Distiller sees red over ban on 'green' malt

ANOTHER row has emerged over how to categorise Scotch whisky after one distiller claimed he was being prevented from developing new energy-efficient ideas.

John Peterson, distillery manager at Loch Lomond Distillers, has accused the Scotch Whisky Association of stifling innovation by planning to outlaw his production methods and is calling for a new category that will allow him to continue with plans to launch Rhosdhu single malt, produced from column stills, in the next decade.

He says the malt will save energy but the SWA argues that whisky produced from a column still is not traditional and that any spirit distilled using this method cannot be described as single malt whisky.

But Peterson said: "Under the present definitions we can use this production method and call it single malt. The new definitions have added a clause which says malt whisky should be made in the traditional way.

"We have a method that produces very good new malt spirit and we are being penalised because we are innovators. It makes me very annoyed.

"If our industry can't encourage innovation I find it sad. The reason we are doing it is to make the process better, more efficient and the energy savings are considerable, but we just get slapped down. I don't think it's right.

"The SWA has insisted that it is classed as grain whisky. But it is made from 100% Scottish malt, produced and matured in Scotland and tastes like malt whisky."

Whisky expert Dave Broom said: "There is tradition and heritage behind this kind of whisky. It may not be common, but this production method has been around since the 19th century. Therefore it should be valid and considered as a malt whisky."

Campbell Evans, director of Government affairs at the SWA, said: "The further category being floated does not reflect traditional Scotch Whisky distillation and practice.

"The product in question is in any event already covered by the term 'Single Grain Scotch Whisky' outlined in the draft Regulations."