Stills


When you return to a place you know well after an absence, things that were once mundane strike you as exotic. As with these copper whisky stills in my home village. Until I moved away from home to go to university, it was just part of the landscape for me to come round a corner and come face to face with...creatures like this. Now, on a visit to see my dad this weekend, I found myself whipping out my camera. These are the top halves of stills, and these

are the bottom halves. All sitting out in the falling snow in the coppersmith's yard, waiting to be transported to their distillery. Every distillery has a different shape of still - it's one of the factors that gives each whisky its unique taste. My home village has a very well known firm of coppersmiths, who produce handmade stills not just for whisky, but also rum, gin, tequila and bourbon.

Comments

  1. I can't agree with you more Linda. We can take so much for granted, especially when we are young. I am in awe everytime I go "home" and have so much more appreciation for what I didn't know or took for granted.
    Thank for your post, it is always good to be reminded to be appreciative.
    Smiles
    P.S. Housecarers lets you decide exactly what kind of housesit you want. I also agree animals can be a challenge...100 chickens and incredible amounts of dog hair were a little more than I bargined for but I fullfil my commitment and will ask "more" qestions next time!

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  2. And that which seems familiar to you looks quite unfamiliar to someone else! I have never seen copper stills before!

    Thanks for stopping by my blog, Linda.

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  3. I didn't realize the reason for the different shapes. Very interesting. They make a good photo too.

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  4. Despite the miserable weather, this is an intriguing post. I wonder if I'll ever drink Scotch Whiskey made in one of these stills? Not for at least 12 years!

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  5. Here in Kentucky we are quite famous for whiskey. Maker's Mark is my favorite.

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  6. These stills certainly seems exotic to me, as does that falling snow. It's been so long since we've had any precipitation of any kind...

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  7. How interesting. I didn't realise that every distillery has a different shape of still, even though I've visited a few of them.
    I've passed on a Stylish Blogger award to you today, by the way!

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  8. I spent a couple of months in Scotland in 1973. Most of it was up north, but for some reason I do remember seeing this copper whiskey vessels. This really jogged my memory. Or maybe I saw some similar to these. In any case you brought back some great memories. I'll be dreaming of the Orkney Islands tonight. Thank you.

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  9. Wow those are interesting. I really like the first shot. Thank you for the birthday wish!

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  10. Never having seen unassembled stills before (though I've seen plenty at work in distilleries) I'd never seen how their necks look like strange creatures: Moomins or Baba Papa. They are curiously endearing, especially the one on the left with his little paws up...!

    I love the chance to see familiar sights through fresh eyes. Thanks for sharing this.

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  11. The top picture looks like little people!

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  12. And yet another thing i never knew! Fantastic shots.
    I meant to say earlier - i was a very late convert to Pooh. I just didn't get it at all when i was a child, and then the disneyfication totally turned me off, but i am now with it. xxx

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  13. they are such interesting sculptural forms Linda... without knowing what they are they simply look like art.

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  14. Thank you for all the comments. I grew up knowing that the shape of the stills was important for the taste of whisky - glad to have spread that bit of knowledge!

    Carolyn, I admire your housesitting of 100 chickens!

    Mountainmama, I'll be interested to see what shape your 'new direction' blog takes.

    Happyone, my fingers were freezing taking these photos in the snow.

    Al, I don't know where these stills are going to end up - you'll just have to do lots of research trying different whiskies.

    Farmchick, I have to admit I've never heard of Maker's Mark. I will look it up. We don't tend to get much in the way of US whisky here, understandably...

    clairz, sorry to hear you're still having a drought.

    Oakland Daily Photo. Foody and dancingbeastie, I think they look like friendly creatures of some sort too, waving their little paws or feelers.

    christine, thank you so much for the award. I'm honoured. I am notoriously bad at doing all the passing on stuff, but I will try!

    Wild Bill, dreaming of Orkney seems a good way to pass the night.

    Randy, hope you're not feeling your age too much!

    Jacqui, perhaps I'll give Pooh another go.

    LauraX, I have never actually thought of stills as art, but your eye brings out the art in so many things that we take for granted.

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  15. I think these stills are art, too. I have never seen the like. My son is quite taken with single malt whisky; I'll see if I can't get him to share a bit with the old man :-)

    Thanks for visiting my blog. You're an inspiration!

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