Saturday, June 28, 2014

SCOTCH WHISKEY.

email from Chellah Padmanathan

After you have read the complete history you can award yourself a Ph D !
Some facts on Scotch Whisky-Great Education or should I say, A very
Spirited Education!

Mandates for a whisky to be called Scotch whisky are:
1.      Distilled in Scotland.
2.      Casked in Scotland.
3.      Aged 3 years and 1 day in Scotland.
4.      There is no requirement for a barrel of whisky that meets
these criteria to be bottled in Scotland. 26 brands of Scotch are
bottled in India.
 

Some 20 million casks, over 500 million cases, are maturing in
warehouses in Scotland. This represents the equivalent of
approximately 10 billion bottles of Scotch after bottling.
Scotch is sold in more than 200 markets globally.

Scotch sells three times its nearest foreign whisky rival
A closed bottle of Scotch can be kept for 100 years+ and will still
be good to drink.

After opening, a half-full bottle of Scotch whisky will remain good
for five years.

The most expensive bottle of Scotch whisky today is Isabella’s Islay
($6.2 Million).

The oldest Scotch whisky on the market is the Aisla T’Orten 107
Years old, distilled in 1906 and available for $ 1.43 million
(£870,000).
The highest price paid at an auction for a bottle of Scotch Whisky
is $631,850 for a  6-liter The Macallan “M” Decanter by Lalique,
containing a 44.7% ABV Single Malt.

The highest price paid at an auction for a standard sized Scotch
Whisky is £288,000 (US$460,000) for a 64-year-old 42.5 % ABV Macallan
malt whisky.

Glenfiddich is the largest selling single malt in the world,
followed by the Glenlivet.

Johnnie Walker Red Label is the world's largest selling Scotch whisky.

Johnnie Walker’s premium whisky was originally known as 'John
Walker’s Extra Special Old Highland'. It was renamed Johnnie Walker
Black Label in 1909.
Johnnie Walker Black Label is the world's best-selling deluxe whisky.

The Famous Grouse is now the most popular Scotch whisky in UK,
displacing Bell’s.

Mclelland’s (part of Suntory’s Bowmore) is the fifth most popular
single malt Scotch whisky in the U.S.A.

Experts advise you to drink Single Malt whisky neat or with a tiny
bit of water.  The water supposedly ‘Releases the Serpent’ from the
whisky.

If there is a serpent, there is also an Angel. As it ages, 2.0-2.5 %
of the whisky maturing in a barrel is lost to evaporation every year.
Distillers refer to this as the ‘angel’s share’.
But the Devil has the last word. The larger the barrel used to
mature whisky, the more the spirit that is absorbed by the wood and
lost, called by distillers the ‘Devil’s Cut’.

The most expensive country in which to buy Scotch is where it’s made, the UK.

Although their proof differs, standard drinks of beer, wine and
spirits (liquor) contain an equivalent amount of alcohol – 0.6 ounces
each. They’re all the same to a breathalyzer.

Glenturret is the oldest distillery in Scotland (1775), followed by
Bowmore (1779).
Glenturret, Oban and Glenlivet are the three oldest malt whiskies
currently sold.

William Lawson’s blended Scotch, a relatively unknown brand, is a
bestseller in Russia.

18,000 litres of Scotch whisky worth over $800,000 (£ 500,000) were
accidentally flushed down the drain at Chivas Brothers’ Dumbarton
bottling plant of in March 2013.

Earlier, Glen Catrine Bonded Warehouse in Catrine village had
spilled 6,600 litres of whisky on 6 September 2011− mostly into the
River Ayr. They were fined £12,000.

There are a total of 109 distilleries in Scotland, 102 malt and 7
grain or multipurpose, according to the research briefings and fact
sheets presented to the UK Parliament.

In the UK, the five most popular Scotch blended Whiskies are The
Famous Grouse, William Grant’s, Bell’s, Teacher’s and J&B Rare.
Johnnie Walker does not feature in the list of bestselling blends in
its home country.


The five most popular Scotch Malt Whiskies globally are Glenmorangie
Original, Glenfiddich, The Glenlivet, Aberlour and Laphroaig.


With each bottle of Laphroaig that you buy, you are gifted a
lifetime lease of one sq ft of the distillery’s land, along with a
personalized certificate of ownership.
LVMH’s Glenmorangie distillery is one of the smallest in the
Highlands and employs just sixteen craftsmen – ‘The Sixteen Men of
Tain’ - who have become synonymous with the Glenmorangie brand all
over the world.

Edradour is the smallest distillery in Scotland - Three people run
the entire operation.


The fastest growing Scotch whisky in the world over the last five
years is Black Dog. India is a major contributor to its sales.

The Australian Wine Research Institute has introduced a measure
called a standard drink. In Australia, a standard drink contains 10 g
(12.67 ml) of alcohol, the amount that an average adult male can
metabolize in one hour.
Japanese owned Tomatin is the largest capacity distillery in Scotland.

Haig’s Pinch(Dimple) is the fourth largest blended Deluxe Scotch
whisky in the world.

Persian authorities were required to rule twice on a case; once
when stone cold sobe r and again when intoxicated, in the belief of ‘in vino veritas’ .

Cadenhead’s Whisky Shop on Canongate, when owned by the Cadenhead
family, was Scotland’s oldest independent bottler till taken over by J
& A Mitchell & Co. Ltd. in 1972. The name remains unchanged, even
though Mitchell & Co bottle and sell Springbank, Longrow and Hazelburn
Single Malt whiskies, along with Campbeltown Loch and Mitchell's 12
year old. Its unique selling point is that customers can have a bottle
poured straight from a cask and labeled with a person’s name. When
sealed it has a label with the ‘born on date’, as whisky stops aging
as soon as it leaves the wooden barrel so each bottle is a unique
blend.

The source of the name Auchentoshan is Gaelic. It means 'corner of the field'.

Auchentoshan was probably started by Irish settlers, led by the MacBeathas.

Some sources claim that these Irish whisky distillers brought the
Irish custom of triple distillation with them. Auchentoshan uses
triple distillation.

Antique records from the year 1800 mention an (illegal) Duntocher
distillery, which may have been a predecessor to the legal
Auchentoshan distillery. A license for distillation was obtained in
1823.
The ‘e’ in whiskey: Scotch whisky is always spelled without an ‘e’.
Most other nations such as United States and Ireland call their
similar spirits Whiskey. A very simple way to remember the spelling:
if it comes from a country without an ‘e’ in its spelling, then its
spelt Whisky. (e.g., Scotland, Japan, India, Canada, etc.).

Bruichladdich’s The Octomore is the heaviest peated whisky in the
world at 167ppm.

The Macallan claims that it has achieved success and fame through
its ‘Six Pillars’, viz., Spiritual Home, Curiously Small Stills,
Finest Cut, Exceptional Oak Casks, Natural Color and The Macallan
itself. It has released five expressions in honor of its pillars so
far, starting in 2005; the 50, 55, 57, 60 and 62-year-old single malts
in bespoke Lalique crystal. The 62nd was released on December 17, 2013
at a price of US$ 26,000.

Scottish Spirits: Scotch in A Can.Each can of Scottish Spirits will contain 12 ounces--about six
shots--of 80 proof ‘single grain Scotch whisky, or 72° proof UK,’
distilled and matured for three years in oak casks in Scotland. While
many are calling this a rip off, SWA is more guarded. The latex lid,
(patent pending) produced especially for Scottish Spirits, will allow
the can to be resealed and the product to be kept fresh and tasting
great. Diehard Scotch drinkers will no doubt protest at this
‘blasphemous act’, but are unlikely to affect the outcome.
95% of whisky manufactured in India is called Rum overseas. That’s
because most Indian whiskies are made from molasses.

The largest market in the world for whisky is India.

CSD rates for Black Dog, Teachers, 100 Pipers, The Glenlivet, Vat
69, etc., are LOWER THAN duty free prices.

Scotch glasses are balloon shaped, not the shot glasses we all use.

95% of Indian whisky drinkers don’t know the difference between
Blended whiskies and Single Malts.

Whenever you see the world Single on the label of a bottle of Scotch
whisky, it means that whisky is the product of ONE distillery. Most
Single Malts, like Glenfiddich, are actually blends of 15-50 malts
manufactured by that company in ONE distillery.

There are 5 types of Scotch: Single Malts (e.g., Glenfiddich),
Blended Scotch (Johnny Walker series), Single Grain(Cambus 1991),
Blended Grain(Hedonism Blended Grain Whisky) and Blended
Malts(Ardbeg’s ‘Serendipity', created by mixing vats of Ardbeg and
Glen Moray malt whiskies).

Scotch in A Can:Scotch whisky is now being sold in a can in the United States,
putting a liquor prized for its pedigree into a humble container known
for its affordability and portability. Johnnie Walker has released Red
Label Blended Scotch Whisky with Soda, which will be available in both
345ml bottle and 375ml can formats. Cola mixes are at or below 5% ABV.

Approximately 15 percent of Scotch whisky is bottled overseas.

Glenfiddich buys German Oak casks and sends them to Jerez, Spain. A
sherry-maker is paid rent to make a ‘fino’ sherry in this cask and
bottle it in 2 yrs. The cask is brought back to Scotland and filled
with a brand new make of raw malted whisky and matured for 10-15
years. The end result is an expensive Scotch whisky. Macallan does the
same, except that at 10-12 years, the whisky is shifted for another
2-5 years into once-used American bourbon casks that last held Oloroso
sherry.  The end result is a bloody expensive Scotch whisky, most
popular in China for corporate gifts.

90% of Scotch sold is Blended Scotch. Some drinkers have just
realized that Single Malts are far superior to blends and that much
more expensive.

Old Smuggler, Vat 69, Black and White, Haig, Cutty Sark are examples
of 3-year old Scotch whiskies. Pig’s Nose, Cutty Sark rare, Mackinlay,
Famous Grouse, Black Bottle, Red Label are all 5-yr olds.

Red Label contains 12% Talisker single malt.

Most blends have 65-70% Grain whisky (made from wheat, rye or maize+
10% barley), 25-30% malt whisky and 0-5% neutral alcohol.

Whisky bottled in Scotland is only 70 proof (40% alcohol by volume,
ABV) and sold in 700 cc bottles. Elsewhere, it is 75 proof (42.8% ABV)
and sold in 750 cc bottles.

The more exclusive single malts tend to be SINGLE-SINGLE, i.e., a
single malt from a single barrel. These are normally bottled at cask
strength, i.e., 56-63% ABV. These hit you hard! I have one 60% ABV
bottle.

I bought 2 Glenmorangies-one Ealanta and one Nectar d’ Or @ $43 each
in 2011. LVMH bought off Glenmorangie. Now those two bottles cost $ 90
and 77 respectively.

CHEERS!

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU'VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU'LL EVER BE, SO ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS AND LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST WHILE YOU CAN.


-------------------------------------------

A.Earle Z. Fernando
149 A, Kynsey Road,
Colombo 8,

Sri Lanka.

Meeting old friends.

Blind Irish setter meeting old friends after surgery to restore his eye sight:-


Re 1960 entrants batch reunion in June 2015.

email from

Jay Summit
2:55 AM (2 hours ago)

Dear Duru, Kappa, Phillip,
         
I too have a few suggestions
1. I agree we need to agree on a date soon, so that everyone who wishes to come can make plans. I agree a definite date in June or July appears to be the best option for most
2. I saw the comment that the prices and rates maybe too much for some who still would like to be there, and I wonder what you as the organizers, and the general membership, would think about a 10% surcharge on the physicians working or living outside Sri-Lanka, to give a 25-30% discount discreetly to Sri-Lankan physicians and spouses living and worked/working, in Sri-Lanka  who request discount tickets.    This probably will be the last major get-together for our group, and it probably could be nice if we do not have to leave out anyone because of circumstances

3. I would think it is a great idea, if everybody including non-physician spouses, are given and strongly encouraged to wear, name bands on their upper front dress, with their first and last names, the AKA we used in the batch, and current location city and country. The letters should be big enough to be easily readable within 6 ft.  I do not know about the rest of you but I can hardly see, barely hear, struggle to walk, and often cannot remember whether I had my breakfast or not, or the last person I was introduced to. I can still smell food esp. when I am hungry, and still like to pretend to dance (good music makes my legs move on their own). The thought processes are best left unspoken

Friday, June 27, 2014

Care of the dying.

A Dailymail.co.uk article

Families must get a say on 'dying' patients' care: Victory for the Mail in aftermath of Liverpool Care Pathway scandal

They said loved ones must be 'involved in decisions' in NHS hospitals to ensure the 'horrific' abuses and 'tick-box' culture created by the discredited Liverpool Care Pathway never happen again.

Full Story:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2670036/Families-say-dying-patients-care-Victory-Mail-aftermath-Liverpool-Care-Pathway-scandal.html

A long way home.

A Dailymail.co.uk article

 Remarkable tale of Indian boy who was accidentally transported 1,000 miles from home aged four and found his way back 25 years later thanks to Google Earth

Saroo Brierley from Hobart, Australia, was just another poor boy growing up in rural India, until he accidentally leapt aboard a train that took him a thousand miles away to a strange city.

Full Story:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2669552/A-long-way-home-Remarkable-tale-Indian-boy-accidentally-transported-1-000-miles-home-aged-four-way-25-years-later-thanks-Google-Earth.html


First female medical students, Ceylon.


Ceylon Administrative Reports 1891 A 15.
‘In anticipation of the admission of female medical students 
the Government authorized ‘a separate Dissecting Room 


for females and separate tutors and a reading room’

Ceylon Examiner May 2nd 1892-
“'The medical College opens its summer sessions today. 
Two young ladies Misses Keyt and Davidson – will be admitted 
as students for the first time in the history of the College’.

Veronica Weerasekara & Rachel Christoffelsz, were female 
medicos in later years. Veronica’s reminiscences:-
Dr.Chalmers was the Registrar.
The teachers were – Dr.S.C. Paul, Dr.Frank Grenier, Dr.Sinnathamby,
Dr.Garvin and Dr.H.M. Fernando.

Seniors lined up and whistled when the female medical students passed by.

Pranks – Cutting the afternoon lecture and going by train 
to the ‘Pagoda’ restaurant. (The 'Pagoda' was still in existence in the 1960s)

Occasional boat ride in the harbour during lecture time - 
This was in the time of the old jetty opposite the Grand Oriental Hotel.

Teasing and comments by the male medicos:-

'Veronica sweet as the morning air,
  Do not leave me in despair’.
  ‘Rachel Chris dear charming Miss,
  Your lips to kiss it’l be a bliss.

The above incidents are related in the book "Dr. Alice de Boer and some 
pioneer Burgher women doctors' by Deloraine Brohier

Click on the web-link below to read the original article.



Thursday, June 26, 2014

Women Doctors - 1885


 email from Gallege De Silva
29 May
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/images/cleardot.gif
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/images/cleardot.gif
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/images/cleardot.gif

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/images/cleardot.gif
Three amazing women.


The three women pictured in this incredible photograph from 1885 -- Anandibai Joshi of India, Keiko Okami of Japan, and Sabat Islambouli of Syria -- each became the first licensed female doctors in their respective countries. The three were students at the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania; one of the only places in the world at the time where women could study medicine.

As Mallika Rao writes in HuffPost, "If the timing doesn't seem quite right, that's understandable. In 1885, women in the U.S. still couldn't vote, nor were they encouraged to learn very much. Popular wisdom decreed that studying was a threat to motherhood." Given this, how did three women from around the world end up studying there to become doctors? The credit, according to Christopher Woolf of PRI's The World, goes to the Quakers who "believed in women’s rights enough to set up the WMCP way back in 1850 in Germantown.”

Woolf added, "It was the first women’s medical college in the world, and immediately began attracting foreign students unable to study medicine in their home countries. First they came from elsewhere in North America and Europe, and then from further afield. Women, like Joshi in India and Keiko Okami in Japan, heard about WMCP, and defied expectations of society and family to travel independently to America to apply, then figure out how to pay for their tuition and board... . Besides the international students, it also produced the nation’s first Native American woman doctor, Susan LeFlesche, while African Americans were often students as well. Some of whom, like Eliza Grier, were former slaves."