Ardnahoe Cask Shared Commitment
This is an invitation to join a group of us in purchasing the contents of a cask which is going to be laid down this year in the Isle of Islay in Scotland at a new distillery called Ardnahoe which will be the 9th operating distillery on Islay (population of around 2,500).
As background, the Mutter family (William and James and their sons) owned the Bowmore Distillery from 1837 - 1891. Bowmore is apparently the longest continually operating distillery in the world and it is famous for its No. 1 vaults which are below sea level. My father, Roy Mutter, spent over 65 years researching and writing a book on the time that the Mutters owned the Bowmore Distillery.
When my father was in his late 20s, he and his father travelled to the town of Bowmore and met up with a young worker at the Bowmore Distillery called James McEwan. As it turned out, James was from Islay and his family had worked for the Mutters many generations ago at the time they owned the distillery. Over time, James McEwan became the Master Distiller of Bowmore and also their global ambassador.
Over the years, James McEwan left Bowmore to become the Master Distiller of a refurbished Distillery called Bruichladdich. In July, 2015 I took my father (who was 87 at the time) to Islay along with my son and we visited both Bowmore and Bruichladdich and enjoyed some time with James McEwan talking about our roots and connection to Islay. While we were in Islay, James McEwan retired from Bruichladdich and his plan was to travel and do some consulting.
Shortly after our trip to Islay, James McEwan announced he was coming out of retirement to become the Master Distiller of Ardnahoe, the newest and 9th distillery to be located on Islay. Ardnahoe is offering casks of scotch which are to be laid down for the next 10 years (ready in 2028).
A group of us have decided to purchase a cask, partly because of a shared passion for Scotch and the kinship it represents. In the spirit of family and legacy, my family and I are collaborating with Duncan MacPherson (Pareto Systems) and we are branding this initiative as "Ginealach" which is Gaelic for "Generation". As I expect is similar with all of you, both Duncan and I are in a circle of contacts where the people we interact with place a big emphasis on family and legacy so it only seems fitting that we choose a brand that represents this.
The total cost of a single cask is 7,000 British Pounds (roughly USD$9,200 or CAD$12,200). The price will depend on the number of people who become part of the cask allocation and is on a first come first serve basis for the first 8 people. If we get more than we anticipate, we will try to get a second cask. In addition to the share of the cask, I will send each of you a complimentary copy of the book on the Bowmore Distillery.
The cask will produce approximately 250 bottles with an all-in price of $95/bottle. (This price is somewhat variable based on soft costs including shipping and customs.)
Please email a completed and signed commitment to either james.mutter@gmail.com My phone number is 1 (250) 869-5992 or dmacpherson@paretosystems.com Duncan's phone number is 1 (250) 979-8684. Here are a few links for information.
PS: We are also going to be sourcing older casks and early adopters of this futures initiative will be offered first right of refusal to participate.
Link on James McEwan
https://www.insider.co.uk/appointments/whisky-legend-jim-mcewan-tempted-9872240
Link to the book my father wrote which we published just before he passed away
https://directfromtheauthor.com/product/bowmore-1837-1891-story-w-j-mutters-bowmore-islay-whisky/
Download Foreward and First Chapter pdfDetails on the cask offering and the details on the terms and conditions
https://ardnahoedistillery.com/cask-sales/
Link to a website that talks about old and current distilleries on Islay
