottish Whisky Luncheon” held in London the speeches were marked by a notable gravity. Ihc theme of the speeches was the indefinite something which makes whisks' more than a mere liquid refreshment. Mr S. it. Rustic, for example, discussed Hie “ optimum point of maturing," which, lie said, varied greails between one whisky and another. Some whiskies were at Ibeir best after maturing ten to twelve years. Some might require more, lull the exact, time could only he determined by smelling and lasting. Distilleries in Scotland lost, three million gallons a year from their stocks through evaporation during maturing. Recently a cask was brought to his notice which bail been forgot ten for forty-four years. The original 23 gallons bad become reduced' to two iltiid ounces—ami that was undrinkable.

Mr Alec Gordon, a distiller for forty years on Speyside, cited ine ease in which a distillery whose output was in good demand attempted lo increase ils production by building another distillery in dose proximity. The plant was copied as closely as possible, mi I the same water was used, lull the resulting whisky bad a cliaraeler quite di-dmel fpoii the parenl disliltery.