{"title":"Frontpage","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"bladnoch-distillery-school","title":"Bladnoch Distillery School","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWild Scotchmen Distillery School At the Bladnoch Distillery, Scotland\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNEXT \u003cspan class=\"caps\"\u003eSCHOOL SCHEDULED FOR OCT 2008\u003c\/span\u003e.  \u003cspan class=\"caps\"\u003eDATES TO BE GIVEN SOON\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003eThe purpose of the whisky school is to give enthusiasts an opportunity to involve themselves practically in all aspects of the whisky making process. Bladnoch is a traditional old farm\u003cbr \/\u003edistillery \u003cspan class=\"caps\"\u003eDATING FROM 1818\u003c\/span\u003e. It has not been upgraded to take account of the computerised distilling methods practised in most large distilleries. The various processes are explained in depth and participants are given the opportunity to take an active part in each days production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003eInstructors:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRaymond Armstrong\u003c\/strong\u003e Distillery Owner\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohn McDougall\u003c\/strong\u003e Master Distller\/Blender\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJeffrey Topping\u003c\/strong\u003e The Wild Scotsman Whisky\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohn Herries\u003c\/strong\u003e Stillman\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"caps\"\u003eSCHEDULE AND ACTIVITIES MAY CHANGE DUE TO THE DAY TO DAY CHANGES OF THE DISTLILLLING SCHEDULE\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArrival Day\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr \/\u003eGuests usually arrive on Thursday afternoon by 1pm.  We will kick off the weekend by having an extensive tour of the grounds so eveyone is very familiar with these new surroundings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003eDinner: Bladnoch Inn\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDay One:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr \/\u003eFriday will focus on the mashing and fermentation processes. We start with the briefest of introductions at 8.00am. It\u0026#8217;s necessary to get the boiler on and up to steam, hotwater for mashing heated and the washbacks cleaned and steamed and the grist mashed in with first waters \u0026#8211; all before coffee break.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003eCoffee Break at about 10.15 (whilst the mash stabilises) and during this time we can have slightly more relaxed introductions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003eDraining off of first waters from the mashtun via the underback and heat exchanger to the washback where yeast is added. This is not quite so hectic as mashing in. This is followed by the sparging in of second waters and once again the sugary wort is drained to the washback. The importance of milling correctly is explained and demonstrated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003eOver the next two days this wash will ferment and during this time participants will be encouraged to continue to monitor and record the decreasing specific gravity of the wash on copies of the appropriate distillery forms. Two days later thanks to the efforts\u003cbr \/\u003eof the yeast, the wash has been converted to a rough beer which can vary in strength from 5 to 7%.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003eLunch is provided at the distillery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003eHaving completed the mashing process, all that remains to be done today is to expel the 5 tonnes of damp draff (fortunately mechanically) blown out by compressed air to the draff tank and in to the farmers trailer. (outside) The lifting of the sectional mashtun floor and cleaning away the draff from underneath unfortunately requires about an hours manual effort. The inside of the Mashtun in a very hot working environment. If you are smart you\u0026#8217;ll decide to avoid this. – its like a sauna.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003eAn appropriate time for a Coffee Break\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003eThroughout the day there will be breaks to discuss the various processes and the effect on the final product. These classrooms are intended to be relaxed but beneficial. Time permitting, parts of the water course of the distillery will be examined.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003eDinner At The Bladnoch Inn\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003eFriday is quite a busy day but participants can choose to involve themselves at whatever mental or physical level they prefer. Discussion and tuition can on many occasions throughout the day be on a one to one basis. From experience of earlier schools we have found that each persons interests varies between production, maturation, tasting, economic and financial aspects, entrepreneurial interests and marketing marketing. How Raymond came to acquire the distillery and to get it operational; how he can sleep soundly despite his overdraft. No subject for discussion is off limits.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDay Two:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr \/\u003e09.00am start. Saturday will focus on the distilling process. The wash to be distilled will have been mashed-in earlier in the week. Fridays mash requiring 2 days of fermentation. It will have fermented in the Washback and is now ready to be pumped over into the Wash Charger and then into the Wash Still. When the boiler is up to full steam, this steam is released into the steam pans in the still to heat the wash. The vapours of alcohol rise up the neck, through the condensers and into the safe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003e10.15 Coffee Break.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003eAll participants will help distil the new-make spirit. You will learn the key activities in the Still house, charging a wash still, get the \u0026#8216;steam on\u0026#8217; (commencement of boiling up), and breaking the\u003cbr \/\u003ewash still (or \u0026#8216;bringing the still in\u0026#8217;) into the spirit safe. You will learn about the speed of flow, the various parts of the run and their influence on the spirit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003eLunch provided at the distillery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003eThe afternoon will be taken up by completion of distilling, expelling the potale from the wash still and the spent lees from the spirit still. Examination of the development progress of recently\u003cbr \/\u003emade spirit in our warehouse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003eEvening Tasting \u0026#38; Dinner will be provided at the distillery..\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003eDiscussions whilst capable of intelligent conversation will focus on what happens to whisky after the short process of milling, mashing, fermentation and distillation ends and the period of between 3 and 30 years in the maturation warehouse begins. New-make and different ages of cask samples will be jointly presented by John McDougall and other guest speakers. The talks will include the development of wood finishes in both single malts and blended whisky, and the role of the blended whisky in the industry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDay Three:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr \/\u003e09.00 am Start. Sunday will focus on selection and preparation of casks, weighing, stencilling with the all important www.whiskyschool.co.uk , signing your name on the cask you are about\u003cbr \/\u003eto fill. (This is to encourage you in later years to come back and visit it and perhaps bring your children who will insist on tasting daddy’s whisky The spirit you have made will have been pumped up to the cask filling store. You will reduce the spirit by calculating and adding the appropriate amount of water. After which the casks are filled, their gross weight recorded and conveyed to the warehouse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003eAt Bladnoch \u0026#8211; warehouses are the old traditional type. That sounds good, but unfortunately it involves much manual labour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003eLunch at the Distillery \u0026#8211; The Whisky School is officially over and guests depart to suit their own travel requirements\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003e\u003c!\u0026#8212;Begin Official PayPal Seal\u0026#8212;\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/us\/verified\/pal=jtopping%40wildscotsman%2ecom\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"http:\/\/www.paypal.com\/en_US\/i\/icon\/verification_seal.gif\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Official PayPal Seal\"\u003e\u003c\/A\u003e\u003c!\u0026#8212;End Official PayPal Seal\u0026#8212;\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wild Scotsman Whisky","offers":[{"title":"Default","offer_id":205217,"sku":"001","price":1200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0001\/9554\/products\/scotland_2006_10.jpg?v=1201983584"},{"product_id":"wild-scotsman-tasting-glass","title":"Wild Scotsman Tasting Glass","description":"\u003cp\u003eEtched Wild Scotsman Tasting glass made in Scotland by the Glencairn Glass Company.  This glass is the ultimate noseing and tasting glass for both the novice and expert.  I use this glass exclusively for all of my Whisky related work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003eEnjoy,\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\t\u003cp\u003eThe Wild Scotsman\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Glencairn Glass","offers":[{"title":"Default","offer_id":212583,"sku":"060025551371","price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0001\/9554\/products\/whskyglass_n_box.jpg?v=1179945809"},{"product_id":"xl-if-its-not-scottish-its-crap","title":"\"If Its Not SCOTTISH Its CRAP\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eA very sensible black t-shirt for the Proud Scot. The back of the shirt has the Wild Scotsman Logo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMake: 50\/50 Blend\u003cbr \/\u003e\nFront: Wild Scotsman Logo(logo on left side)\u003cbr \/\u003e\nBack: It its not Scottish its Crap\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOffending anyone while wearing the shirt: Priceless\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wild Scotsman Whisky","offers":[{"title":"Crap Shirt \/ Medium \/ Black","offer_id":223952,"sku":"","price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Crap Shirt \/ Medium \/ blue","offer_id":36212912,"sku":"","price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Crap Shirt \/ Large \/ Black","offer_id":36212962,"sku":"","price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Crap Shirt \/ X-Large \/ Black","offer_id":36212982,"sku":"","price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Crap Shirt \/ X-Large \/ Red","offer_id":36212992,"sku":"","price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Crap Shirt \/ 2XL \/ Black","offer_id":36213022,"sku":"","price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Crap Shirt \/ 2XL \/ Blue","offer_id":36213032,"sku":"","price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Crap Shirt \/ 3XL \/ Black","offer_id":36213052,"sku":"","price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Crap Shirt \/ 3XL \/ Blue","offer_id":36213072,"sku":"","price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Crap Shirt \/ 3XL \/ Red","offer_id":36213082,"sku":"","price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0001\/9554\/products\/menscrapfrontdetail.jpg?v=1222889288"},{"product_id":"rock-out-with-your-scotch-out-2xl","title":"Rock Out With Your Scotch Out- Mens","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe new trademark slogan for Wild Scotsman 2007 to 2008, Rock Out With Your Scotch Out.  Front of shirt has slogan and back of shirt has a full color Wild Scotsman logo.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wild Scotsman Whisky","offers":[{"title":"Rock Out With Your Scotch Out \/ Medium \/ Black","offer_id":2478572,"sku":"","price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Rock Out With Your Scotch Out \/ Large \/ Black","offer_id":36212382,"sku":"","price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Rock Out With Your Scotch Out \/ X-Large \/ Black","offer_id":36212392,"sku":"","price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Rock Out With Your Scotch Out \/ 2XL \/ Black","offer_id":36212422,"sku":"","price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Rock Out With Your Scotch Out \/ 3XL \/ Black","offer_id":36212432,"sku":"","price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0001\/9554\/products\/rockout.jpg?v=1197830394"},{"product_id":"kilt-inspector","title":"Kilt Inspector","description":"\u003cp\u003eIf you are going to ask a man, \u0026#8220;what\u0026#8217;s under your Kilt\u0026#8221; or \u0026#8220;are you wearing it traditional\u0026#8221; than I suggest having credentials.  The title is purely honorary and by no means is there a test.  So wear the shirt and have a wee bit of fun!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach shirt has \u0026#8220;Kilt Inspector\u0026#8221; on the front and the Wild Scotsman Logo on the back in full color.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese shirts are in both in Women\u0026#8217;s and Men\u0026#8217;s sizes beginning with XL.  A man\u0026#8217;s XL is a wee bit larger than a woman\u0026#8217;s XL.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wild Scotsman Whisky","offers":[{"title":"Kilt Inspector \/ Medium \/ Black","offer_id":36214742,"sku":"","price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Kilt Inspector \/ Large \/ Black","offer_id":36214542,"sku":"","price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Kilt Inspector \/ X-Large \/ Black","offer_id":36214762,"sku":"","price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Kilt Inspector Men's \/ X-Large Mens \/ Black","offer_id":36214892,"sku":"","price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Kilt Inspector Men's \/ 2XL Mens \/ Black","offer_id":36214912,"sku":"","price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}]},{"product_id":"wild-scotsman-t-shirt","title":"Wild Scotsman T-Shirt","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u0026#8220;Wild Scotsman\u0026#8221; accross the Front in white and a Full Color Wild Scotsman Logo on the 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