Storm ahead for Scotland’s distilleries
05/12/2021
Single malt whiskies are likely to quadruple in price over the next year as a result of a supply chain disruption. Experts have warned that Brexit, the epidemic, and surging demand have combined to create a ‘perfect storm’ that is threatening Scotland’s valued £5 billion dram export business, according to the experts.
There are concerns that distilleries may be unable to fulfil worldwide demand over the holiday season, resulting in price increases that will last for years. According to the Sunday Mail, the price of a bottle of 16-year-old Lagavulin whisky — a popular Christmas gift – has increased by £10 since this time last year.
In a statement, Dawn Davies, chief buyer of The Whisky Exchange, one of the world’s largest buyers of premium malt whiskies, said: “During the lockdown, distilleries were unable to fill barrels with liquid.
January’s darkness is pierced by the birthday of Scottish poet Rabbie Burns. January 25 is still honoured worldwide as a night of warming food and fiery whiskey – and sure, a few words.
Its worldwide popularity is unsurprising. Burns’ art has reached amazing lengths, far beyond linguistic limits. The Soviet Union issued stamps with his likeness, Steinbeck titled Of Mice and Men with his words, and Michael Jackson allegedly wrote Thriller after reading Tam o’ Shanter. In Japan, people still cross the street to the tune of Comin’ Thro’ the Rye, and in 2010, a small compilation of his work orbited the planet 217 times, covering a distance of more than 5.7 million miles.
Here on earth, parties are as common as Auld Lang Syne (a Burns composition) on New Year’s Eve: all that is required is some food, poetry, whiskey, and – if the liquor has done its work – dancing. While there will be no major feasts this year, there will still be plenty of opportunities to honour the Scottish great.
