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At last this year’s worst kept secret in whisky can be revealed. Andrew Symington has purchased Edradour Distillery from Chivas Brothers. The major frustration of publishing is that of schedules and deadlines. At the risk of sounding smug, Whisky Magazine was closer to this deal than anyone else (as you would expect). However, as I was sworn to secrecy by Andrew until after the official announcement on July 23rd, we could not report on this (other than the conjecture in my column in Issue 25) in full until now. Thus, despite having known about the negotiations for some four months and in some detail, Whisky Magazine has the dubious accolade of possibly being the last place you’ll read the ‘news’!
I asked Andrew about life as a distiller. “It’s a great feeling. It’s exciting to watch the stills and the spirit gushing down.” Unfortunately for Andrew, it’s not just the spirit that has been gushing down. Having bought the distillery for £5.4m, exactly two weeks later he was surveying some £400,000 worth of flood damage. A raging torrent of water has washed away the car park and destroyed the garden. The distillery was closed from August 6th to August 14th, in effect losing income from tourists in the busiest part of the year. How’s that for bad luck? But the distillery is open again now and the car park is back in place.
It is no secret that Andrew has for some time wanted to buy a distillery. And he has come close on several occasions. For the purchase of Edradour, discussions started in March, “but the deal was made with Georges Nectoux on 23rd May with the handover taking place on July 22nd,” said Andrew. “Georges had decided fairly early on that he was going to sell the distillery to me.” Presumably, when selling a distillery there is a distinct moral obligation in passing down hundreds of years of heritage into reputable hands that will maintain the traditions and the spirit of the place.
“Georges was very helpful and supportive at the time and even now.” Chivas Brothers are helping by bottling Edradour for Andrew at this justifiably traumatic time. Yet another example of the industry working together. Fans of Signatory independent bottlings need not worry about Symington taking his eye off the ball. “We have had increased production and automation planned for the last six months and, of course, we’ll need to Extend our Edinburgh premises as we’ll be bottling Edradour here.” I asked if we can expect some exciting new expressions of Edradour in the near future. “Cask strength bottlings, unchillfiltered bottlings, vintage dated bottlings – not too many as stock is relatively tight. Basically, all the things with which Signatory is associated. Look out for a peaty malt matured in port pipes shortly.” Andrew enthused.
When Andrew was awarded Independent Bottler of the Year, those who voted for him attested his passion for whisky and his work ethic. These qualities, as well as his trademark overalls, will be put to good use at Edradour.
Returning to flood damage, the Austrian Whiskymuseum has been destroyed. The uninsured damage is estimated at around 15,000. Thomas Neuhauser has worked very hard to create the opportunity for others to view his splendid whisky collection. Hissubstantial personal investment was lost a mere three weeks after the opening ceremony of July 27th. A whisky auction has been organised for the benefit of the Whiskymuseum. Please visit www.whisky.de if you have any interesting bottles you would like to donate to the auction, or to place a bid.
Finally, I would like to thank all of you who have found the time to expose my ignorance in confusing the Isle of Arran, off the west coast of Scotland, with the Aran Islands, off the west coast of Ireland. Having read a mountain of correspondence, I am now an authority on the Aran jumper. Not the Arran jumper. Furthermore, I’d like to apologise to all real ale fans and folk singers (a significant percentage of Whisky Magazine readers, I’m sure) who found my comments offensive. In a letter to me on this very subject, Dr F. D. O’Reilly asks if he has unwittingly uncovered an ingrained class gulf and antagonism between the worlds of fine whisky and fine ale.” Good question. One that I’ll put to Michael Jackson …
