Distillery holiday/work

by **r900p** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 11:26 am

Has anyone been on a weeks working holiday at a distillery? What was it like, i've oftne considered it but thought it couldn't be as good as being from the consumer side, i.e tourist.

Rob

by **vitara7** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 2:35 pm

do any of them do it?

by **martin grant** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 5:53 pm

I'm pretty sure Jura offer something like this

by **fishboy** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 6:18 pm

Various distillery's are now offering "academies" where you pay to work there. Of the top of my head Bruichladdich, Bladnoch, Kilchoman and Jura (I'm sure there are others) certainly offer this service. The price varies, for example the Laddie one is £795 for four days and inlcudes full board (including alcohol) and you get a valinch bottlnig at the end.

I'm hoping to do the Laddie on for my 40th birthday. But I'm sure someone on the forum will have done it and be able to tell us what it was like. Alternatively there are some "diaries" posted on the laddie website

http://www.bruichladdich.com/the_academy.htm

by **vitara7** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 8:59 pm

sounds interesting, may have to look into it a bit more....

by **r900p** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:43 pm

Just found out bunnahbain do one, well a chap from my local dram shop has gone up there for a week, at least i think it was a paying trip and that he wasn't invited by the distillery. Ah well guess i'll find out on his return.

I hope i've spelt bunnahbain right, i never do.

Rob

by **TheLaddie** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 1:18 am

fishboy wrote:I'm hoping to do the Laddie on for my 40th birthday.

by **TheLiquorBaron** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 1:59 am

TheLaddie wrote:
fishboy wrote:I'm hoping to do the Laddie on for my 40th birthday.

Obviously this is news to TheLaddie :lol:

Fishboy are you going to take him out for dinner first :wink:

by **Di Blasi** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 3:22 am

TheLiquorBaron wrote:
TheLaddie wrote:
fishboy wrote:I'm hoping to do the Laddie on for my 40th birthday.

Obviously this is news to TheLaddie
Fishboy are you going to take him out for dinner first

Oh goodness! How much time does he have to get out of it??

by **Deactivated Member** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 6:10 am

r900p wrote:Just found out bunnahbain do one, well a chap from my local dram shop has gone up there for a week, at least i think it was a paying trip and that he wasn't invited by the distillery. Ah well guess i'll find out on his return.

I hope i've spelt bunnahbain right, i never do.

Rob

Mr Picky gives special dispensation for Bunnahabhain. No one can be expected to spell that correctly.

by **fishboy** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:20 am

I have been advised by my expensive legal team to make the following statement:

I would like to take this opportunity to clarify my position with regards to The Laddie and my previously mentioned plans for my 40th Birthday. I think the members of the forum have misinterpreted my intentions towards The Laddie (due to poor use of positional grammar on my part….). I was, of course, referring to my desire to participate in the Bruichladdich Academy and not in anyway referring to the highly esteemed member from Bawtry. I wholeheartedly apologise for any offence given by this simple misunderstanding. I will henceforth be confining myself completely to “on-topic” whisky related posts.

Thank you for you attention.

However, my 40th birthday is still two and a half years away, so who knows what might happen….

:oops:

by **Di Blasi** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 12:29 pm

Good work fishboy! You can almost hear TheLaddie's sighs of relief!

by **kljostad** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 3:52 pm

Kilchoman is doing a 5 day academy, where you go trough all stages of whisky production. I think the price is about 500£. You can read more about it on their website http://www.kilchomandistillery.com.

Kilchoman looks like a really interesting addition to the industry.

Kjell

by **TheLaddie** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 5:01 pm

Warning. Entirely deliberate double entedre follows for comic effect.

fishboy wrote:I have been advised by my expensive legal team to make the following statement:

I would like to take this opportunity to clarify my position with regards to The Laddie and my previously mentioned plans for my 40th Birthday. I think the members of the forum have misinterpreted my intentions towards The Laddie (due to poor use of positional grammar on my part….). I was, of course, referring to my desire to participate in the Bruichladdich Academy and not in anyway referring to the highly esteemed member from Bawtry. I wholeheartedly apologise for any offence given by this simple misunderstanding. I will henceforth be confining myself completely to “on-topic” whisky related posts.

Thank you for you attention.

However, my 40th birthday is still two and a half years away, so who knows what might happen….

Does that mean it's safe for me to come out? :wink:

by **les taylor** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 5:16 pm

ooohh I love an outing said the travel Rep....

by **vitara7** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 5:27 pm

is that the closet your refering to laddie :wink:

by **TheLaddie** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 6:40 pm

les taylor wrote:ooohh I love an outing said the travel Rep....

Said a Les... :wink:

vitara7 wrote:is that the closet your refering to laddie

I am in touch with my feminine side, but I like ladies' feminine sides far too much (and one lady's feminine side in particular) to consider any alternative.

I have nothing against homosexuals, but the Laddie's for the ladies... (not that any of them are interested...)

Do you think that Adam fancied Eve?
What if Eve could not conceive?
He'd have had to breed with Steve
And we'd all be gay

Robbie Williams

by **Mr Fjeld** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 6:47 pm

funny posts - but seriously, didn't Bullie participate in one of those working hollidays/academies?

by **TheLaddie** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 6:52 pm

Mr Fjeld wrote::lol: funny posts - but seriously, didn't Bullie participate in one of those working hollidays/academies?

OK, being serious (though I can't promise it will last...) Ron, the proprietor of Mainly Malts, has done the Bruichladdich one and loved it, and has also done some still work up at Benromach. All in the name of research and education of course...

Lucky bastard. I'm gonna win the lottery and buy him out I tell ya...

by **vitara7** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 6:55 pm

TheLaddie wrote:the Laddie's for the ladies...

pmsl

by **Ailsacraig** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 9:03 pm

Apparently Kilchomans Experience is very hands on, and one to one with the manager. Sounds great to me for 5 days for £500. If only I had the time !!

by **Bullie** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 7:21 am

Mr Fjeld wrote::lol: funny posts - but seriously, didn't Bullie participate in one of those working hollidays/academies?

Yes I have. Two of them actually. The first was a week in Campbeltown and on Islay, covering all the things you do at a distillery (Springbank malting, bottling, fillings and so on). Since SB was on a off-season for distilling we had to go to Caol Ila and Lagavulin for that. A day at Port Ellen Maltings, to get an insight in how one of those huge industrial thingies work.

The second was at Glengoyne, and covered just about the same. But with more cultural input. And on that trip a visit to a big all working cooperidge in the lowlands.

Both trips was very rewarding and fun. Beats anything you might do as a tourist, since you get the opportunity to see stuff that you wouldn't otherwise.