24.06.20 Distillery
Brioni Barley Summer Distillation
Here at InchDairnie Distillery we do not use just any malted barley we use different varieties and types of barley which are malted for us by Muntons, at their maltings in Bridlington, England. We use spring barley, planted in the spring time and harvested in the summer of the same year, and winter barley, planted in the autumn and harvested in the summer of the following year. All grown here in Fife, Scotland. We do this to explore the possibilities for creating different flavours reflective of the seasons in which they are distilled.
The distillery distils according to the seasons making adjustments throughout the year. To celebrate the summer solstice, a popular holiday time in Sweden and Finland, we are producing a special whisky made from a barely that is normally grown in these countries, Brioni. The Brioni barley, a spring barley, was grown for us at a farm in the north of Scotland. It is a two-row barley like all of the other varieties that we use. Much of the barley gown in America and Canada is six row barley. That is to say there are two fully developed rows of grain on the head of the barley plant.
The barley has a higher than normal protein content which will make it difficult to use in a traditional malt distillery. However, Inchdairnie with its hammer mill, mash conversion vessel and mash filter make easy work of this variety. The variety was grown here in Scotland in the hope that it could be used for grain whisky production, where malt with a high level of enzyme is needed. All the enzyme is required to convert the starch in the non-malted cereal, usually wheat or maize.
This weeklong distillation run, using the fermented wash produced from 100% malted Brioni barley, is centred around mid-summer’s day. All of the whisky distilled during the longest day is collected together and filled into barrels, made from American oak, previously used to mature American bourbon. All the barrels will be matured here at the distillery in our own warehouses until the whisky is ready to be bottled.
The new make whisky will be laid down for 12 years before being bottled and sent to Sweden for them all to enjoy during this special time of the year.
A Sustainable Partnership with Muntons Malt
In this ever-changing landscape of sustainability, we feel we are in safe hands. Much of our carbon footprint is in our cereals, so working directly with both Munton’s and our local Fife farmer at Balgonie Estate, we are working together to reduce this.
Our Longstanding Partnership with Muntons Malt
Our partnership with Muntons has been crucial to our success as a Fife grown, Fife distilled and Fife matured distillery. The relationship we have developed with Balgonie Estates as a result of this, is essential to the ongoing production of our RyeLaw whisky.
InchDairnie Doubles Capacity with Significant Distillery Expansion
As we approach our 10th anniversary next year, we are doubling our production capacity to 4 million litres per year — ushering in a new era of innovation to meet the rising demand for our bold, flavour-led whiskies.
InchDairnie features on BBC Landward
InchDairnie had the pleasure of hosting BBC landward at the distillery for a feature in the latest season of BBC Scotland’s Landward.
InchDairnie Leads LeBlanq’s Scotland Joyriding Weekend
September rolled around and it was soon time to take the lead for our main weekend with LeBlanq as their luxury whisky partner for the 2023/24 and this time we were in the heart of Perthshire at the beautiful Dunalistar Hotel Suites, on the banks of Loch Rannoch.
RyeLaw Awarded Highly Commended from IWSC
We are delighted to be awarded Highly Commended by the IWSC in the Design Award category.
Rob takes RyeLaw on a journey through the Norwegian Fjords, with LeBlanq
Last week, our Brand Ambassador Rob, joined LeBlanq for another unforgettable weekend in Norway.
Michelin-Star Chef Lorna McNee Visits InchDairnie
To get some inspiration for her dishes, Lorna visited the distillery in Fife to learn about our innovative process and to get a flavour of our precision distilled malted rye Scotch whisky.
RyeLaw Wins Gold
RyeLaw Fife Single Grain Scotch Whisky is awarded Gold by the Beverage Testing Institute.
RyeLaw Whisky Heads to Champagne with LeBlanq
At the end of June, our Chairman Ian and Brand Ambassador Rob attended LeBlanq’s first Joyride weekend of the year in Champagne, with Michelin-Star Chef Anthony Demetre, and cycling legends Greg Lemond and Nico Roche.