Spirits Within by Rodney Burtt
While the Glen Mhor research project may have hit a lull, my door is always open, and I believe it’s precisely moments where it sparks into life - much to the delight of those who have followed the journey.
Lately, I've missed out on a couple of auction lots that could have shed more light on the distillery's history. I should say 'we', as I handle much of the legwork, but I know my efforts resonate with many. It’s disheartening to watch potential treasures slip away into private hands, lost to the world, potentially forever. Nevertheless, the work persists, albeit at a quieter pace, patiently awaiting those serendipitous moments when a new discovery lands in my inbox, ready to be shared with you.
Yes, we have such a moment right now.
Those familiar with my earlier writings will remember the intriguing story of Rodney Burtt, a former distillery worker featured in Gavin D. Smith’s remarkable book, Stillhouse Stories Tunroom Tales, which is widely available. This book is essential and comes with my recommendation. It brought to light the possibility of additional materials related to Rodney's work, but tragically, he passed away shortly after its release. Nevertheless, as I’ve shared before, I was fortunate enough to connect with one of his descendants, who generously shared the research materials they had, shortly after clearing out his former home. Additionally, it was revealed that Rodney had been searching for a publisher for a lost manuscript titled 'Spirits Within', reaching out to various industry figures in his quest.
What I do know is that 'Spirits Within' (previously titled 'Highland Gold') was a heartfelt project, a labour of love, that reached completion in the 2000s. Aside from the previously mentioned photographs, the details and breadth of the book have faded into obscurity over the years.
I've long had a hunch that some elements or inspiration from it may have appeared in Gavin D. Smith's book, particularly in his conversations with Rodney during that period. My enduring wish has been that a floppy disk or hard drive would eventually surface in a forgotten box or drawer, perhaps belonging to Gavin, Alan Winchester, or another industry figure to whom Rodney corresponded back then. While that hope remains alive, I’m excited to share with you the new insights we have about the contents of the book.
I want to express my gratitude to Alan for preserving these materials and for eventually finding them to share with me - he is disappointed that the disk has yet to materialise, but we at least have more to share now. Among the treasures is a cover letter addressed to Alan from April 2011, which offers a glimpse into Rodney's character and enthusiasm for the topic. Remarkably, Rodney also included printed copies of his book's preface and table of contents - documents that I am thrilled to produce below.
Although we still lack the complete text, this find brings us closer to our goal and reassures us about what will be part of the final work when it finally comes to light.
I've transcribed the text below:
'Thank you so much for sending me the intriguing sequences of e-mail messages! I am not exactly a fan of the Internet, having experienced a lot of obscenities when I produced a board game about wine in the 1990s. But that is another (protracted) story.
I have much pleasure in enclosing a disk containing the folder 'SPIRITS WITHIN' together with printed pages of the TITLE PAGE, CONTENTS and PREFACE. I hope that you thoroughly enjoy the contents. May I assure you that the text has been vetted by the staff at both Glen Mhor and Glen Albyn distilleries, and that they were happy with the accuracy of the calculations where applicable.
I will be sending you perfect photographic copies of the illustrations as soon as my printer (in nearby Hadleigh) has done them for me. I will promise you swift action, I hope! In the meantime, I shall look forward to hearing your verdict about the factual 'edition', and then I shall contact, most probably, Christine Jones at DCL at Menstrie near Alloa. But I shall take a stage at a time, don't you think?
Very best wishes, Rodney.'
I note of Rodney's mention of a wine-themed game, which I suspect refers to the Vinesque Global Wine Collection board game that debuted in 1993. After exploring whisky production, he returned to England and embraced a career in the wine sector.
It's uplifting to see a tribute to William Birnie on the title page, highlighting the deep respect and admiration he garnered. The covering letter exudes a blend of playfulness and dedication to the task at hand, hinting at the potential existence of a manuscript copy with Christine, should Rodney have sent one her way.
Moreover, it’s clear just how pertinent this book is to both Muirtown distilleries, having been reviewed by what I assume are former colleagues from both locations. At this point, many of them may have moved on from the whisky industry, whether through retirement or layoffs. Next, we turn our attention to the contents page.
The first aspect that captivates you is the immense size of the book and the incredible depth of detail it promises. Each phase of the production journey culminates in over a hundred pages, offering a fascinating glimpse into the legacy left by the workers at both Muirtown distilleries.
We possess the photographs that Rodney managed to gather beforehand, including several rescued from Glen Mhor during the 1970s. All that's missing is the text.
Although we now have a rough idea of what the book contains, the fact that it remains elusive is even more exasperating. Yet, a copy must exist somewhere out there. Our mission is to continue the search...
Shifting focus from the contents, I am thrilled to unveil Rodney's original Preface for the book.
'HOW VARIABLE ARE the winds of industrial change! As we approach the end of the first decade of the second millennium, nearly all our traditional crafts have disappeared. Many, either intricate or basic, manual skills have been replaced by different forms of technology and other mineral resources, such as wood to metal. This situation certainly applies to distilleries nowadays. The malting process alone has altered to an unrecognisable scenario where the barley escapes contact with a human being; instead, this grain is automatically dealt with by way of rotating drums, unlike the back-breaking toil of physically turning maltings floors.
The last genuine Chairman
Glen Mhor and Glen Albyn distilleries at Muirtown Basin, Inverness, in 1970 were jointly owned by Mackinlay's & Birnie and Scottish Malt Whisky Distillers (later DCL) in Leith. William Birnie was the proprietor at the Muirtown premises and was a former colleague of the late Neill Gunn. Mr Gunn advocated the banning of blended whiskies because he was of the school of thought that malt whisky was pure and blended whisky was not. Mr Birnie was also an ardent admirer of the malts, but his view departed from Mr Gunn's because blended whisky called on nearly 98 per cent of his warehouse stock. The high ratio of output was needed to keep business up and running.
Mr Birnie was also a Chartered Accountant and he compiled extensive tables on consumption and production of potable spirits worldwide. His tables of these statistics were publicised annually in the Daily Express. His intimate experience of whisky distilling started in 1936 when he took over the family business. During the 1960s, Mr Birnie indicated to his trade that there were serious signs of over-production, but his counterparts observed him as over-sensitive and pessimistic. He told me personally in May 1970 that no-one would listen to his predictions and that various distilleries in the Scottish Highlands would close. The plain facts became apparent in the late 1980s when over 20 distilleries closed, including Tomatin and Ardbeg.'
Before we delve into the concluding section of the Preface, it's worth noting some of the themes Rodney explores.
Remarkably, even over two decades ago, both enthusiasts and ex-distillery employees were expressing their concerns about the contemporary shifts in distilling practices. The absence of a certain 'soul' - for lack of a better term - and the prioritisation of efficiency over individual craftsmanship are issues that continue to spark conversation today. It’s striking to see these concerns being brought to light so early on.
I find the idea intriguing that William Birnie might have been a former associate of the soon to be famous Neil M. Gunn, who served as an exciseman until 1937. Rodney himself points out that William's career in the field commenced in 1936, leaving a remarkably brief period for their potential collaboration. Moreover, being the son of the esteemed John Birnie, William's foray into distilling could have started at the most basic level and possibly been quite fleeting during that initial period.
While Neil may have returned to visit his cherished Glen Mhor on a regular basis, and continued to be an ardent admirer of its whisky, I'd suggest that we might be embellishing the narrative for convenience. It’s quite possible that William was well-acquainted with Neil through his father, considering both were formidable personalities with contrasting opinions not only on whisky but also on political matters. However, they did not work side-by-side, as that relationship was very much between John and Neil, before the creation of a Glen Mhor office in 1924.
William's ominous forecasts of impending disaster have not gone unnoticed by us, especially considering how many of his peers chose to overlook them. He meticulously analysed the data he observed across the industry, demonstrating remarkable insight and foresight in his assessments. Numerous annual reports highlighting his findings have been referenced in earlier articles, and William's insights have resonated globally, earning him recognition on this critical topic.
Rodney's conversation with William in 1970 is quite intriguing, hinting at a deep-seated respect and a long-standing friendship that likely inspired Rodney's first invitation to explore the world of whisky by moving up to Inverness.
In my view, even though Mackinlay & Birnie had been a prominent player since the 1890s, contributing to blends throughout the industry, they seemed to drift into the background during the post-war era of modernisation and company mergers. By then, they had transformed into a small-scale family distilling operation, merely managing to stay afloat.
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