Bruichladdich, one of the less pronounceable distilleries on Islay (facing some decent competition from the likes of Laphroaig) are warning that they are running out of whisky as a result of Shell’s oil tankers not being able to get through in rough weather.

Rough weather is a common feature up there, making this an apparently predictable result of EU directives increasing the size of the tankers that Shell uses to deliver oil. Changes were made to allow the new tankers to dock, but locals apparently warned that it wouldn’t all work in bad weather.

Whisky galore!

We’re not convinced, however, that this actually means whisky is running out (not like it did before - see the classic whisky galore DVD and whisky galore book). Surely if they have run out of oil, the problem is that they aren’t currently producing whisky? Not that they are about to run out in their warehouses!

Since whisky matures for years (at least 3 before it can be called whisky - and normally much longer) it seems to me that they shouldn’t be that close to running out.