October Whiskies of the Month - Spooky Tales
October is the month of All Hallows’ Eve, so it is no surprise that this month’s whisky theme is ‘Spooky Tales’. In this edition, we explore distilleries said to be haunted, those situated in mysterious places and others linked to mythological creatures.
Lowland – Glenkinchie 12 Year Old
Glenkinchie was established in 1837 by George and John Rate in East Lothian, roughly 15 miles from Edinburgh. The name translates to Valley of the Kinchie Burn. However, ‘Kinchie’ is possibly formed from ‘De Quincy’, which was the name of the family who originally owned the land. It proclaims to be ‘Edinburgh’s malt’, and for a long time it was the closest distillery to the city. In recent years, lowland whiskies have seen a resurgence which has brought three new distilleries to the city.
Glenkinchie is said to be home to three ghosts, two nice and one less so. The two friendlier spirits, Mrs Redpath and ‘Gentle’ Tom, are said to open doors throughout the distillery, with their footsteps often heard around the site. Mischievous Willie, on the other hand, is apparently known for his meaner streak and is said to slam doors, give guests a cold shiver and is even reported to trip up a tour guide or two!
Highland – Tomatin 12 Year Old Triple Cask
Tomatin is located near Inverness, in the Strathdearn river valley. The distillery was established in 1897, but whisky distilling is believed to have occurred on the site as early as the 16th century. The area surrounding the distillery is supposedly haunted by a horrifying, mythical canine, a Cù Bòcan. Cù Bòcan translates to ‘ghost dog’ in Scots Gaelic, with this particular creature rumoured to be a gigantic black hound that dissipates into smoke when seen or touched. This hellish beast is not exclusive to the distillery but is said to be a terror for the local village too. The origins of this creature may stem from one of two stories; the Last Wolf of Scotland, and the Witch of Laggan.
Historically, wolves were a big problem in Scotland. It is said that the last wolf of Scotland was killed in 1680 by Sir Ewen Cameron of Lochiel. However, mysterious sightings of wolves have been reported all the way up to 1888 near where Tomatin is now located.
The second story is that of the Witch of Laggan. The legend goes that the witch hunted children in the local area and terrified the local people. One day, the devil himself decided the witch was making too much of a name for herself and needed to be put in her place. The devil, in disguise as a giant black dog, chased the witch into Dalarossie Churchyard. Prevented from entering the sacred ground, the devil supposedly roams the area to this day, keeping the witch trapped amongst the gravestones forever.
What do you think is the Cù Bòcan? Could it be a long undiscovered wolf? Is it the devil in disguise? Or is it something else entirely?
Speyside – Beinn Dubh
Beinn Dubh is named after Ben Macdui, a mountain in the Cairngorms, the second highest mountain in Scotland. The Cairngorms may not seem particularly dangerous, but they are not a mountain range to be messed with! Snow can fall any month of the year, and the weather can change in the blink of an eye.
The Cairngorms are also rumoured to be home to many ghosts and mythological creatures. One of which is ‘The Grey Man’, an imposing figure that is said to follow climbers, leaving people with the constant feeling of being watched. This is just one of many creepy encounters and strange goings-on that are reported to occur here. If you are a budding ghost hunter, you might want to add the Cairngorms to your list of places to visit. Just make sure you bring sensible shoes!
Islay – Bowmore 12 Year Old
Bowmore was established in 1779 and is the oldest distillery on Islay, still in operation. One of the most famous stories on the island is that of the headless horseman of Bowmore. The story goes that Lachlan Bàn, an Islay crofter, returned home during a storm just in time to witness a headless horseman fleeing from his home. On closer inspection, he found his front door open, and the fire in the hearth blown out. On the table was an open bottle of Bowmore whisky with one dram missing. He was so scared that he threw away the rest of the bottle (a crime, if you ask us).
Nowadays, it is customary to never give your guests whisky from an opened bottle, only from a new one so as to not attract the headless horseman. Apparently, this legend was debunked by Lachlan’s own brother who WAS the headless horseman. The brother had gone to Lachlan’s home to share a bottle of Bowmore but got tired of waiting, leaving the house with his jacket pulled over his head against the rain.
Blend – Isle of Skye 8 Year Old
The blend this month is Isle of Skye’s 8 year old, named after the Isle of Skye to the west of the mainland. A significant amount of ghost stories is said to originate from the island. One example of paranormal activity is that of a ghostly 1934 Aston Martin, which is said to be seen on the A87.
Another tale surrounds Duntulm Castle, believed to have been built by fairies over 5,000 years ago. Home to Clan MacDonald until 1742, the castle’s dungeon is linked to the ghost of Hugh MacDonald, who was imprisoned there by the clan chieftain. Fed only salty beef, he was also given an empty mug so that when the meat made him desperately thirsty, his hopes would be raised, only for him to realise that his suffering had no end.
Luxury – Ardbeg 19 Year Old
Ardbeg is situated on Islay, a place so rich in folklore that it has its own book, Whisky Tales of Islay. Ardbeg has a few connections to the spooky and mysterious, beginning with its water source, Loch Uigeadail, which means ‘dark and mysterious place.’ Legend has it that in this very lake, a demon called the ‘Wee Beastie’ resides here, inspiring the name of one of Ardbeg’s releases.
Another tale associated with the distillery is that of the harpy, the personification of storm winds. The harpy is a monster from Greek mythology that has the head of a woman and the body of a gigantic bird. Sometimes these creatures have been described as having a beautiful face, while other times, they are described as hideous beings, resembling the chthonic goddesses of vengeance, The Erinyes. The name ‘harpy’ means ‘snatcher’ or ‘swift robber.’ In Greek mythology, they were originally viewed as agents of the Erinyes, seizing evildoers and dragging them to the underworld, particularly those guilty of murdering family members. They were also described as guardians of the underworld and messengers of Zeus.
The Ardbeg 19 year old forms part of the distillery’s Anthology Collection, which is inspired by legends from around the distillery. The Harpy’s Tale drew on a story told by head warehouseman, Dugga, who travelled to the Mull of Oa to investigate a spate of missing undergarments (the distillery doesn’t give any more context), expecting to find an eagle living out a life of crime. Instead, he reportedly found a harpy. Other tales in the collection include a fearsome, monstrous serpent said to lurk in the warehouses and the sighting of a unicorn near the distillery. The Harpy’s Tale was the second release in the collection.
