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| Vatted or Blended or Pure Malt |
| Do you prefer "Vatted" |
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93% |
[ 14 ] |
| Do you prefer "Blended" |
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6% |
[ 1 ] |
| Do you prefer "Pure" |
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0% |
[ 0 ] |
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| Total Votes : 15 |
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islayonspey
Double Malt Member
Joined: 12 Sep 2007
Posts: 120
Location: Dufftown, Speyside, Scotland
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 Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 4:16 pm Post subject: Scotched Laws |
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This news comes from a mate at Bruichladdich.
Scotched Laws
New anti-counterfeiting laws announced by the Scotch Whisky Association this week may have more sinister implications.
Critics claim a fait accompli by the SWA, which wants to define whisky as "single malt', "blended whisky', "blended malt', "single grain', and "blended grain'
Most distillers disapprove of "blended malt' title which replaces the existing term "vatted malt' in use for over a century for a bottling of several single malts together.
Bruichladdich Distillery MD Mark Reynier: "We welcome most of the new proposals but experience tells us that changes usually reflect a vested interested of the Big Boys.
"The new term, "blended malt', deliberately confuses two older titles, the widely accepted "blended whisky', and the emotive but highly misleading term "pure malt'."?
"This new suitably bland and innocuous looking term will be a charter for deception. Overseas consumers are less likely to differentiate between the two similar terms.
"But that appears to be precisely what the SWA's members want to achieve following the Cardhu debacle. Ambiguity in front of the consumer"?
Then, Cardhu, a single malt, was to become a vatted malt (whisky from several distilleries - not one) so that the limited supply could be increased at will.
But highly misleadingly, the vatted malt was to look almost the same as the prestigious single malt presentation - the general consumer would be none the wiser.
This led to fierce accusations by the rest of the industry of bully boy tactics by Diageo, and the SWA risking the credibility of the whole single malt sector.
"They were mighty annoyed when they couldn't get away with it then - so here they are changing the laws instead to suit their marketing needs instead.
Who makes the Law . . . . politicians, whisky makers or Diageo, that's the question !!!
Slainte Rene
_________________
Ardbeg 4 ever |
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Big Mac
Master Of Malts
Joined: 02 Nov 2006
Posts: 2216
Location: USA - Formerly Scotland
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| Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:52 pm Post subject: |
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I definitely prefer the existing term "vatted malt' and very much disapprove of the new term "blended malt'. I suppose it isnt as bad as the misleading term "pure malt'.
Mac |
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John
Moderator
Joined: 21 Apr 2006
Posts: 876
Location: UK
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| Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 10:41 pm Post subject: |
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I prefer the Vatted Malt term.
I would imagine the term "Blended Malt" will reduce the value/quality of the whisky in some peoples eyes, as they will associate the word "blended" with cheaper or lower quality whisky.
As you said Mac, i guess the blended malt term isnt as misleading as the Pure Malt term.
John |
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Fergie
Master Of Malts
Joined: 02 Dec 2006
Posts: 1748
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| Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 12:54 pm Post subject: |
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I prefer the term vatted malt, why they need to change it I dont know. Trying to fix something which is not broken.
Frergie |
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Andy M
Master Of Malts
Joined: 09 Jul 2007
Posts: 1213
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| Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 3:49 pm Post subject: |
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| John wrote: | I prefer the Vatted Malt term.
I would imagine the term "Blended Malt" will reduce the value/quality of the whisky in some peoples eyes, as they will associate the word "blended" with cheaper or lower quality whisky.
As you said Mac, i guess the blended malt term isnt as misleading as the Pure Malt term.
John |
I agree John, i could see some people taking the term "Blended Malt" as a description of a lesser quality malt. |
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William
Administrator
Joined: 10 Apr 2006
Posts: 4057
Location: Scotland
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| Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:20 pm Post subject: |
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I see these new laws are already taking effect. I noticed over at The Whisky Exchange that they have changed there description on there site from Vatted Malt to Blended Malt.
As a few have already said, i didnt see anything wrong with the Vatted Malt term which has been used for many years but perhaps Blended Malt is a clearer description for people who would not normally purchase whisky.
William |
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Mad Mac
Member
Joined: 01 Sep 2007
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 11:52 am Post subject: |
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I was also happy with the term "Vatted Malt" but as long as changing the term doesnt effect what is in the bottles or cause the price to rise i am not bothered too much.
Mac |
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William
Administrator
Joined: 10 Apr 2006
Posts: 4057
Location: Scotland
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| Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 12:18 pm Post subject: |
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I got this from The Scotch Whisky Association website.
| Quote: | Monday 8 October 2007
Defining law for Scotch Whisky agreed
The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has today warmly welcomed UK Government plans to introduce new legislation in 2008 to better protect Scotch Whisky.
The announcement follows detailed and positive discussions between the SWA, the UK and Scottish Governments on securing the highest levels of protection for Scotch Whisky and for consumers worldwide.
The new legislation will update and consolidate the rules governing the definition and
presentation of Scotch Whisky. Proposals include formal definition of the five categories of Scotch Whisky, the introduction of new labelling rules, new protection for traditional regional names, and measures to tackle misleading practices (see note to editors for full details below).
Gavin Hewitt, Chief Executive of The Scotch Whisky Association, said: "Scotch Whisky is vital to the Scottish and UK economy, with exports of £2.5bn a year supporting over 65,000 jobs. At a time when international demand for Scotch is growing, distillers will applaud proposals to bring forward this important legislation.
"These proposals will deliver significant benefits to the industry and the wider economy,
helping to protect, promote and grow Scotch Whisky globally. Comprehensive and consolidated legislation will ensure Scotch Whisky has the best possible protection from unfair practices and that consumers receive clear information about what they are buying."
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| Quote: | The New Legislation
1. Scotch Whisky has been defined for many years and is protected by law, most recently in The Scotch Whisky Act 1988 and The Scotch Whisky Order 1990. It is also protected at EU and WTO level.
2. In 2004, an industry working group was set up to prepare a package of measures to further codify and update the definition and presentation rules for Scotch Whisky. Its
recommendations - approved by the SWA Council and the wider industry following
consultation - form the basis of the UK Government proposals.
3. Five categories of Scotch Whisky will be formally defined and it will be compulsory to use the appropriate category name as the sales description on every bottle sold. The proposedcategories are as follows:
Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Blended Grain Scotch Whisky
Blended Scotch Whisky
4. In support of these category terms, it will be made compulsory that the description appears prominently and consistently on packaging. It will also be required that Single Malt Scotch Whisky is bottled only in Scotland.
5. New legal protection will be introduced for the traditional regional names associated with Scotch Whisky production, i.e. "Highland', "Lowland', "Speyside', "Campbeltown' and "Islay'.
6. A distillery name will not be allowed as a brand name on any Scotch Whisky which has not been wholly distilled in the named distillery.
7. The misleading labelling of Single Malt Scotch Whisky under a name which, whilst appearing to be the name of the distillery, is not in fact the distillery, will be prohibited.
8. For further information, please contact David Williamson at the SWA on 07730 496 151 or 0131 222 9230. |
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Mark
Master Of Malts
Joined: 27 Sep 2006
Posts: 1665
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| Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 1:17 pm Post subject: |
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| William wrote: |
6. A distillery name will not be allowed as a brand name on any Scotch Whisky which has not been wholly distilled in the named distillery.
7. The misleading labelling of Single Malt Scotch Whisky under a name which, whilst appearing to be the name of the distillery, is not in fact the distillery, will be prohibited.
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I was happy with the vatted malt term also but the other 2 points i find interesting with the new laws are points 6 & 7.
This has got to effect the supermarket label brands.
Mark |
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McKay
Master Of Malts
Joined: 23 Apr 2007
Posts: 776
Location: Scotland
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| Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 2:48 pm Post subject: |
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To be honest it doesnt make much difference to me whether they call it Vatted Malt or Blended Malt.
| Mark wrote: | | William wrote: |
6. A distillery name will not be allowed as a brand name on any Scotch Whisky which has not been wholly distilled in the named distillery.
7. The misleading labelling of Single Malt Scotch Whisky under a name which, whilst appearing to be the name of the distillery, is not in fact the distillery, will be prohibited.
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I was happy with the vatted malt term also but the other 2 points i find interesting with the new laws are points 6 & 7.
This has got to effect the supermarket label brands.
Mark |
Does this mean we will now know the source of all supermarket malts.
McKay |
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Gary H
Member
Joined: 24 Oct 2007
Posts: 19
Location: Scotland
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| Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 1:56 pm Post subject: |
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I am not bothered what it is called but blended malt is probably a better description.
Gary |
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