THE LIGHT AND THE DARK
Sta,--We note that in the Spectator, September 13, one of your contributors attempts somewhat erroneously to describe light whisky. It would appear that your contributor's suppositions about light whiskies contain some of the usual miscon- ceptions that one hears from time to time.
The quantity of grain whisky in a blend is cer- tainly no criterion as to its lightness or otherwise. A true light whisky is one with lightness of flavour brought about by the careful selection of malts and as a matter of interest it is a comparatively easy matter to produce a blend having a greater per- centage of malt than grain which is light in flavour, of delicate bouquet and would automatically be classed as a light whisky by ,whisky drinkers.
It seems to us that the future of Scotch whisky would be very limited if there was only one type of whisky. Surely it is in the interests of the public and the industry to offer to the public as wide a range of choice as possible, and it is our opinion that true light whiskies have their part to play.
Today the trend appears to be towards whiskies of delicate bouquet and fineness of flavour bottled in their natural colour. The change to lighter whiskies has been taking place gradually by a slow process of evolution over a very long period to meet the needs of the changing times but not by the simple expedient, as your correspondent seems to imagine, of simply pouring in (quote) 'fiery cheaper
grain whiskies' to achieve it—the exact opposite is the case; lighter, smoother, more 'polished' products have gradually been evolving throughout the whole industry and this process seems only logical in view of the requirements of modern living.
We consider that the impression conveyed by your contributor, that 'lightness' is obtained by lowering the standards of quality, is quite without justification.
C. K. MACLENNAN Robertson & Baxter Ltd. Managing Director 106 West Nile Street, Glasgow, CI
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