"What's unusual for a distillery that's been mothballed is they didn't remove all the gear - it was all left behind like a ghost distillery," says Scotsman Michael Fraser Milne, DramFest organiser and owner of Christchurch whisky wonderland Whisky Galore.
"However, after 20 years it was purchased and re-opened and some
exceptional whiskies have been created from the old gear since then and they're known as some of the finest whiskies available. Stuart will be bringing examples 20, 30, 40 years and older for DramFest visitors to try."
Michael is talking about Scottish hero Stuart Nickerson's resurrection of the famous, pure Highland malt Glenglassaugh (glen-glash-aww) distillery which was closed in 1986 after 100 years of production. Michael pours me a wee dram of the 21-year-old, plus a snifter of rare 1975 Glen Mohr, "possibly the Shackleton whisky", says Michael - who will be happy to elaborate if you contact him - a heavenly, smoky, peaty preview to just one of the highlights of the DramFest in Christchurch on February 27 and 28.
Nickerson will be just one of the seven international experts hosting workshops covering all the basics, from the Independent bottler to Islay Classics and the oldest whisky ever bottled. That's right, the oldest.
During DramFest, the organisers will be hand-delivered one tiny 200ml flask of Mortlach 1938, a 70-year-old whisky to be opened for a select few to taste. Fifty-four 700ml bottles were produced.
At $20,000 each, they sold out in just two days and two of the 200ml versions are selling for $5550 each through Whisky Galore.
About 800 people are expected to pack the Christchurch Convention Centre for immersion in all things Islay, Speyside and in between.
Thirty-six different single malt producers will be participating, making DramFest a whisky-lover's dreamfest.
The event also offers a chance to see the original 1948 film Whisky Galore on Friday, February 25.
The film tells the story of the sinking of the Politician off the Scottish coast and how a group of islanders raided the wreck for its cargo of 24,000 cases of whisky.
This month is the 70th anniversary of the sinking and Fraser Milne is flying out the original film from Ealing Studios in Britain. Moviegoers can whip up a period costume for a chance to win a spot prize,
To secure a place at DramFest you must register at www.whiskygalore.co.nz or www.dramfest.co.nz
