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greatdrams · 4 years

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Whisky 101

let’s begin

Love whisky but want to know more about it? We’ve got everything you need to know right here.

What is Whisky?

A distilled spirit made from water, grains and yeast. Scotch is whisky that has been made in Scotland. Bourbon, Rye and Grain and all types of whisky made with varying amounts of different grains in their recipes.Barley is most commonly used in Scotch, but rye, corn and wheat are also used.

Different countries have different regulations regarding the production of whisky, for instance in Scotland it has to be made at one distillery (unless it’s a blend) aged for a minimum of 3 years and bottled at 40% ABV or above.

There are several categories of whisky:

Single Malt

This is Scotch that is distilled and matured in one distillery, in Scotland, for a minimum of three years and a day. Legally it has to be made form only barley and water and in pot stills.

Single Grain

This is Scotch that contains more than one grain but is still distilled at a single distillery.

Blend

This is a mix of many different single malts and grains from many different distilleries, all blended together.

Blended Malt

This is a blend that is made of only single malts from different distilleries.

Blended Grain

This is a blend that is made of only single grain from different distilleries.

Where does the word “Whisky”come from?

The word we use today is the anglicise version of “uisgebeatha”, or“usquebaugh”, which means water of life in Gaelic. This language was spoken throughout Scotland and Ireland for a long time and many words from Gaelic are still used today.

There are two ways to spell whisky, with an E or without. The rule goes that if there is an E in the name of the country, then they will use an E to spell whisky. There is no definite way of knowing where this came from or why it became the norm, but there you have it!

How is whisky made?

Whisky typically goes through five different stages to reach the final product: Malting, Mashing, Fermentation, Distillation, Ageing.

Malting: Grains are soaked in water for 2-3 days and spread on a “malting floor” to germinate. Germination produces enzymes and starch that add flavour to whisky. Malting can take place over anything between 8 and 21 days, depending on theseason. The grains are repeatedly turned to ensure there is consistency. They are also dried in kilns. This is often when peated flavours are added to the grains as the kilns are fired by burning peat.

Mashing: This is when the grains are fully dried and ground into a powder called grist. Grist is then added to warm water in a mash tun.The enzymes convert starch into sugars in this mixture and the result is called wort.

Fermentation: Wort is added to a washbackand yeast is added to the mix. Fermentation takes place and alcohol is produced in the resulting reaction between the yeast and the starch.

Distillation: In order to separate the water and alcohol it is put through a process of heating and cooling. Alcohol evaporates at around 72 degrees and water at 100, so the alcohol is collected as it evaporates first. This is where copper pot stills are used, the most common kind of stills used in the whisky making process. In Scotland, the mix is distilled twice but in Ireland and certain American distilleries, the mix is distilled three times for extra smoothness.

Ageing: Distillation results in a New Make Spirit, which is whisky before it is aged. In order to legally be called and sold as whisky, it needs to be matured in barrels. Each barrel will have a certain level of char which imparts smoky flavours to the liquid. The most common types of barrels used for maturation are Bourbon and Sherry barrels, although lots of different types can be used. Ageing and maturation can last any number of years, but must be over three in Scotland.

Finishing: Some distilleries will transfer malt into another barrel in order to bring out or add a little bit more flavour. This is usually for a shorter period or time and in different casks to what was used for maturation. Not all whiskies are finished.

What is a blend?

A blend is a whisky made up of a combination of single malts and single grain whiskies. They are created by highly skilled Master Blenders and Master Distillers who have excellent tasting abilities.

The act of blending is literally the act of combining the whiskies, but it has to be done in a very specific way, otherwise the result will not taste so great. Blends also have to be consistent, which is difficult when mass producing them and that is why master Blenders have to be so well versed in whisky flavours.

scotch regions

Unlike most other countries (with perhaps America as an exception for the “Kentucky” and “Tennessee” categories) Scotland is divided into whisky making regions. The region that a Scotch is made in will usually denote the flavour profile of the whisky, although this is not true for every single distillery.

Speyside

Speyside has around 42 working distilleries, making it the most distillery dense part of Scotland. It is in the northeast, in an area that is sometimes referred to as the Highlands, near the river Spey. It is home to some big names in Scotch, include in Glenfiddich, The Glenlivet, Aberlour and The Macallan.

Malts from Speyside tend to be lighter in body, with big sherry notes. There is plenty of spice and smoke but not so much meat. Fruity, sweet flavours also play a big part in the Speysde flavour profile.

Islay

There are eights distilleries currently on the isle of Islay, but there are more opening in coming years, including the rebirth of Port Ellen. It is not included in the Islands region because it has so many distilleries and because the malt made there is distinctively peated. Distilleries on Islay include Lagavulin, CaolIla, Ardbeg, Bruichladdich, Bowmore, Laphroaig, and Bunnahabhain.

Islay tends to have heavier malts, with lots of peat. Due to the small size of the island and the richness of the peat, there are a lot of sea side notes including seaweed, brine, iodine and salt in these malts.

Islands

Not everyone recognises the islands as a whisky region, often including them in the Highland region. There are several working distilleries on islands, including Jura, Arran, Talisker, Scapa, Highland Park and Tobermoray.

Similarly to Islay, island malts have heavier, peated flavours although the flavours are not as strong as with Islay malts. They are slightly lighter than Islay malts and the smoke is softer.

Highlands

The Highlands is the largest region geographically and includes distilleries such as Oban, Aberfeldy, The Dalmore and Glenmorangie. Malts from here have a broad range of flavours. They can be quite light bodied and floral, with sherry notes and lots of sweetness, or heavily peated with some seaside qualities.

Lowlands

The Lowlands is large geographically but only has four working distilleries, although there are new distilleries planned to open. Distilleries already operating here include Auchentoshan, Ailsa Bay, Glenkinchie and Bladnoch.

Lowland malts have lighter, more earthen flavours and are quite mellow in flavour. They are distinctly herbal and fresh.

Campbeltown

Once the most densely populated whisky region, Campbeltown has fallen off the whisky region radar in recent years. It was once known asthe Whisky capital of the world” but now it is only home to three working distilleries, Glen Scotia, Glengyle and Springbank, Campbeltown malts are similar to Islay malts and have lots of peat smoke and seaside notes. They are wonderfully complex and rich.

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ivisite · 4 years

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DRAGONBORN 30 DAY CHALLENGE

Day 5 - Backstory– Who is the Dragonborn Anyway?

Your Dragonborn’s place of birth:

[ Gudrun Farm, The Rift ] The Gudrun farm has been in the family for many generations, so naturally when Saoirse’s mother got of age, her parents passed it down to her and her husband, whom was made to take the family name as opposed to her mother taking his. Location wise, it sits along the north bank of the Treva River, right between Riften and Ivarstead.

Why did they come to Skyrim?:

Fun story, really. After fleeing Skyrim in order to avoid the Thieves Guild and her past with them (and the debt she owes them, but I digress) she decides to skip out on Skyrim entirely at age 21 and travels around literally everywhere else in the years prior to 4E 201. Right before getting caught up in an ambush at a Stormcloak camp where she was trading potions and such for arrows, she was hoping to make it to Windhelm in order to take a ship to Solstheim. That didn’t work out, obviously, and instead she woke up in a cart with an attractive blonde that talked too much, a thief and the leader of the Rebellion.

List your Dragonborn’s immediate family members:

[ Blood Family ]

Mother - Ailsa Gudrun, Father - “Sven”, Younger Sister - Geillis Gudrun

[ Adopted Family / Caravan ] ( Khajiit )

Matriarch “Big Mum” - Qu’Ra, Guard “Little Mum” - Ta’Zarja Adopted Sister / Orphan Buddy - “Snaggle”, Tradesman - Ta’Jiro

After running off from her actual family because of the “thought I was through with my Forsworn days buT NOPE here let me turn you into a werewolf or at least try to” incident with her father, she runs off and manages to persuade a Khajiit caravan with another little orphan running around to take her in.

How do they feel about their family members?:

As far as her Blood Family goes, she doesn’t know if they’re alive or not anymore. She hopes her father is at least dead or not involved with her mother and sister anymore but hasn’t a clue of what ever happened to them. She hates her father, for sure, but does sometimes think about traveling out to the old family farm and seeing whats left of it.

Caravan Family wise, she knows they’re all doing well and in fact often bumps into them on her travels around Skyrim. Snaggle is married with a small kitten of her own running around the caravan and Qu’Ra has taken to fortune-telling, allowing Snaggle’s husband to take over the main trading business. She adores this little family of hers and has a deeply profound respect for the Khajiit culture having spent so much time with them and even going to Elsweyr once or twice with them.

What was their childhood like?:

Up until the incident with her father dragging her out to the Reach and trying to turn her into a token for Hircine, she was a normal kid at the family farm. She was rambunctious, admittedly, always getting into things or trying to sneak out to go explore but nothing too crazy.

Upon starting over and traveling with the Caravan around Skyrim around age 12, she was still mischievous, but had to take up learning how to barter and trade, as well as being the primary hunter as far as food went. She was good with a bow and light on her feet, so she did her best to make her presence worth having around. She carried her weight well and once she turned 16 or so, she was sent into cities to trade wares with the citizens since the Khajiit themselves could not.

These are getting posted later and later bUT I am determined to not have to do a double post day, I’m going to keep up!

also this picture didn’t turn out like I wanted :/ but I suppose that’s part of drawing, doing what you can and then doing better next time.

ALSO come on day 7 beCAUSE I CAN’T WAIT TO TALK ABOUT HER ANGStY lOVe LifE And LoVeR BoY omg

#digital art #dragonborn challenge #female dragonborn #saoirse : oc #skyrim oc #tes oc #my art #character creation

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iammichaelwatts · 7 years

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For this project we worked with Derek and Ailsa to redesign their existing website for their holiday rental cottage, as well as to develop them a strong brand which would make them stand out in a crowded market place.

Derek and Ailsa approached us and asked us to take a look at their current business website as they felt that it was dated, not mobile friendly and did not represent the beauty and quality of their holiday cottage. They wanted a bright, vibrant website which made the best use of their surrounding areas, alongside the history of their Grade II listed former miners cottage.

They also wanted a brand that was strong, unique and professional, and which reflected the history of their cottage. The brand needed to be appealing to their customers whilst also standing out in what is a very crowded market place.

Read through our approach below to see how we worked with Derek and Ailsa to firstly design their new branding and then how we used this to redesign, build and launch Derek and Ailsa a new business website.

– – –

Understanding Derek and Ailsa

Whenever we work on a project, we like to get to know the people that we are working with. We feel that is important to understand who they are, what they stand for, and what they want from the project. Especially when we are working with the owners of a small business, like Derek and Ailsa, we have learnt that their company tends to reflect their own personality and style, and so it is important for us to get to know them better.

So, we did what we always do, we sat down to talk to Derek and Ailsa, to understand who they are, to understand what Clydfan Cottage is about – it’s WHY – and to learn from them about what they wanted from their new brand. Through the wonders of Skype we were able to do this quickly and easily.

– – –

Brand design

Research

To kickoff this project, we began by taking our time to look at their existing branding. We wanted to understand the existing user experience of booking a stay at Clydfan.

What we found was an almost non-existent brand. There was no clear message that said “this is Clydfan – this is our brand, this is us”.

The consistent points that we noticed was the use of photos of the property – both internally and externally. There was no clear logo or style, nor a clear branding colour scheme.

New branding

Colour scheme

The first thing that we started with was a colour scheme. This would direct the rest of the branding scheme and ‘brand voice’.

Having looked at the current branding on the website the thing that caught our eye was the colour of the cottage – it was the only property of that colour on the street so we used that as a starting point.

We then liked the way the green contrasted, yet sat comfortably with, the slate grey of the tiles on the cottage roof – so we added the slate grey in to the mix.

Part of our belief is that white is an essential part of any colour scheme – so we added that in to.

During our conversations with Derek and Ailsa, Ailsa shared her preference for a pink colour that we had used on a previous project – so we added that to the mix. With direct input from Ailsa we then tweaked the type of pink we used and ended up with a more neon version.

We settled on the colour scheme below which we sent to Derek and Ailsa to agree –

Font scheme

Once we had a brand colour scheme, we started to consider what font scheme would suit the ‘brand voice’ that Derek and Ailsa wanted.

We looked at their existing font style and then looked at how we could use that inspiration to develop them a scheme that was more appropriate for the brand and for the cottage itself. We wanted something that mixed the history of the cottage – it is Grade II listed – with a font that was more flowing and represented the closeness of the cottage to the river (in our view it is one of the unique selling points of the cottage).

After much deliberating, and much testing, we settled on the following font scheme –

Logo design

After we had received agreement from Derek and Ailsa on the colour scheme and the font scheme, we looked at how we could bring those together into a logo design that was strong, unique and professional, and which reflected the history of the cottage and its uniqueness.

Derek and Ailsa had some ideas of what they wanted – they wanted to reflect the river, the al fresco dining (table and chairs in the garden which overlooks the river) and the cottage itself.

We come up with a number of concept ideas to give Derek and Ailsa some food for thought –

#gallery-0-13 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-13 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 20%; } #gallery-0-13 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-13 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Some of these were liked by Derek and Ailsa, and some went straight into the bin. But they served their purpose, they helped us narrow down what they wanted. They learnt that the table and chairs looked more like a cafe, so that went. We kept the cottage image idea as that grew on them.

As we were working on the logo we were also working on the new website design, and in particular, the photos for the website – and there in one of the photos was something that became our inspiration, the Clydfan sign outside the front door. It was a plain sign of the name of the cottage on a piece of slate, see below:

What we liked about this sign was its mix of simplicity, its timeless feel and how it represented the cottage – the slate, the straight lines and the link back to the mining industry. The font on the sign also linked very closely with the font scheme which we had chosen – it was like it was meant to be.

By mixing this with what we learnt from the previous exercise, and the wishes of Derek and Ailsa, we came up with the final logo design –

We also created a number of secondary logo formats –

These were all then provided to Derek and Ailsa in a number of formats – png, jpeg, sag and eps – and, as per our approach, the logo is theirs to own forever.

– – –

Website design

Research

The other part of the project was to redevelop the existing Clydfan Cottage website.

We began by taking our time to look through the existing website. We wanted to understand the existing user experience with a critical eye.

This is what we found –

One of the first things that we noticed was that it looked a little dated. It also wasn’t mobile friendly. Additionally the branding was a little muddled, and some of the photos were very blurry and pixelated. In essence, it wasn’t doing the cottage justice.

So these points became our simple guidelines for the new website –

1/ It needs to be designed using the new branding with a clear ‘brand voice’

2/ It needs to clearly showcase the unique selling points of the cottage

3/ It needs to be easier to navigate

4/ It needs to have more of a ‘wow’ factor when you opened it

5/ It needs to clearly promote testimonials from previous customers

The new site

For the new site we came up with a simple, initial structure, and then through input from Derek and Ailsa, we expanded this to the following 6 core options, wth a couple of pages which float off of the main structure –

1/ about

2/ photos

3/ book

4/ the local area

5/ reviews

6/ contact

We also added the contact details and a ‘Make a booking’ link into the footer of every page along with =the site map and a map of the cottage location, and links to their Facebook and Instagram accounts.

We also made the site bright, vibrant, and consistent on the ‘brand voice’. It is also mobile friendly and SEO friendly.

It makes the best use of the cottage’s unique selling point – its location overlooking the river. We built in bright, large and colourful photos of the cottage and its surrounding areas throughout the site. In addition, we also embedded videos that Derek and Ailsa had taken of the local area.

One of the key elements of this project was to make the most of the history of their Grade II listed former miners cottage. Alongside adding in details about its history into the text and title of the website, we also included a large historic photo of the cottage from either the 1800’s or very early 1900’s.

We also wanted to make it easier for customers to give their reviews within the website. Currently customers are encouraged to use Trip Advisor; however, Derek and Ailsa wanted to move away from this, so we built a ‘How was your stay’ form directly into the website. We also built a form for people to submit questions if they are not already covered within the frequently asked questions page to help Derek and Ailsa understand the questions that their customers, and potential customers, have.

This site was also the first site which we were not going to host. Therefore, the website was designed to be hosted by a different company that Derek and Ailsa had previously used.

We also had to build in the external booking system that Derek and Ailsa used.

You can view the new Clydfan Cottage website at

www.clydfan-cottage.co.uk

– – –

View a gallery of our work with Nina

Project Clydfan For this project we worked with Derek and Ailsa to redesign their existing website for their holiday rental cottage, as well as to develop them a strong brand which would make them stand out in a crowded market place.

#Branding #Colour palette #Colours #Font #Font scheme #Logo designer #Logos #Typography #Webpage #Website

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writing-all-wrongs · 6 years

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Names

Magical, Fairy, Enchanting, And Mermaid Baby Names For Girls:

1. Aerwyna:

Don’t you think this melodic name would have sounded great on an elf in The Lord of the Rings? With roots in Old English, Aerwyna means ‘friend of the sea’.

2. Ailsa:

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Ailsa is the name of the stunning islet in the Clyde, which is also nicknamed as ‘Island of Alfisgr’. And it translates to ‘elf victory’. Could it be any more apt for your wee one?

3. Aine:

Aine is an Irish name derived from the proto-Celtic word ‘aidna’ and means ‘radiance’. In Irish mythology, she’s the queen of fairies.

[ Read: Disney Inspired Names For Babies ]

4. Alfreda:

We had absolutely no idea that Alfreda means ‘elf power’. This makes us like it even more.

5. Alice:

Alice is the name of the imaginative and curious protagonist of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in the Wonderland and the Disney movie of the same name. This classic and feminine name means ‘of the nobility’.

6. Alvina:

Alvina is the female variant of Alvin and means ‘elf-friend’.

7. Ariel:

This one needs no introduction. Too bad it does not come along with the red hair. And did you know that Ariel is also the symbolic name for Jerusalem? This name means ‘lion of the God’.

8. Asherah:

A name with a royal ring, Asherah does have Hebrew origins, but it’s also the name of the goddess of fertility and motherhood. This moniker means ‘she who walks in the sea’.

9. Asia:

Asia isn’t just the name of a continent. In the Greek mythology, Asia was Oceanus’ daughter and Prometheus and Atlas’ mother. This name means ‘sunrise’. Sweet, substantial, and motherly!

10. Asteria:

This name from Greek mythology, meaning ‘like a star’ sounds magical to us. What do you think about it? You can also opt for the simple form Astra.

[ Read: Coolest Harry Potter Baby Names ]

11. Aubrey:

This upscale unisex name is shooting up the charts for girls. Its most familiar namesake is Aubrey Plaza, the star of Parks and Recreation. Aubrey means ‘elf ruler’.

12. Aurora:

The sight of magnificent green lights dancing in the sky is no less than a magical phenomenon. Aurora Borealis, better known as the Northern Lights, takes place when the electrons collide with the upper atmosphere. This Latin name means ‘the dawn’.

13. Avery:

The last name first started as a male name, but is now used mostly for the girls, probably because of its similarity to Ivory and Ava. Avery means ‘ruler of elves’.

14. Calypso:

In the Greek mythology, Calypso was the beguiling sea nymph who falls in love with Odysseus. Calypso is also the name of West India music. It means ‘she that conceals’.

15. Celeste:

Stars, planets, and galaxies, for most of us, are full of magic and mystery. Celeste originates in Latin and means ‘heavenly’. What an elegant and regal name!

16. Coralia:

Coralia, meaning ‘like coral’, was the name of a mermaid in a ballet based on Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué’s Undine. We feel it’s a perfect option for parents looking for something rarer than Coral or Coraline.

17. Cyrena:

Cyrena was the water nymph who fought a lion that tried to harm the Sun god Apollo. Apollo, in return built for her a city named Cyrenaica. Cyrena means ‘Mother of Aristaeus’.

18. Daenerys:

This invented name, belonging to the dragon girl from Game of Thrones has gained traction in real life big time.

19. Dariyah:

This is an apt mermaid name for girls. Dariyah is the spelling variation of the Persian name Daria, meaning ‘sea’. It isn’t sweet or girly, but has a brave and bold feel to it.

20. Deema:

This name is inspired by the Nickelodeon series Bubble Guppies, which centers on a group of mermaid preschoolers and their adventures with their teacher, Mr. Grouper. Deema is an Arabic name meaning ‘rain’.

[ Read: Earth Related Baby Names ]

21. Delphine:

Yes, we know that Delphine sounds more like dolphins than mermaids. But aren’t these two creatures magnificent? This elegant and ladylike French name means ‘dolphin’.

22. Doris:

With the revival of Dorothea and Dorothy, Doris also has a chance of making back to the list. It’s the name of an ocean nymph in the Greek mythology and means ‘gift of the ocean’.

23. Elvina:

This moniker sounds something like elven in the truest sense. It means ‘elf-friend’.

24. Fairy:

This is a simple and straightforward option best used as a term of endearment. If you’re a Pokémon lover, you’ll know that Fairy type is one of the kinds of Pokémons.

25. Fay:

Fay is a short and sweet name, derived from the Old English word ‘faie’, which means fairy. Its alternate spelling is Faye.

26. Fiona:

This Scottish name is currently borne by the witch in American Horror Story: Coven. Though the name means ‘fair’, the character Fiona is anything but.

27. Giselle:

Giselle is a naïve and pure-hearted princess of Andalsia from the movie Enchanted. For the typical French feel, pronounce it as ‘Ghee-Zah-Elle’ not ‘Jiz-elle’. It means ‘pledge’.

28. Hermione:

The Harry Potter heroine has a name that stands out, just like the witty and intelligent wizard. In the Greek mythology, Hermione is Kind Menelaus and Helen’s daughter. Her name means ‘messenger’.

29. Isla:

The name Isla is derived from one of the most beautiful islands of Scotland, which is also referred to as The Queen of the Hebrides. A perfect name for a girl who’ll take on the world and will even win it. The correct pronunciation of Isla is ‘Eye-La’.

30. Kaia:

This name just rolls off the tongue. And it doesn’t just sound cute, but has lovely meanings as well. In Hawaiian, Kaia means ‘the sea’ and in Greek, it means ‘pure’. Could there be a better inspiration for a baby girl name?

[ Read: Baby Names Meaning Gift From God ]

31. Kelpie:

In Celtic mythology, Kelpie was the name of the water-horse who transformed herself into a beautiful woman to lure people into traps. This name means ‘heifer’.

32. Lorelei:

This name is taken from the German folktales, where Lorelei was the sensual mermaid of the Rhine River, whose haunting voice led to many shipwrecks. This sophisticated name means ‘alluring’.

33. Maraja:

If you want something rare and mystical for your little girl, Maraja is the one for you. This royal name originates from Esperanto language and means ‘made of the sea’.

34. Marceline:

This enchanting baby name meaning ‘defender of the sea’ also happens to be the name of the lead girl in the animated television show Adventure Time.

35. Marin:

Marin, with its roots in Gaelic and Irish, means ‘star of the sea’. Sounds a lot chicer than Marina.

36. Maurelle:

This French name, meaning ‘elfin’, is also associated with a blue-violet color dye in France.

37. Melia:

This rich and melodic short form of Amelia is also the name of a nymph in Greek mythology. Melia means ‘work’.

38. Melisande:

This mellifluous fairy tale name would make a lovely pick for a 21st-century girl. It means ‘strong in work’.

39. Melody:

Melody is the name of Ariel’s daughter in Disney’s Little Mermaid. After a long hiatus, this Greek name cracked in the top 200 list in the year 2015. Melody means ‘music’.

40. Melusine:

According to a medieval tale, Melusine was the name of one of the three sisters lost on the Isle of Avalon. Melusine, the eldest sister, was forced to spend one day a week as a mermaid. Melusine means ‘dark skinned’.

[ Read: Baby Names That Mean Sun ]

41. Meri:

If you wish for an alternative to the classic and somewhat common name Mary, Meri is the one for you. It’s a beautiful Finnish name, meaning ‘the sea’.

42. Miranda:

This name featured in a British comedy film, in which a lonely fisherman catches a mermaid named Miranda and together they go on a journey to London. Miranda means ‘marvelous’.

43. Molly:

Molly is another adorable character from Bubble Guppies. Molly originated as a nickname, but has been used as a standalone name since the Middle Ages. Molly means ‘bitter’.

44. Muirgen:

This is a perfect magical girl name. According to Irish folklore, Muirgen was a human who was transformed into a mermaid. She was caught from the sea after 300 years, baptized, and turned into a saint. Muirgen means ‘born of the sea’.

45. Naida:

Naida, meaning ‘water nymph’, would make an excellent option for girls born under any of the water signs – Pisces, Cancer, or Scorpio.

46. Navi:

Navi is the name of the fairy in the video game, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. This Hebrew name is the nickname of Gamma Cassiopeia, bestowed on her by astronaut Gus Grissom. Navi means ‘to name’.

47. Nerissa:

Nerissa is an offbeat alternative to Marissa and Nerissa. It featured in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. Nerissa means ‘from the sea’.

48. Nixie:

As per the German folklore, Nixie is the name of the mermaid-like sprite dwelling in the sea. You can consider it as an update for Nicki or a substitute to Pixie. Nixie means ‘water nymph’.

49. Ondine:

Ondine is the name of a German water sprite who gets married to a mortal, but leads a disturbed life. Meaning ‘little wave’, this name rose to fame via Audrey Hepburn’s character Ondine on Broadway.

50. Oona:

We quite like this name. It’s short, sweet, and belongs to one of the guppies in the series. The double ‘o’ adds oomph to this name. Oona means ‘lamb’.

[ Read: Baby Names Inspired By Fire ]

51. Parisa:

This Persian name, meaning ‘like a fairy’ sounds much more distinctive than Paris or Parisa. A perfect example how you can turn an ordinary name into extraordinary with just a change in the letter.

52. Pixie:

Pixie is basically a term used for supernatural beings that are portrayed as tiny, human like creatures with pointed hat and ears. This magical baby girl name is on the rise, thanks to the name with the letter ‘x’ in it. Pixie means ‘fairy’.

53. Radella:

Radella is one of the most unusual names we’ve come across. Definitely a fresher alternative to ella ending names. It means ‘elfin advisor’.

54. Sabrina:

Sabrina was the name of the water nymph in Comus by John Milton. Besides, it’s the name of a Celtic River goddess too. The meaning of Sabrina is ‘from Cyprus’.

55. Sen:

Short, sweet, and utterly adorable, in Japanese mythology, Sean is the name of a mythological forest elf. Since it isn’t used much in the Western part of the world, it would make a rare name for your daughter. Sen means ‘lotus flower’.

56. Sereia:

Sereia is Portuguese for mermaid. It’s probably derived from Siren, which is also a name for mermaids.

57. Siofra:

Siofra is soft, frilly, shimmering, and a wonderful alternative to Sophie or Sophia. It’s an Irish Gaelic name, meaning ‘elf’ or ‘sprite’. You need to pronounce this name as ‘Sheef-RA’.

58. Tabitha:

In the 60s series, Bewitched, Tabitha is the name of the half-witch daughter of Samantha. This quirky name reached its peak in the 70s. Tabitha means ‘gazelle’.

59. Tiana:

This moniker gained a huge fan following the release of Princess and the Frog. Tiana means ‘fairy queen’.

60. Titania:

Titania is the name of the Queen of Fairies in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This moniker has a lacy and delicate charm, just like its bearer. Titania means ‘great one’.

[ Read: Love Inspired Baby Names ]

Magical, Fairy, Enchanting And Mermaid Baby Names For Boys:

61. Aelfdene:

Aelfdene, meaning ‘from the Elfin valley’, would sound great in the middle spot. It’s mysterious, magical, and enigmatic.

62. Aladdin:

The Arabian lad from the movie of the same name was a revolution in itself. It was for the first time a thief was made the male protagonist in a Disney fairy tale based film. Aladdin means ‘height of religion’.

63. Alfred:

This name may be at the bottom of the Social Security Administration list, but in Wales and England, Alfred ranks #125. It means ‘elf counsel’.

64. Alvaro:

We love this name for it means ‘army of elf’. And the final ‘o’ increases the attractiveness of this name manifolds.

65. Alvin:

A magical name that’s now tied to the chipmunks, all thanks to the movie, Alvin and the Chipmunks. The name currently sits at the #602 spot. Alvin means ‘friend of elves’.

66. Arion:

In the Greek mythology, Arion is the immortal and super swift horse endowed with the power of speaking. In Hebrew, Arion means ‘melodious’.

67. Aslan:

This grand name is taken from C.S. Lewis magical book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. The name means ‘lion’.

68. Basil:

Basil is the sprite from the American musical television show, Johnny and the Sprites. A name with upper-class vibes, Basil means ‘regal’.

69. Bayard:

Bayard was the magical and beautiful horse given to Rinaldo. This French name means ‘auburn haired’.

70. Blade:

This name brings to mind the vampire hunter and Marvel superhero from the movie Blade. Blade means ‘wealthy glory’.

[ Read: Unique Nature Baby Names ]

71. Borak:

Legends are full of magical horses. Al-Borak is the magical horse that took Prophet Muhammad from Earth to the 7th heaven. This name means ‘the lightning’.

72. Caspian:

This place name has been attracting a lot of attention from the cutting edge parents of late. It even inspired Mr. Lewis to pick it for his novel, Chronicles of Narnia Series.

73. Cedric:

Cedric Diggory was the character who competed against Harry Potter in the game of Quidditch. Despite the high appeal of the character, Cedric failed to attract parents. So it would be a good option if you want something uncommon for your son. Cedric means ‘bounty’.

74. Cleon:

Here we’re referring to the Fairy of the Night Cleon from the video game Bust-a-Move 4. It’s used for a female fairy here, but Cleon is essentially a baby boy name, meaning ‘glorious’.

75. Cosmo:

Cosmo is the name of Timmy Turner’s fairy godfather in animated television series, The Fairly Odd Parents. This expansive Greek name, meaning ‘order’ would make a creative pick for your son.

76. Cullen:

Cullen is the surname of the most beloved vampire family of all time, the Cullens from Twilight Saga. This moniker originates in the Irish and means ‘handsome’.

77. Draco:

This name gained a widespread popularity via the blonde-haired, menacing wizard Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter series. Draco means ‘dragon’.

78. Dylan:

Dylan is the cute and energetic hippie from the BBC television show Magic Roundabout. This Welsh name means ‘son of the sea’.

79. Easton:

Easton originates from the Old English phrase that means ‘island of stones’, but it means ‘magical power’.

80. Edward:

The name has flown to the top of the popularity charts, thanks to the pale, brooding, and sparkling character in the Twilight series. This Norse name means ‘rich guard’.

[ Read: Baby Names That Mean Angel ]

81. Eric:

Eric is the charming prince from The Little Mermaid. This popular Scandinavian name has been rocking the charts in the United States. It means ‘eternal ruler’.

82. Finn:

Finn is the name of the central characters in The Snow Queen, folklore, which is the inspiration behind the movie Frozen. Finn means ‘white or fair’.

83. Flynn:

Flynn is the male lead from the fairy tale remake Tangled. This name means ‘son of the red-haired one’.

84. Gandalf:

Gandalf is an Old Norse name, meaning ‘wand elf’, Besides, it also refers to the Wizard from Tolkien’s masterpiece Lord of the Rings.

85. Gary:

Gary is the chubby overseer fairy in Tinkerbell. This name cracked into the top 10 list in the year 1950, largely because of Gary Cooper. Gary means ‘spearman’.

86. Gil:

Gil is the rambunctious merman of the Nickelodeon series Bubble Guppies. His infectious energy and curiosity inspire viewers to lead an adventurous life. This Hebrew name means ‘happiness’.

87. Hansel:

This name instantly brings to mind the lead of the fairytale, Hansel and Gretel. The plus point is that this name isn’t widely used in any part of the world. Hansel means ‘god is gracious’.

88. Harry:

Harry Potter redefined magic for us. This half-blood wizard played a crucial role in several battles, including destroying the Horcruxes of Voldemort. Harry means ‘estate ruler’.

89. Jack:

Jack, as in Jack in the Green, a colorful figure covered in flowers and greeneries appeared in the folklore, Robin Hood. Jack means ‘god is gracious’.

90. Jareth:

Jareth is the Goblin King from the fantasy movie Labyrinth. This moniker sounds like a combination of Jared and Gareth and means ‘bled of jar’.

[ Read: Baby Names That Mean Angel ]

91. Jiminy:

Parents who aren’t afraid of thinking out of the box can opt for Jiminy, the beloved cricket from the movie Pinocchio. Jiminy, is a variation of James and means ‘supplanter’.

92. Magus:

Magus has the roof of the word magic in it, and that’s what makes it magical. Coincidentally, this name means ‘sorcerer’.

93. Oberon:

Oberon is the English form of the French name Auberon and means ‘elf ruler’. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Oberon was the king of fairies.

94. Peter:

This name references to the beloved Peter Pan, the mischievous young boy capable of flying. This pleasant Greek name means ‘rock’.

95. Phillip:

Phillip is the prince from the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty. This spelling variation of Philip ranks 24 places behind the original. Phillips means ‘lover of horses’.

96. Regin:

In the Norse mythology, Regin was a blacksmith, well versed in dark magic. It means ‘a mythical blacksmith’.

97. Terence:

Terence is the Dust-talent Sparrowman from Tinkerbell. This name hails from the Irish neighborhoods of New York and Boston and means ‘smooth’.

[ Read: Moon Names For Babies ]

98. Triton:

Triton is perhaps one of the most famous mermen of all time. Disney lovers would instantly recognize him after Ariel’s father in The Little Mermaid. Triton means ‘son of Poseidon’.

99. Tyrion:

Tyrion is one of the literary names entering the dictionary via George R. R. Martin’s Game of the Thrones. It means ‘one who is from the Land of Eoghan’.

100. Zephyr:

This name is taken from the Greek mythology, where Zephyr is the Greek god of the west wind. This magical boy name was picked by Robby Benson and Sean Parker for their sons. Zephyr means ‘west wind’.

#names

0 notes

jaigeddes · 6 years

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Construction start date for £350m Tower Hamlets site

Construction is set to start next year on a £350m scheme to regenerate one of the last remaining brownfield sites in Tower Hamlets, East London.

The timetable was unveiled as the London Borough of Tower Hamlets granted the green light to plans from a consortium led by Galliard Homes and Lindhill.

The Ailsa Wharf site will contain 785-homes as part of a mixed use regeneration scheme sesigned by architecture practice Stockwool.

Work will transform a heavily contaminated 2.5ha tract of land next to the River Lea which has laid barren and unused for many years.

The approved proposals will create a mixed-use hub of high quality housing and 3,000m2 commercial space in 13 buildings varying between 3 and 17 storeys set within significant areas of new public realm.

The development has the potential to kickstart wider regeneration in Poplar Riverside, particularly the sites to the south such as Iron Mountain and the Nairn Street Estate.

Construction is due to start in 2018 with first completions due in 2021.

0 notes

ndbasilica · 6 years

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Construction start date for £350m Tower Hamlets site

Construction is set to start next year on a £350m scheme to regenerate one of the last remaining brownfield sites in Tower Hamlets, East London.

The timetable was unveiled as the London Borough of Tower Hamlets granted the green light to plans from a consortium led by Galliard Homes and Lindhill.

The Ailsa Wharf site will contain 785-homes as part of a mixed use regeneration scheme sesigned by architecture practice Stockwool.

Work will transform a heavily contaminated 2.5ha tract of land next to the River Lea which has laid barren and unused for many years.

The development has the potential to kickstart wider regeneration in Poplar Riverside, particularly the sites to the south such as Iron Mountain and the Nairn Street Estate.

Construction is due to start in 2018 with first completions due in 2021.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/12/12/construction-start-date-for-350m-tower-hamlets-site/

#Construction Enquirer

0 notes

themuseumwithoutwalls · 7 years

Photo

MWW Artwork of the Day (9/11/17) Thomas Cole (British/American, 1801-1848) The Voyage of Life: Manhood (1842) Oil on canvas, 134.3 x 202.6 cm. National Gallery, Washington DC (Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund)

Cole clearly intended the "Voyage of Life" to be a didactic, moralizing series of paintings using the landscape as an allegory for religious faith. Unlike Cole’s first major series, "The Course of Empire," which focused on the stages of civilization as a whole, the "Voyage of Life" series is a more personal, Christian allegory that interprets visually the journey of man through four stages of life: infancy, youth, manhood and old age. Done on commission, the finished works generated a disagreement with the owner about a public exhibition. In 1842 when Cole was in Rome he did a second set of the series which on his return to America was shown to acclaim. The first set is at the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute in Utica, New York, the second set is at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

In the third painting, "Manhood," the youth has grown into an adult and now faces the trials of life. The boat is damaged and the tiller is gone. The river has become a terrible rush of white water with menacing rocks, dangerous whirlpools, and surging currents. The warm sunlight of youth has been clouded over with dark and stormy skies and torrential rains. The trees have become wind-beaten, gnarled, leafless trunks. The fresh grass is gone, replaced by hard and unforgiving rock.

In the boat, the man no longer displays confidence or even control. The angel appears high in the sky, still watching over the man, who does not see the angel. Man must rely on his faith that the angel is there to help him. Cole states, "Trouble is characteristic of the period of Manhood. In childhood, there is no carking care: in youth, no despairing thought. It is only when experience has taught us the realities of the world, that we lift from our eyes the golden veil of early life; that we feel deep and abiding sorrow: and in the Picture, the gloomy, eclipse-like tone, the conflicting elements, the trees riven by tempest, are the allegory; and the Ocean, dimly seen, figures the end of life, which the Voyager is now approaching."

(Wikipedia extracts)

A representative sample of Cole's work appears in the MWW exhibit/gallery: * Americana: II - Discovering the Land & Its People, 1826-65

#thomas cole #the voyage of life #manhood #american artist #allegorical painting

0 notes

steenpaal · 7 years

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Central Scottish - Wikipedia

Central Scottish Omnibuses Ltd was a bus operating subsidiary of the Scottish Transport Group formed in June 1985 from Central SMT Company Ltd, and operated until July 1989 when it was merged with Kelvin Scottish to form Kelvin Central Buses.

Operation[edit]

From its head office in Traction House, Motherwell, Central Scottish had an operating area covering the whole of Lanarkshire, bounded by Glasgow to the west, Airdrie to the north, Strathaven to the south and Shotts to the east.

Central was the largest operator in central Scotland and was responsible for local and interurban services in the towns of East Kilbride, Airdrie, Motherwell, Wishaw and Hamilton. Depots were also located in these towns.

Central Scottish also provided coaches for Scottish Citylink work, mainly from Glasgow and central Scotland to other points in Scotland.

History[edit]

The Scottish Motor Traction (SMT) Company was founded in Edinburgh in 1905, and expanded rapidly. After the First World War, this expansion included the acquisition of bus companies operating in other parts of Scotland. In 1928 SMT was purchased by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) and the London and North Eastern Railway, and became the parent company for railway-owned bus operations in Scotland. Central SMT was a product of this series of acquisitions and mergers.

In 1926 the Glasgow General Omnibus and Motor Services Ltd. was formed. This company, which traded as the 'Glasgow Omnibus Company' (GOC) developed a network of bus services radiating out from Glasgow into Lanarkshire, as well as an isolated group of services along the north bank of the River Clyde to western Dunbartonshire. In 1930, GOC was purchased by the LMS Railway. In the same year, the LMS. also purchased two further major Lanarkshire bus firms, Stewart and McDonald Ltd. of Carluke, and J. W. & R. Torrance Ltd., of Hamilton. Several smaller firms were subsequently purchased and absorbed by these companies.

In 1932, control of the LMS Railway's bus interests in Scotland was vested in the SMT Group. The three Lanarkshire firms were merged into one new company, named the Central S.M.T. Company Ltd. At the same time, the SMT Group purchased the Lanarkshire Traction Company Ltd., of Motherwell. Lanarkshire Traction, which had originally been a tramway operator, became a subsidiary of Central SMT. The head office of both companies was the former Lanarkshire Traction premises at Traction House, Motherwell. Throughout the 1930s, Central purchased and absorbed numerous smaller companies, notable amongst which were Baillie Brothers Ltd. of Dumbarton and Clydebank Motors Ltd. of Clydebank. These two firms were acquired in 1936, which strengthened the company's position in western Dunbartonshire.

Nationalisation of the railways in 1948 made the state the major shareholder in the SMT group of companies, and the group was itself fully nationalised in 1949. At that time, some of the group's smaller subsidiaries were wound up, including Lanarkshire Traction, which was fully absorbed by Central SMT. By this time, Central was firmly established as the dominant bus operator in Lanarkshire and western Dunbartonshire. This dominant position was furthered by the takeover of John Laurie and Company of Hamilton in 1961. During this period, Central was consistently the most profitable company in the Scottish Bus Group. From the late 1970s, the trading name of the company became 'Central Scottish'.

In preparation for deregulation of the British bus industry in 1986, and the eventual break up and privatisation of the group, the Scottish Bus Group restructured its subsidiary companies in 1985. As part of this, Central SMT was renamed Central Scottish Omnibuses Ltd. The Dunbartonshire and north Glasgow operations became part of a new company, Kelvin Scottish Omnibuses Ltd., but Central gained the former Eastern Scottish operations in the Monklands area of Lanarkshire.

On deregulation Central, together with fellow SBG subsidiaries Clydeside Scottish and Kelvin Scottish, launched a revised network of services within the city of Glasgow in direct competition with the city operator, Strathclyde Buses. A high profile, high frequency cross city service, together with a number of minibus services were started, though Strathclyde Buses retaliated by extending their own network deep into Lanarkshire. Whereas Strathclyde Buses services into East Kilbride and beyond proved popular at Central's expense, Central's city services failed to gain popularity and often ran empty.

In the face of growing competition, it was announced that Central Scottish would be merged with Kelvin Scottish in an attempt to make the larger company more attractive to potential buyers. However, the planned merger was deeply unpopular with Central's staff, as flexible rostering agreements, fully in place with Kelvin, had not yet been implemented at Central. This resulted in a disastrous strike in early 1989, and the company's network was paralysed for weeks on end. While Central's buses remained in their depots, Strathclyde Buses and a number of independent operators stepped in and took over much of the company's route network. By summer 1989, the dispute had ended, and in a vain attempt to win back customers, Central embarked on a major rebranding exercise. The Central Scottish trading name and the deep red and cream livery the vehicles wore gave way to a number of new local identities. Vehicles in Airdrie received a dark blue and grey colour scheme branded as Monklands Bus, East Kilbride vehicles gained a dark green and cream livery with EK Chieftain fleetnames, leaving vehicles in the remaining depots gaining a more vibrant red and cream livery, branded as Lanarkshire Bus. The Central Scottish identity was buried with the strike action, and the company was renamed Kelvin Central Buses Ltd in preparation for the merger. However, a significant retrenchment of the company's operations followed.

In July 1989, the merger between the two companies was fully enacted, and Central Scottish ceased trading as an independent concern. Kelvin Central Buses was later privatised by sale to its employees, who later sold the firm to Strathclyde Buses, before it in turn was purchased by Firstgroup plc. The modern successor to Central Scottish and Kelvin Scottish is First Glasgow (No.2) Ltd. However, many of the former Central routes have been surrendered to independent operators. The last remaining former Central garage, Airbles in Motherwell, closed in 2007.

Depots and Works[edit]

Central SMT and Central Scottish operated from the following depots:

Airbles depot, Motherwell (opened 1962, closed by First Glasgow 2007 when replaced by a new facility in Blantyre);

Burnbank depot, Hamilton (closed 1962, replaced by Airbles)

Carluke depot (closed in 1976)

Clarkston depot, Airdrie (ex Scottish Omnibuses in 1985, closed by First Glasgow);

Clydesdale depot, Hamilton (closed April 1988)

East Kilbride (original small depot replaced by a new depot in 1956, once SBG's most profitable depot, but closed by Kelvin Central Buses in December 1990);

Gavinburn depot, Old Kilpatrick (opened 1936 to replace various small outstations, passed to Kelvin Scottish 1985, closed by Kelvin Central Buses May 1996)

Harthill depot (closed in 1962 as part of a minor re-organisation of services between Central SMT and Scottish Omnibuses);

Muirkirk depot (a small outstation of Carluke, closed in the 1970s)

Traction House, Motherwell (replaced as depot by neighbouring Airbles in 1962, but retained as head office and central works. Closed by Kelvin Central Buses);

Wishaw (closed by Kelvin Central Buses December 1990)

The Fleet[edit]

At its formation in 1932, Central SMT inherited a varied collection of vehicles. However, Leyland Motors Ltd quickly became the preferred supplier for new buses. Although there were also some Albions, new buses purchased in the 1930s mainly comprised Leyland Lion, Tiger and Titan models, including a number of secondhand Titans. During World War 2, when Leylands were not available, the fleet received a rare (for Scotland) Bristol K, as well as the ubiquitous utility Guy Arabs and Daimler CWs.

Between the end of the war and the early 1960s, Central overwhelmingly favoured double deckers. Some pre-war Leyland Tigers were rebodied as such in the late '40s (notably including some 3-axle Tiger TS7T chassis which were rebuilt to 2-axle Titan TD4 specification). New Leyland Titans continued to be bought until 1960, but the first Bristol Lodekkas arrived in 1955 and soon became the preferred choice, the last new examples being delivered in 1967. Other double deckers bought in this period were a solitary AEC Regent in 1946, some Guy Arab IIIs in 1951-52, and Albion Lowlanders in 1962-63. The takeover of Laurie of Hamilton brought an assortment of Leyland Titans (including former London Transport RTLs), and a rebodied Guy Arab, but most notable were a pair of early Leyland Atlanteans. These were the first rear-engined double deckers to operate for the Scottish Bus Group.

Central tried various types, of rear engined double deckers, but found that none were to their satisfaction, and double deckers declined as a proportion of the fleet. The Atlanteans were sold in 1969, and a prototype Bristol VRX, operated from 1966, was returned to the manufacturer when a batch of 20 Bristol VRTs arrived, also in 1969. The VRT was not popular in Scottish Bus Group fleets, and all were sold to the National Bus Company in exchange for late-model Lodekkas in the early '70s. A batch of 35 Daimler Fleetlines was delivered in 1971, but these were exchanged for single deck Leyland Leopards from other SBG companies in 1975. However, Volvo Ailsa B55s (30 purchased in 1978-79) and Dennis Dominators (51 in 1978-83) eventually found favour. When Central inherited Scottish Omnibuses' Airdrie operations in 1985, the Fleetlines and Leyland Olympians based there were not wanted by Central and were retained by Eastern Scottish. However, the last double deckers purchased by Central were in fact 10 Leyland Olympians, delivered in 1986.

Relatively few single deckers were purchased in the 1940s and '50s. There were Leyland Tigers and Guy Arab IIIs in the late '40s/early '50s, followed by some Guy Arab UFs. The first Leyland Leopards first arrived in 1961, but a milestone was the delivery of the first batch of Leopard PSU3 models in 1964. With 53 seats, a standee Leopard had almost as many seats as an early-postwar double decker, and they quickly became the standard Central SMT bus. By 1983 some 400 Leopards had been purchased new, as well as a number of secondhand examples from within the SBG. After the Leopards, Central standardised on the Leyland Tiger, with 83 buses delivered between 1982 and 1987. There were also 45 Leyland Nationals in 1978-81 and 15 Dennis Dorchesters in 1983-84. Additional Leyland Nationals and some Seddon Pennine 7s were inherited with Airdrie depot.

A small dedicated coach fleet was maintained intermittently. Between 1955 until 1978 Bedfords with Duple coachwork were bought (along with 5 Albion Vikings in 1966, which were quickly transferred to Highland Omnibuses). The last Bedfords were sold in the early '80s, and for a time there were no coaches. However, in 1984 a secondhand Leyland Tiger coach and a former Western SMT Seddon Pennine 7 which had been fitted with a wheelchair lift arrived, and 5 of the Dennis Dorchesters delivered that year were to coach specification. A second Leyland Tiger coach was inherited from Scottish Omnibuses' Airdrie fleet, and some of the Airdrie Seddons also had coach bodywork. Two Volvo B10Ms were acquired from Newton of Dingwall in 1985, and 10 new Tigers coaches were bought in 1986-87.

A few minibuses were operated from the early 1970s onwards. These were successively Bedford VAS, Ford A-series and Leyland Cubs. In 1986-87, a fleet of 31 Dodge S56 were purchased for competitive services in the south of Glasgow.

Even within the Scottish Bus Group, Central had a reputation for conservatism in its vehicle specifications. Examples of this included:

the specification of cutaway rear entrances on some of the underfloor-engined Guy Arab UFs, when front or central entrances were far more common for such buses;

the continued purchase of PD1 model Leyland Titans after most other operators had switched to the more advanced PD2, and later of PD2 models when other SBG subsidiaries had gone over to the larger PD3 model;

the early disposal of successive models of rear-engined double-deckers in the 1960s and '70s;

continuing to specify manual synchromesh gearboxes on its Leyland Leopards until 1979, by which time automatic gearboxes were the norm across most of the UK bus industry.

External links[edit]

0 notes

greatdrams · 7 years

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Everything you need to know about Scotch

Everything you need to know about the world’s favourite Whisky, all in one place!

What is Scotch?

This is a pretty simple definition and I’d say most people understand it straight off the bat. But for those of us who don’t: Scotch is Whisky that has been distilled and matured for up to three years and a day in a Scottish distillery and has been bottled at no lower than 40% ABV. And that’s it. So now we have a beginning let’s get stuck in!

Brief History

Whisky is a drink with a long, long, long history in Scotland. The very name “Whisky” originates from the Gaelic “uisgebeatha”, meaning water of life and from this name a whole industry was born.

Distillation finds its roots in the making of perfumes in Persia but distillation to make Whisky in Scotland is firmly grounded in the work of monasteries.

Scottish monks in the twelfth century would distil Whisky in order to supplement their income and from there it soared.

Production continued over the centuries and grew in popularity as it became easier to do. Common folk began distilling their own Scotch and the market boomed.

Then the excise man decided to take his share, and in 1644 Scotch was first taxed at around 13p for a third of a gallon. And so began the war between smugglers and the taxman that raged for more than a century.

Despite this setback the industry continued to grow, with smugglers hiding their stills wherever they could, including underneath hills!

Then, in 1823 the Excise and Licensing Act occurred, meaning producers could make their stills legal by simply buying a licence. Unfortunately this still did not appease the distillers, and it was another year until the first licence was actually purchased.

That licence was bought by George Smith of The Glenlivet, a distillery that is still striving for success today.

From then on licences became more common and the industry grew faster. Since that time it has reached a global scale and countless international variations have sprung up everywhere.

Regions

These regions represent the different part of Scotland where Scotch is made. The country is split into these regions and each region has a different flavour profile, so when you know a region of a Scotch, you can compare its own flavour profile to other Scotches of the same region. There is some dispute about how many regions there are, with Islay often being included with the Islands and Campbeltown being included in the Highland region. I’ve included them all just to cover all our bases.

Speyside

This is the region that is most densely populated with distilleries, with somewhere around 42 working distilleries in total. It is situated in the north east of the country, surrounding the River Spey. This area also plays host to some of the biggest names in the Scotch industry, including Glenfiddich, The Macallan, The Glenlivet and Aberlour. It was once considered as part of the Highlands but has been made a region in its own right due to the high amount of distilleries here.

Islay

The Isle of Islay is the island that is most densely populated with distilleries, with eight working distilleries in total. These include Ardbeg, Bowmore, Bruichladdich, Laphroig, Lagavulin, CaolIla, and Bunnahabhain. It is situated just off the coast of Campbeltown

Islands

Although not recognised by the Scotch Whisky Association as a region by itself but is included in the Highland region, the islands have several working and well-renowned distilleries. These include Isle of Jura, Arran, Tobermoray, Talisker, Highland Park, Scapa. The islands included in this region are Jura, Arran, Skye, Mull and Orkney.

Highlands

This is the largest Scotch region and includes distilleries such as Dalmore, Glenmorangie, Oban and Aberfeldy.

Lowlands

Although there are currently only four working distilleries in the Lowland region, Glenkinchie, Bladnoch, Auchentoshan and Ailsa Bay, there are several more planned to open in the coming years.

Campbeltown

Campbeltoen is situated off the coast from Isaly, on the south western side of Scotland. Although it is no longer considered a region, it was once one of the most densely populated regions and claimed the title of “Whisky capital of the world”. Now it has only three working distilleries, Glen Scotia, Glengyle and Springbank,

Flavour profiles of regions

Speyside

These malts tend towards lighter, more floral flavours. However, there are a wide variety of flavours in the Speyside region, including spicy and smoky expressions as well. Typically though, they are sweet and fruity with a light mouth feel and complex character.

Islay

Islay malts are usually heavier than Speysiders, with a distinctly more heavily peated quality. They also reflect their seaside home, with medicinal qualities and lots of salty sea breezes and brine.

Islands

The Islands are similar to Islay, with peat and seaside flavours. Both the Islands and Islay are renowned for their peat and thick, smoky notes but the Islands usually go for a softer, subtler peated quality.

Highlands

Similar to Speyside malts, but not as sweet. Highland malts have a light character, with a dry finish and plenty of floral notes in between. Distilleries on the Highland coast tend to have some peat and salt notes too. Again, like Speyside, these malts vary in flavour, with sweet and spicy expression on both sides of the spectrum.

Lowlands

These malts have a light, grassy, somewhat earthy tone. They are a lot mellower than Highland malts.

Campbeltown

Campbeltown malts are comparable to Islay malts, with doses of peat and salty sea wind. They also have a great depth of character and are quite complex and rich.

How it’s made

Scotch goes through five different stages to reach the final product: Malting, Mashing, Fermentation, Distillation, Ageing.

Malting: After being soaked in water for 2-3 days, grains are then spread on a malting floor (basically an empty room) and allowed to germinate. This encourages the production of enzymes and starch that give Whisky flavour. Grains can be left to malt for anywhere between 8 and 21 days, depending on the season. In order to maintain consistency, the malting barley is turned repeatedly and during this time it is dried out. It is then transferred to a kiln, where it is dried completely. Many kilns are fired with peat that then lends its flavour to the Whisky.

Mashing: When the grains are dry they are ground in a powder called “grist” and mixed with warm water in a mash tun. Here the enzymes convert starch into sugars. The resulting product is called wort.

Fermentation: Fermentation occurs when the wort is transferred to a washback and yeast is added. This encourages the production of alcohol and makes a product called a wash.

Distillation: This is the process of heating and then cooling the liquid in order to separate the water and alcohol. Water and alcohol evaporate at different temperatures, alcohol at around 72 degrees and water at 100. Usually, this takes places in a copper pot still. Typically, Scotch is distilled twice to produce a smoother spirit. The liquid produced in distillation is known as new make spirit.

Ageing: After the spirit has been distilled it is placed in barrels to begin maturation. It is placed in oak barrels that are either charred or not. Some of these barrels have previously been used to mature other spirits such as Bourbon or Sherry. The liquid interacts with the wood and takes on many of its characteristics, giving it depth and complexity. Scotch has to be matured for at least three years and a day to be legally called Scotch.