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Archaeologists probe secrets of 200-year-old whisky distillery -- Glenlivet distillery dig: Whisky-making process from 200 years ago revealed
HeraldScotland ^ | August 17, 2022 | Jody Harrison

Posted on 08/20/2022 7:45:26 AM PDT by SunkenCiv

It was last used when whisky was measured in hogsheads and production of the water of life was moving from an often-illicit farmyard enterprise to a thriving national business.

Now the secrets of whisky production from 200 years ago are being uncovered by archaeologists probing the remains of a distillery which ceased production in 1824.

Fire pits which would once have heated copper stills, tasting glasses, bottles and the timber-lined vats which held gallons of the amber nectar have all been unearthed at the National Trust dig on the old site of the Glenlivet distillery.

During the past two weeks the archaeology team investigated the site of the former distillery on Speyside where The Glenlivet’s founder, George Smith, risked life and liberty to become the first legal whisky distiller in the area, producing his single malt whisky legally in a landscape of illicit distilling in 1824.

Discoveries included three fire pits that would have been used for the copper stills, timber lined vats and receivers.

What would have been whisky tasting glasses were also discovered, meaning archaeologists could see the full whisky making process. HeraldScotlandThey estimate a site this size could have been producing around six hogsheads of whisky per week which is equal to 1,530 litres.

(Excerpt) Read more at heraldscotland.com ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: europe; glenlivet; godsgravesglyphs; jodyharrison; oenology; scotland; scotlandyet; singlemalt; whisky; zymurgy
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Fire pits and glassware
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1 posted on 08/20/2022 7:45:26 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
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To: SunkenCiv

I never really liked scotch. Bourbon yes. Scotch, kinda makes me gag, I think it’s the wet cardboard aftertaste... but hey, weirdly enough, sometimes coffee as it is brewing reminds if either cat litter or canned tuna.


2 posted on 08/20/2022 7:55:26 AM PDT by Clutch Martin ("The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right." )
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To: 240B; 75thOVI; Adder; albertp; asgardshill; At the Window; bitt; blu; BradyLS; cajungirl; ...
The other GGG topics added since the previous digest ping, chrono sort:

3 posted on 08/20/2022 7:56:26 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: Clutch Martin

I’ve always hated the taste of liquor, especially Scotch. My bout with tongue cancer changed that. Now, the only one I can stand is a single-malt Scotch. The problem is, I never developed a tolerance for alcohol. One sip and I’m wasted.


4 posted on 08/20/2022 8:02:51 AM PDT by ComputerGuy (Heavily-medicated for your protection)
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To: Clutch Martin

Have always felt Scotch tastes like a burnt fence post. Woodford Reserve, on the other hand, warms my heart.


5 posted on 08/20/2022 8:05:11 AM PDT by donozark (Joe Biden: He's confused. And so is he.)
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To: ComputerGuy

“”The problem is, I never developed a tolerance for alcohol. One sip and I’m wasted.””

You have probably lost the respect of all the women you know, they probably think of you as an easy lay, a cheap date, a slut.

The college girls probably write your phone number on the bathroom wall, “call computer guy, a couple of drinks and he puts out”.


6 posted on 08/20/2022 8:19:17 AM PDT by ansel12 (NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.)
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To: Clutch Martin

I never liked the taste of Scotch until My youngest son on his wedding day gave me some 12yr. old single malt Glenlivet Scotch (neat). I loved it! The stuff is pricey about $50.00 a bottle for the Scotch I like. So I don’t buy it very often.


7 posted on 08/20/2022 8:29:01 AM PDT by painter ( Isaiah: �Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,")
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To: SunkenCiv

Wouldn’t it be great if they found an intact 200 year old bottle of whiskey and gave it to me? I’d invite my favorite Freeper friends of a taste.


8 posted on 08/20/2022 8:35:03 AM PDT by ConservativeInPA ( Scratch a leftist and you'll find a fascist )
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To: Clutch Martin

I am pretty much the opposite! I do like most all varieties of both though. I think it has to do with the rot-gut bourbon I drank in my youth. I can always taste a tiny tinge of whatever that nasty flavor is when I drink bourbon.


9 posted on 08/20/2022 8:38:18 AM PDT by vpintheak (Live free, or die!)
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To: vpintheak

Long story short: my parents weren’t drinkers but owned a liquor store. When they sold it they took some of the stock. When they passed in cleaning out the house I came across a bottle of Jack Daniels that had sat for about 47 years. They say alcohol doesn’t age in the bottle, but that was the smoothest drink I ever had. Didn’t drink it in one sitting, mind you, but it didn’t take long


10 posted on 08/20/2022 8:43:23 AM PDT by j.havenfarm (21 years on Free Republic, 12/10/21! More than 5000 replies and still not shutting up!)
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To: ComputerGuy
I used to drink only scotch. While in the UK I was able to try Scotch brands not sold in the USA. Some really good tastes, earthy flavors especially in the “non-chilled” scotch. I preferred the non-cold filter Scotch after my time in the UK. I like my liquor with an ice cube and do not like mixers. For some reason Scotch would often give me a mild headache especially if I had a second drink. I don't know why, but it did.

A few years back I tried Bourbon while in Louisville. Yes, there is more often than not a burn with bourbon, but I never get a headache while drinking it. I have switched to bourbon. While Scotch always had a very earthy flavor, (to my palate) Bourbon has a sweeter flavor. That said, an ounce of Johnny Walker Blue is hard to beat.

11 posted on 08/20/2022 8:43:38 AM PDT by OldGoatCPO (No Caitiff Choir of Angels will sing for me)
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To: SunkenCiv

It should be a World Heritage Site and religious destination.


12 posted on 08/20/2022 8:44:02 AM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: OldGoatCPO

They BOTH pale in comparison to a good Irish Whisky.

Scotch without the smoked peat.

Nectar.


13 posted on 08/20/2022 8:47:27 AM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: Mariner
It should be a World Heritage Site and a religious destination.

Post of the day!

14 posted on 08/20/2022 8:53:48 AM PDT by Natty Bumppo@frontier.net (We are the dangerous ones, who stand between all we love and a more dangerous world.)
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To: ansel12

‘He puts out like a candy machine’ is what they used to say.


15 posted on 08/20/2022 9:02:50 AM PDT by ComputerGuy (Heavily-medicated for your protection)
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To: OldGoatCPO

I think that stuff, JWB, is about $200 at our local ABC store.


16 posted on 08/20/2022 9:07:25 AM PDT by ComputerGuy (Heavily-medicated for your protection)
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To: Clutch Martin

***sometimes coffee as it is brewing reminds if either cat litter or canned tuna.***

A diluted skunk spray smell to me.


17 posted on 08/20/2022 10:39:17 AM PDT by Ruy Dias de Bivar ( )
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To: SunkenCiv
The Herald = Glaswegians = bleedin' lowand Scots = wouldn't know proper uisge-beatha from bilge water.

You don't need archaeologists to discover how proper whisky was made 200 year age, all you need is a telephone, the phone number of one of the (at least) five Highland distillers that have been in continuous operation for more than 200 years, and the ability to comprehend the Highland brogue.

18 posted on 08/20/2022 10:41:32 AM PDT by Paal Gulli
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To: SunkenCiv

I tried Laphroaig’s single malt once. I’d heard of its “peaty” flavor. That’s for sure! It tasted like what would pour out of one’s rubber boots after wading through a peat bog and getting so deep the water came in o’er the top...


19 posted on 08/20/2022 10:53:25 AM PDT by 43north (America doesn't need an election. We need an exorcism.)
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Comment #20 Removed by Moderator


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