Whyte and Mackay announce Scottish Oak Programme landmark

Whisky making house Whyte and Mackay has announced that all distillery’s in its collection are now incorporated into the company’s Scottish Oak Programme – which is claimed to be an industry first.

Master whisky manager Gregg Glass founded the initiative, with the aim to explore the potential for responsibly sourced, locally grown Scottish Oak to aid the maturation of Scotch Whisky, given the industry’s history in favouring Oak outside of the country.

Tamnavulin joined the likes of Jura and Fettercairn this week by enrolling into the initiative, as CEO of the Scotch Whisky Association Mark Kent joined the whisky makers to personally fill these Scottish Oak casks.

Thanks to the programme, every enlisted distillery now has whisky experiments laid down to explore and evaluate the impact locally grown Oak can have on each distillery, as well as attempting to identify any flavour changes and distinctions that Scottish Oak lends to Scotch Whisky.

Head of Whisky Experience at Whyte and Mackay, Ludo Ducrocq, said the following: “The filling of these special casks is really a celebration of the partnerships Whyte and Mackay has nurtured over time, which will ultimately benefit the whole industry.”

Glass has been investigating the use of native oak species for many years during his tenure at Whyte and Mackay’s experimental arm, Whisky Works, as well as developing long lasting partnerships with landowners and cooperages that share Whyte and Mackay’s long-term vision.

Glass commented on the programme: “The Scottish Oak Programme seeks to inspire change within the Scotch whisky industry. We want to champion the potential that home-grown oak offers the spirits industry, and the incredible diversity of flavour it offers the whisky maker.”