The Whisky Affair (Raymond Armstrong Series) (17 page)

In the blink of an eye, Raymond knew they were screwed when he felt the barrel of a gun pressed up against the back of his head.
Mitch had another gun tucked away. Probably in an ankle holster
.

Mitch’s face showed his evil smile and rage glared from his eyes.

“Now I will just have to kill you both here. Throw you in the vats and make whisky. A fuller body expression I think for this run. I will find the old man and burn him alive.”

The sound of a helicopter and the vibration of the distillery roof made Mitch pause.

“Right, say your good-byes, it’s time for me to get out of here and go back to civilization.”

Mitch raised the gun toward Louisa’s head.

Crunch!
Out of nowhere James leapt off a cask and hit Mitch full on the head with a long cylindrical tool. Mitch went down fast, his eyes rolling into the back of his head.

James stood motionless while Louisa grabbed the rifle and pointed it at Mitch. She then handed the rifle to Raymond and walked right up to James. She slapped him across the face.

“This is all your fault, you and your damn ego. You killed our father. You have no respect for anyone nor do you care about your family,” Louisa screamed, tears rolling down her cheeks. James put out his arms and she collapsed within his grasp.

“I am sorry, sis. You’re right. I have been such a weasel. None of this was planned but I was so weak. I will never forgive myself.”

Raymond checked Mitch’s pulse. It was weak but he would live. He looked at the copper tool.

“What the heck is this, James? And by the way, well done.”

“It’s an old fashioned whisky thief – of sorts. Willy found it at an auction. I think it has a Spanish name. He uses it to take samples from the casks that are maturing. The new ones are flimsy-looking things that look more like a straw. Willy wouldn’t use them. Preferred that antique.”

“Thank goodness. The new ones would not hurt a fly; they are so light. That old thing is a heavy brute,” he said, pointing to the copper tool that was now full of blood. Raymond looked over at Willy, giving him a nod of approval. The old man was badly shaken up but managed to raise one arm slowly to display his response, an upright thumb.

“I see you didn’t need us,” shouted John while six armed policemen burst in with semi-automatics.

“No, but the helicopter noise distracted him enough. Your timing was impeccable.”

John walked toward him. “So what the hell happened?”

“James saved the day.”

“Really?”

“He clobbered him over the head with a whisky thief, it seems. Quite a heavy tool, and thank goodness Willy the whisky maker prefers the old style. Quite ironic really. A thief, knocked out by a thief, trying to steal the Isle of Bute Distillery. That was never going to happen on my watch.”

Six months later

The whisky dinner was being held in Rothesay, at the Glenburn Hotel, one of Scotland’s most prestigious hotels. The Glenburn was an impressive converted Victorian manor, surrounded with botanical gardens and a panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean.

Louisa and all the distillery staff had been working on the event for months. It was a celebration for a variety of reasons, mainly to honour the Canadian market because outside of Asia, Canada was their best market. It was the Canadians who’d coined the catch phrase “this is a Bute.”

Since the death of her father, Louisa had taken the steep walk up to Canada Hill many times. Once there, the view over Rothesay to the Firth of Clyde and the Cowal Peninsula was spectacular and she would sit and gaze out across the ocean.

Aptly named, this hill was where families would have said good-bye then rushed up the hill to watch the ships sail away on the long voyage to Canada. Once across the Atlantic, they would arrive in the port of Halifax and head west to Ontario and Quebec.

Louisa struggled with the death of her father and until that day she had not been able to say good-bye.

Raymond finally persuaded her to take her father’s ashes to the spot Gordon would have liked. They had both gone first thing that morning. Once there she understood why the place was so special for her father and her granddad. She told Raymond she felt more at peace, finally.

The celebration event would herald a new start for her and the distillery. She was determined to make her father proud.

At 7:00 the doors to the banquet hall opened and the guests streamed in looking for their tables. At the podium, the MC tapped on the microphone, asking for silence.

“Ladies and Gentleman, thank you all for coming tonight to celebrate whisky and to welcome our special guests from Canada. May I introduce your hostess for this evening, Louisa Reid?”

The crowd applauded loudly. Louisa looked stunning wearing a long flowing cream strapless dress, complete with her mother’s ruby and diamond necklace. Red and white, the colors of Canada, her idea for tonight’s celebration.

“Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Tonight we have six single malt whiskies, matched to perfection by three amazing chefs. We have a chef from Ontario, one from Nova Scotia, and our own Bute chef.

Two of the whiskies are from Eastern Canada to complement our very own Bute malts.

The theme for tonight’s whisky dinner is whisky matured in wine casks – which of course is dear to my heart.” The audience smiled their approval.

“For the first time here on the Island, we have malts finished in maple and ice wine casks. I guess it must get cold in the highlands of New Scotland. Ice wine indeed.” Members of the audience laughed and she continued.

“Before we get started, I would like you all to raise your glasses to a man I will miss for the rest of my life. A pioneer in this ever-changing whisky industry. A man I am proud to say was my father.”

The audience rose to their feet.

“Gordon,” they all said in unison.

“Miss you so much, Dad,” Louisa whispered.

Their whisky dinner would go on record as one of the best ever. The chefs that night had married the nuances of flavours, matching each malt to food like an orchestra blends sounds, putting whisky on the world map as a drink to pair with food.

“Louisa do you have you a moment?” Raymond asked when dinner was over.

“Of course, Uncle Raymond.” She took his hand. They strolled through the beautiful gardens of the hotel where the fragrance of flowers was almost overwhelming.

“So, all is well with the distillery?” he asked.

“Fantastic; could not be better. I found a real gem to cover Asia and the USA and I will look after Europe and Canada myself, for now. One of them, Tracey, was with a big French company. She’s from the south of England, born near Brighton and is so passionate that Scotland is finally taking back distilleries and really getting behind Brand Scotland. She took a pay cut to join us.”

“Excellent. And the finances are in order?”

“Thanks to you. I have still not met my silent partner in the flesh. Talked to him on the phone and Skype. He’s an absolute treasure and very handsome too.”

“The minute I told him about our story and that the gambling commission would accept one million for the debt, he was only too happy to help.” Raymond winked.

“So, how do you know Ben Shannon?”

“Well, that, young lady, is a long story. I have known him for some time and have stayed in touch. How about James. Still in rehab?”

“Yes, and will be there for some time.”

“Any thoughts of having James back here to work?”

“Probably. Maybe I will have you here for a weekend to get your advice, when the time comes.”

“My pleasure, and glad it’s all working out.”

“By the way, Anne looks absolutely gorgeous this evening,” Louise said tapping his arm to get his attention.

Raymond followed Louisa’s eyes and saw Anne on the terrace.

He gestured for her to join them.

“I have a small piece of news, Louisa. Anne and I are getting engaged. Sounds so stupid at my age, doesn’t it?”

“Don’t be daft, I think it’s wonderful.”

“What’s wonderful?” Anne asked as she joined him.

“You are.” Raymond put his arm around Anne’s shoulder and along with Louisa they slowly made their way back to the guests.

“Louisa, one final thought, said Raymond. I know it helped to spread your dad’s ashes over the spot this morning. But, you never have to say good-bye to your dad. Just keep making great single malt whisky and his legacy will never die. He will always be with us in spirit.”

Locations:

Isle of Bute, Scotland:

This novel took me on my first visit to Isle of Bute, in western Scotland. I have made many trips over the years to this magical country however, this small island had always intrigued me.

I would like to thank all the people I met on the Isle of Bute. In particular, the staff at the Victoria Hotel, a cozy and well-managed hotel. The young man in the visitor’s center is a true ambassador of the Island and he spent a considerable amount of time helping me with my research. I often stood in awe listening to his stories and historical facts about the island.

Haworth, West Yorkshire:

I grew up close to the village of Haworth. This quaint village is truly a treasure and definitely worth a visit on your next vacation to England.

Haworth is situated at the edge of the Pennine Moors in West Yorkshire, the area made famous by the Bronte sisters. From the preserved steam railway, you can walk the cobbled streets of this charming village and stop for lunch at one of the excellent pubs. There are many historical buildings and even a truly frightening graveyard.

Toronto, Ontario:

Toronto is one of my favourite Canadian Cities: I love the hustle and bustle of this city. So much to see and do, amazing restaurants and it’s a sports lover’s dream. Catch a ball game, a big-name concert, or just take a stroll through the distillery district.

Isle of Bute Distillery:

The Isle of Bute exists, however the distillery is fictional. Much of my inspiration comes from my long relationship with the Isle of Arran Distillers, located on a neighbouring island. My marketing background inspired me to pick this island, and use the pun ‘What a Beaut’ to describe their whisky. There is absolutely no reason why we should not see a distillery on this delightful island in the future.

Lost Distilleries:

The Lost Distillery Company is quite new to the whisky industry. Through research of actual closed distilleries, they have created whiskies from reclaimed knowledge and their whiskies are gaining worldwide attention. All that I wrote about Auchenagie is true and standing on the original distillery site that has been gone for over a hundred years was just amazing. Many thanks to Andy for taking me on this fascinating journey.

The Whisky Ladies:

Kudos to all the ladies either in the industry directly, or who are nose and taste experts. Their passion is truly refreshing. The ladies on Twitter and the female master blender I make reference to, do exist.

Trickle distillation was explained to me by iconic whisky legend, Jim McEwan while sitting in warehouse # 3 at Bruichladdich. He did have an antique whisky thief tool like the one described in the book – nothing like the small tool used today.

Willy is based on Willie Tait, production manager at the Isle of Jura distillery. An icon of the industry, Willie is a person I have always wanted to meet. His words of wisdom on the importance of water and location in making a fine whisky has become the basis of my teachings in the whisky trade.

There is a ‘real’ Louisa who works for the Isle of Arran Distillery. Louisa Young is the export manager and not the master blender as portrayed in this story. However, much inspiration on my character is attributed to Louisa. Her passion, knowledge, and just her lovely personality, helped bring my character to life.

While I was writing this story, the question of an independent Scotland was imminent. The referendum would be a simple yes or no on September 18th. Should Scotland be an Independent country?

It is true that most of the distilleries in Scotland are owned by companies registered outside Scotland and a good proportion do not work at the distilleries and are based elsewhere around the world.
I certainly hope that changes in the future
.

The Nevada Gaming Commission is active in assisting casinos recover their debts. A law passed in 1983 made a gambling debt a criminal offence and it is treated exactly the same as a bad check debt in Nevada.

And people do get themselves into gambling fiascos. Currently, a Canadian from Ontario is alleged to owe over twelve million to Las Vegas casinos.

I have had the privilege to represent and promote many scotch distilleries over the last fifteen years. During that time, I have learned a great deal from some of the true greats in the whisky industry. From prominent distillery managers, still men, ambassadors, and all the distillery support staff that make scotch so wonderful and mysterious.
The Whisky Affair
, while being fiction,
is
based on many true facts in the whisky industry today.

Slainte!

Age statement: This gives the age of the “youngest” component of the whisky. Note that maturation stops at bottling so both the year and the age may be significant. A 12-Year-Old whisky bottled 4 years ago is still a 12-Year-Old, not a 16-year-old, though different years occasionally may be quoted.