# Eep! Scottish Whisky Shortage Looming! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 10, 2007, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eep-scottish-whisky-shortage-looming/407457 "2007-06-10T14:14:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2007, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eep-scottish-whisky-shortage-looming/407457/1 "2007-06-10T14:14:56Z")
I was listening to the [Whiskycast podcast](http://www.whiskycast.com/) and in the news segment of one of the recent episodes it was announced that some distilleries in Scotland may have to shut down due to a lack of fuel oil. [Here’s](http://business.scotsman.com/agriculture.cfm?id=821582007) an article describing the horror. > [@](#): > > IN A bizarre twist on the story of Whisky Galore, the islanders of Islay have found themselves facing a shortage of the “water of life”. > > In his classic novel author Compton Mackenzie blamed wartime rationing for causing the drought, but this time it is fuel shortages. Production on the Hebridean island could halt this week due to a lack of oil. > > Distillers are warning that “the stills will be turned off” as oil supplies have run out and deliveries splutter to a halt. > > Mark Reynier, owner of the Bruichladdich distillery, says his site will stop production tomorrow. The timing could not be worse as it marks the beginning of the Islay Whisky Festival. > > He said: “There is no oil on the island. We are about to start the Islay Whisky Festival but no one will be able to distill anything. This is a cock up of monumental ineptitude.” [Wimpy Vader] _Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!_ [/WV] ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2007, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eep-scottish-whisky-shortage-looming/407457/2 "2007-06-10T15:54:54Z")
That’s not good. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2007, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eep-scottish-whisky-shortage-looming/407457/3 "2007-06-10T15:57:02Z")
Not just any whisky, but whisky from Islay. That’s the true water of life. This is a crisis of the highest magnitude! Hurriedly goes to replenish his stock of Lagavulin. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2007, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eep-scottish-whisky-shortage-looming/407457/4 "2007-06-10T15:58:59Z")
Meh. I never liked Islay malts anyway, except the 17 year old Bowmore. Wake me up when something serious happens, like a warehouse fire at Macallan. (knock wood) ---
**Author:** ![Corporal\_Nobbs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Corporal\_Nobbs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corporal_Nobbs)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2007, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eep-scottish-whisky-shortage-looming/407457/5 "2007-06-10T22:47:20Z")
Mother or mercy! I’m going to run home and cuddle my botte until I sleep. Stay away! I warn YOU. I have a cat and i’m not afraid to use her!!! ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2007, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eep-scottish-whisky-shortage-looming/407457/6 "2007-06-10T23:21:40Z")
I wouldn’t worry too much. [This is an aerial photo of the main whisky Bond in Scotland](http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=56.12728~-3.866136&style=a&lvl=15&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&encType=1). Each of those buildings is five or six storeys high, and they are all packed to the gunwales with whisky. Once _that_ runs out, then you can worry. ---
**Author:** ![Szlater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Szlater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Szlater)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2007, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eep-scottish-whisky-shortage-looming/407457/7 "2007-06-10T23:24:35Z")
[QUOTE=Struan] I wouldn’t worry too much. [This is an aerial photo of the main whisky Bond in Scotland](http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=56.12728~-3.866136&style=a&lvl=15&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&encType=1). Each of those buildings is five or six storeys high, and they are all packed to the gunwales with whisky. Once _that_ runs out, then you can worry. [/QUOTE] Right, I know where I’m running to when the zombies attack. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2007, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eep-scottish-whisky-shortage-looming/407457/8 "2007-06-10T23:31:16Z")
Thought they’re not Islays, this thread inspired me to run out for new bottles of Talisker and Highland Park, just in case. I’m good on Lagavulin but might need another bottle of Ardbeg. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2007, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eep-scottish-whisky-shortage-looming/407457/9 "2007-06-10T23:48:05Z")
[QUOTE=Szlater] Right, I know where I’m running to when the zombies attack. [/QUOTE] The smaller buildings a bit to the south are a Bernard Matthews chicken place - not ideal perhaps - but there’s a food supply too! ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eep-scottish-whisky-shortage-looming/407457/10 "2007-06-11T01:25:51Z")
It is a shame for those who like the Islays, but the best scotch around is Auchentoshan, the lowland malt that tastes like excellent Irish whiskey. What? I like Irish whiskey. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_B.Phart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Capt\_B.Phart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_B.Phart)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eep-scottish-whisky-shortage-looming/407457/11 "2007-06-11T11:22:38Z")
[QUOTE=Struan] The smaller buildings a bit to the south are a Bernard Matthews chicken place - not ideal perhaps - but there’s a food supply too! [/QUOTE] Ok - I can see the whisky Bond and the Bernard Matthews - but where’s the food supply? Is it a burger van on the A907? ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eep-scottish-whisky-shortage-looming/407457/12 "2007-06-11T14:15:22Z")
Whiskey and chicken, reminds me of a party my Dad attended in London in the residence of an African ambassador, although IIRC they served up brandy and not chicken. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eep-scottish-whisky-shortage-looming/407457/13 "2007-06-11T17:01:35Z")
Feul oil? I thought they still firrrred the stills wi’ peat! ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eep-scottish-whisky-shortage-looming/407457/14 "2007-06-11T18:46:21Z")
[QUOTE=AskNott] Feul oil? I thought they still firrrred the stills wi’ peat! [/QUOTE] IIRC, they’re running out of peat. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eep-scottish-whisky-shortage-looming/407457/15 "2007-06-11T18:59:57Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan] IIRC, they’re running out of peat. [/QUOTE] I thought they used peat to smoke the sprouting barley. You can use a lot of things to power a still, but peat smoke is going to be hard to replicate. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eep-scottish-whisky-shortage-looming/407457/16 "2007-06-11T19:04:41Z")
**Duke** is correct. The malt is dried over peat fires, which gives scotch its characteristic smokey flavor. It is then distilled in stills that use fuel oil to heat them. Well, to heat the steam that heats the stills. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eep-scottish-whisky-shortage-looming/407457/17 "2007-06-11T19:13:56Z")
Can’t they just convert the stills to burn Southern Comfort or something? Corn-based ethanol could finally live up to its promise as an alternative fuel! ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eep-scottish-whisky-shortage-looming/407457/18 "2007-06-11T19:39:29Z")
[QUOTE=Duke of Rat] I thought they used peat to smoke the sprouting barley. You can use a lot of things to power a still, but peat smoke is going to be hard to replicate. [/QUOTE] Some places use seaweed as part of the mix when smoking the barley. You’ll know the ones by taste! ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eep-scottish-whisky-shortage-looming/407457/19 "2007-06-11T19:45:17Z")
[QUOTE=Struan] Some places use seaweed as part of the mix when smoking the barley. You’ll know the ones by taste! [/QUOTE] _cough_ _Laphroaig_ _cough_🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eep-scottish-whisky-shortage-looming/407457/20 "2007-06-11T22:15:35Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] _cough_ _Laphroaig_ _cough_🆒 [/QUOTE] Funny, that’s always my reaction when I drink it too… Yay, another excuse to jack up prices even more! ☹ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eep-scottish-whisky-shortage-looming/407457.md?page=2)