Amid the virus fears – keep calm and have a dram
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With everyone self-isolating, I wonder if anyone will be reading this?
If you have ventured out to the shop to buy your toilet roll quota and picked up a newspaper along the way, I salute you!
So, what effect is the “C” word having in the world of whisky?
Well, the world’s biggest drinks company Diageo has recently announced a potential £200 million loss due to fewer travellers passing through airports and lower consumption in key Asian markets. This equates to a five per cent drop in its impressive £4 billion operating profit. I have a feeling that Diageo might just make it out the other side!
Japan has closed the majority of distillery tours and visitor operations in light of the coronavirus spread.
In Scotland, distilleries here have started to follow suit.
William Grant & Sons took the decision to close Glenfiddich and Balvenie visitor centres in Dufftown as a precautionary measure against the spread of the virus. Thankfully, the whisky-making operation of the distilleries remains in full swing! checkingTomatin has also announced the distillery visitor centre is temporarily closed.
I think we all understand the reasons these decisions have been made and hope things can get back to normal as soon as possible.
Personally, I’ve been listening to doctors reinforcing the importance of using alcohol hand sanitiser to reduce the risk of infection.
Therefore, I think it’s safe to assume that I should up my whisky consumption to increase the level of alcohol in my bloodstream.
If you need me, I will be self-isolating in The Malt Room.
Matt MacPherson is the owner and founder of The Malt Room in Inverness.
