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Whyte &
Mackay's pioneering Whisky Maker Gregg
Glass achieves landmark in his
industry-leading Scottish Oak Programme
with every distillery in Whyte &
Mackay's portfolio now incorporated into
the company’s industry-leading Scottish
Oak Programme.
Scotch whisky maker Whyte and Mackay
has announced a landmark achievement,
every Scotch malt whisky distillery in
its portfolio is now incorporated into
the company’s industry-leading Scottish
Oak Programme – an industry first.
The initiative which was founded by
Whyte and Mackay's pioneering Master
Whisky Maker Gregg Glass, led the
industry to explore the potential for
responsibly sourced, locally grown
Scottish Oak to mature Scotch Whisky.
The industry has historically favoured
Oak sourced from outside Scotland.
Tamnavulin, in Speyside, joined the
programme this week as Mark Kent, CEO of
the Scotch Whisky Association, joined
the whisky makers to personally fill
these special Scottish Oak casks.
Tamnavulin distillery follows island
distillery Jura, and Fettercairn,
located in ‘the Garden of Scotland’ -
Aberdeenshire, where the initiative was
born. Each distillery now has whisky
experiments laid down to explore and
evaluate the impact locally grown Oak
has on each distinct distillery style
and to identify the flavour
characteristics that Scottish Oak lends
to Scotch Whisky.
In doing so, the distilleries are paving
the way for the wider use of responsibly
sourced Scottish oak for future
generations of whisky makers.
Led by Gregg Glass, Whyte and Mackay’s
move towards Scottish oak maturation is
an exploration into the unique flavour
that the oak species possesses, as well
as future-proofing both the sourcing and
seasoning of cask options for the wider
whisky industry, striving towards a more
sustainable future.
Head of Whisky Experience at Whyte and
Mackay, Ludo Ducrocq comments: "The
filling of these special casks is really
a celebration of the partnerships Whyte
and Mackay has nurtured over time, which
will ultimately benefit the whole
industry."
Glass has been exploring the use of
native oak species for many years
through Whyte and Mackay’s experimental
arm, Whisky Works, which has previously
celebrated the release of The King of
Trees, a 10 year old blended malt
finished in Scottish oak casks.
Since his appointment in 2016, Glass has
developed long lasting partnerships with
landowners and cooperages that share
Whyte and Mackay’s vision for the
future. Rooted in exemplary forestry
management and considerate cooping
practices, Whyte and Mackay believes
that focusing on responsible sourcing
and meaningful partnerships will drive
positive change in the industry, leading
to better whisky for everyone.
Glass explains: "The Scottish Oak
Programme seeks to inspire change within
the Scotch whisky industry. We want to
champion the potential that home-grown
oak offers the spirits industry, and the
incredible diversity of flavour it
offers the whisky maker."
You will find the
current Whyte & Mackay's portfolio of whisky
including Whyte & Mackay's blends and
single malts The Dalmore, Fettercairn,
Tamnavulin and Jura available
from specialist online whisky retailers
such as
The Whisky Exchange,
Amazon and
Master of Malt
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