AS THE boat passes spouting whales and lazy basking sharks and rounds the coastline into Talisker bay, the sun bounces off the distinctive white buildings of Skye's only distillery in one of the most iconic images of Scotch whisky.
The breathtaking location is the site for an extension to the distillery, which now houses two washbacks, the giant bubbling cauldrons where barley and water ferment to make the brew that will eventually become whisky. They've been installed so that production can take place seven days a week in order to keep up with growing demand.
On Orkney, this corner of the island may be rain-lashed, but there's an equally vibrant atmosphere within Scotland's most northerly distillery, Highland Park, where a new £750,000 visitor centre opened last year. This whisky – which for most of its history wasn't even bottled under its own name – has fast become an internationally renowned and favoured brand.
Meanwhile, down in the gentler environs of Speyside, staff at Aberlour were celebrating yesterday as it was announced the company had sold some 200,000 nine-litre cases in the past 12 months. This is a figure that Neil Macdonald, brand director for malts at Aberlour's owners, Chivas Brothers, describes as "a significant milestone" for the brand.
While the rest of the world is looking slightly grey under the clouds of recession, there seems to be a golden ray of optimism emanating from Scotland's whisky industry – but will it float out into the wider economy like the "angel's share" of spirit escaping from the casks in the vast bonded warehouses that shelter the slowly maturing malts?
This month is Scotland's inaugural Whisky Month, developed as part of the Scottish Government's Homecoming Scotland initiative and centred on festivals in Speyside and along the west coast. Dozens of events are taking place across the country, all aimed at showing just what good spirits the Scotch whisky industry is in right now.
On Friday, First Minister Alex Salmond highlighted in a speech just how important Scotch is for this country, saying: "Whisky is an iconic and high-quality product which has hugely influenced Scotland's heritage, culture and economy.
"A billion bottles of Scotch are enjoyed each year and it is exported to 200 countries and generates more than £2 billion for Scottish exports."
Mr Salmond was speaking at the launch of an exhibition at the Scotch Whisky Experience visitor centre, nestled just below Edinburgh Castle, at the top of the Royal Mile. The centre has just spent £3 million upgrading its facilities and expects its new attractions to draw more than 30,000 additional visitors each year.
That may seem an optimistic prediction during a serious economic downturn, when luxuries and entertainment might be expected to attract less spending, but you don't invest £3 million without being confident that you're going to see a return.
Alastair McIntosh, the deputy chairman of the Scotch Whisky Experience, says that their investment demonstrates just how confident the company is in the future of Scotch. It certainly seems that the whisky industry, and the businesses surrounding it, are willing to put their money where their drams are.
"It's well documented that in times of financial uncertainty, people choose brands that demonstrate quality, provenance and authenticity. Few products deliver against these attributes more strongly than single-malt Scotch whisky," says James Pennefather, brand director for whisky at Diageo, the drinks giant that owns Talisker.
In 2008, sales of Talisker broke through the 100,000 barrier for the first time – double what was being sold five years ago and a figure that appears to back Pennefather's theory.
There's no doubting that whisky's romantic image gives it a certain classic appeal, which may enable it to weather financial storms that could easily damage a less solid product. There's also whisky's unusually long waiting time between initial production and hitting the shop floor – a maturing period which can, in some ways, provide a buffer from some of the immediate effects of an economic downturn.
But the industry itself has been working hard to ensure its creating a new position for itself in the 21st century.
Keen to shake off its "if you don't drink it neat, you're not a real man" image and tap into the wider consumer taste for drinks served long, there's now a whisky cocktail to suit every imaginable palate, as the industry seeks to make a reality its new proclamation that there's no such thing as a typical whisky drinker.
And cocktail mixologists, who might once have eschewed such a complex – and in some cases powerfully flavoured – spirit have recently enjoyed rising to the challenge of creating cocktails around the subtle differences and flavours of both malts and blended whiskies.
Cocktail tastings will be among the events taking place during Whisky Month, along with musical and other cultural events aimed at highlighting whisky's place within Scottish culture.
Cookery events are also expected to be popular during May as clever marketing types have realised that food and whisky gang th' gither just as pleasantly as freedom and our national drink. As a result, numerous chefs and restaurants are also helping bring whisky to the attention of a wider market.
Whisky's long maturation period and pure ingredients also endear it to the ever-growing band of gastronomes in the Slow Food movement.
Gavin Hewitt, the chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association, explains: "The Scotch Whisky industry has pulled together an exciting programme during Homecoming's Whisky Month, with events across the country celebrating whisky's contribution to Scotland's culture, heritage and economy.
"The combination of festivals, distillery visits, exhibitions and events will showcase our national drink to an international audience."
However, cheering though a good dram can be, the industry is not without its troubles. Recent tax hikes on alcohol are causing price rises at a time when no product – however strong – can afford to risk pricing itself out of the market. There are also fears within the industry that various Scottish Government initiatives to curb antisocial drinking in the country will have a serious impact on sales.
But overall, when it comes to Scotch whisky, things seem to be flowing pretty smoothly, which is good news not just for the industry, but for Scotland as a whole and – of course – for those of us who enjoy a good dram.
• For a full listing of events in the Whisky Month programme and for further information on Homecoming, go to
www.homecomingscotland2009.com/whiskymonth
WELCOME TO OUR NEW WHISKY WEBSITE• THIS month sees the launch of
Scotsman Whisky, a new website for whisky enthusiasts, industry professionals and those keen to get their first taste of Scotland's national drink.
It features whisky writing from Scotland's top journalists, expert business coverage and up-to-the-minute news, offering an insight into the fascinating world of this historic spirit as it advances into the 21st century.
Visitors can use our interactive distillery map to find out more about whisky production, browse the features section for stories about their favourite dram, and check out our blog for news and gossip from the world of whisky. There's fascinating video footage to look at and, if you want to find out about whisky events happening across the country, then click on our whisky diary.
Whisky may be regarded as the "world's most complex spirit", but our aim is to make it as simple and enjoyable as possible for you to find out everything you need to know about whisky.
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whisky.scotsman.com