BULK EXPORTS OF SCOTCH WHISKY
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9485.1980.tb00932.x |
| Date | 01 November 1980 |
| Published date | 01 November 1980 |
| Author | J. K. THOMSON |
Scorrish
Journal
ofPolirical
Economy,
Vol.
27,
No.
3,
November
1980
0036-9292/80/00200276
602.00
0
1980
Scottish Economic Society
BULK
EXPORTS
OF
SCOTCH
WHISKY
J.
K.
THOMSON
Edinburgh
During the 1970s one
of
the most important issues concerning the whisky
industry in Scotland has been the trade in bulk exports. This paper attempts
to examine the trading and employment implications
of
existing trends and
possible changes in these exports.
The three types of whisky which are exported from Scotland in bulk are
blended, malt and grain, in order of importance by their volume.
A
small
quantity
of
immature whisky distilled in Scotland is
also
exported in bulk
for blending with other spirits. It cannot be described as Scotch whisky
as
it
has not been cask matured for a minimum of three years. The United
Kingdom’s statutory definition
of
Scotch whisky defines it as spirit which
has been distilled in Scotland from cereals and matured in Scotland in
wooden casks for a minimum of three years. There is no requirement in the
definition that the whisky should be bottled in Scotland.
There are two methods of whisky distilling in Scotland. The more tradi-
tional method uses the pot still and takes place in 118 malt distilleries
scattered all over Scotland and in Banff and Moray in particular. The 12
larger grain distilleries, which used the more economical continuous still,
are mainly located in the central lowlands
of
Scotland. They use maize and
a little malted barley whereas the malt distilleries use only malted barley.
Two of the malt distilleries have continuous stills operating alongside their
pot stills. In 1978, 80.65 mpg (million proof gallons)
of
malt whisky was
distilled in Scotland, 0.06 mpg of which was exported immediately as
immature spirit. Production of grain whisky was 0.1 mpg in 1978, all of which
was warehoused.
Most
of the more popular brands of Scotch whisky are blends of mature
grain and malt spirit. Malt whisky on its own
is
much less popular. For
example,
U.K.
consumption
of
malt whisky in 1978 was 0.47 mpg compared
to 18.34 mpg
of
blended whisky.’ Indeed, while approximately half of the
malt distilleries have their own malt bottled as “singles”, this takes up only
under
2
per cent
of
total malt output. Approximately
85
per cent goes into
blending and 13 per cent is exported in bulk.
The average blend contains two dozen single malt and grain whiskies in a
proportion of about one third malt to two thirds grain but this varies greatly
Date
of
receipt
of
final manuscript:
2
May 1980.
I
Statistical Report
for
1978, The Scotch Whisky Association, Edinburgh. Whisky statistics
produced by the Scotch Whisky Association and
H.M.
Customs and Excise normally relate to
the production, duty and export
of
whisky distilled in Northern Ireland and Scotland. As there
is only
one
distillery in Northern Ireland compared to
130
In Scotland,
for
the purposes
of
this
paper, these published statistics are used as
if
they only related to Scotland.
216
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