Whisky Focus - Aberlour Outdoor Whisky Art Gallery

Aberlour Outdoor Whisky Art Gallery


1st May 2014
A stunning outdoor photography exhibition by super-macro photographer photographer David Maitland, reveals the enigma behind the whisky journey.

Those of you with a taste for art and who are lucky enough to be attending this springs Spirit of Speyside Festival may want to stop by the Aberlour Distillery as the distillery have announced the opening of the world’s first outdoor whisky art gallery; a unique photography exhibition set in the heart of the Scottish countryside, which brilliantly captures the individual elements that together result in one of Scotland’s most famous exports.

Coinciding with the opening of Scotland’s ‘Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival’ today (1st – 5th May), this new, permanent exhibition – which is free-of-charge to all visitors – features the world-first series of stunning super-macro images, unveiled earlier this year by Aberlour. The photos reveal the hidden beauty of Aberlour’s whisky journey, from the pink granite that creates the softness of the water used in the distillation process, to the special oak cask in which the spirit is transformed.

These images, which have never before been put on display, were captured by David Maitland, one of the world’s foremost specialist super-macro photographers. Super-macro photography allows the subject to be captured closer than ever before and, in this unique outdoor gallery, results in an eye-catching portfolio of unusually intricate images. Among these striking visuals are those which delve inside a grain of barley, bring to life the hidden pattern of the oak sherry cask and showcase the kaleidoscopic patterns of the crystalline structure of the spirit itself.

Dr David Maitland, winner of the European Wildlife Photographer of the Year in 2008, said: "I am so pleased that the public can enjoy these images in the natural surrounding from which they were inspired, right in the heart of Scotland’s single malt region. The whisky journey is one that relies on nature and none more so than Aberlour, from the spring water used in the distillation process, to the sherry casks in which the whisky is aged. These images bring all of these elements to life in a way that I have not seen done before and I hope will be enjoyed by all who see them."

Nikki Burgess, Global Brand Director for Aberlour, said: "David’s photos have brilliantly captured the coming together of the natural elements and the expert craftsmanship of our distillers, while also maintaining the enigma behind the award-winning taste of Aberlour.

"To show the photography in the stunning setting of the distillery and its surroundings is a real treat for visitors to the area and, to see the elements of whisky in super-macro detail provides an insight into the intricacy and craft which go towards developing a premium single malt Scotch whisky."

The outdoor whisky gallery can be found at the Aberlour Distillery in the heart of Scotland’s Speyside region, halfway between Inverness and Aberdeen. The gallery is situated along a stunning countryside walk which takes in some of Scotland’s magnificent landmarks, including the Linn Falls and the Burn’s Path. It is open now and is free-of-charge to all visitors to the area. Additional whisky tours of the Aberlour Distillery can be booked via the website.

For those of you not lucky enough to attend this springs Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival here is a preview of some of the images captured by super-macro photographer David Maitland:

Pink Granite:
Beautiful Pink Granite was collected from Ben Rinnes (the mountain is formed from different granites) – the spring water used for the Aberlour flows down from the mountain and retains a unique softness thanks to the granite base over which it flows.

The granite was cut into thin sections just 30 millionths of a meter (30 μm) thin so that the rock becomes transparent. The granite is composed mainly of alkali feldspar and quartz with intermixed brown biotite. There also are tiny flecks (inclusions) of all manner of trace elements. Here, all elements combine to form a miniature landscape. The image was taken using crossed polarized light at a magnification of 200x.

Water:
The water was captured at 400x magnification using differential interference contrast to get the colours. David used polarized light, which allows us to see the optical properties specific to the water and reveals detailed information concerning the structure and its composition.

The colours in the water are a result of the way the water interacts with the polarized light. Due to the varying refractive indices, the water appears multi-coloured. The polarized light can be further enhanced using sophisticated polarizing techniques such as Differential Interference Contrast (DIC) which also produces a sense of depth and a 3-D quality.

David captured the water images by freezing the water and photographing it melting under the microscope - the colour background is bent by the melting water into the interesting forms and shapes in the picture.

Barley:
The barley grain is mostly starch which is stored as individual grains (amyloplasts). These amyoplasts are grains within the grain, which act as a fermenter, to make the whisky’s alcohol, as well as give its depth of flavour. These tiny structures – the smallest grains are about 2 millionths of a meter (μm) in diameter, while the largest are about 20 μm.

The picture is taken at 400x magnification using differential interference contrast (DIC) lighting techniques.

Sherry Cask:
All Aberlour single malts display the influence of maturation in ex-Spanish Oloroso Sherry Butts which are constructed from mature European or "Spanish" Oak trees, Quercus petraea petraea, (formally Q. sessilis).

A thin transverse section or slice of oak (20 millionths of a meter, 20 μm thick) shows an intricate pattern of tracheids (large rings through which the tree draws water) and lignin-strengthened parenchyma wood cells within the heartwood of the oak. During the whisky’s maturation process within the oak cask, the alcohol works on heartwood components (lignin, hemicellulose and tannin amongst others) to produce the complex caramel and aromatic flavours, colour, and fragrances unique to Aberlour whisky. The image was made at 200x magnification using a special form of Interference contrast lighting.

Aberlour 12 Year Old:
For the 12 Year Old, David evaporated a large volume of this beautiful whisky (such a waste!) which leaves behind a super-concentrated solution of dissolved complex natural elements which originated from the different casks in which the whisky was matured. This blend of natural elements can sometimes be made to crystallise in remarkable and unique patterns.

Here, Aberlour’s 12 Year double cask matured whisky has produced a wonderful feather-like crystal pattern. This photograph was captured at 400x magnification using differential interference contrast (DIC) lighting techniques.

Aberlour A’bunadh:
The hand-crafted and small scale produced Aberlour Whisky was photographed after evaporating a large volume of A’bunadh, which left behind a super-concentrated solution of dissolved natural elements which originated from the cask in which the whisky was matured. Certain elements within this can sometimes be made to crystallise in remarkable and unique patterns. Elements of Gallic Acid (a product from Tannin in the oak cask) have been captured forming an exquisite crystal tree. This photograph was captured at 200x magnification using differential interference contrast (DIC) lighting techniques.
 

Where To Buy Aberlour Whisky Online


Select a country for a list of specialist Whisky shops who delivers to you::

Whisky Focus



<<<Back to Whisky Focus for more Whisky News

Top Of Page

 
 Drink Safely   Add Your Site   Other Whisky Sites    Links   Contact Us 
 

© 2024 www.scotchmaltwhisky.co.uk All rights reserved.