🥃 Eh-oh! It's The Macallan: Part 2

Welcome back!

In the previous article, I mentioned that Roderick Kemp took over the running of Macallan distillery in 1892. He died in 1909, leaving a wife (Catherine) and two daughters: Janet (Nettie) and Catherine (Kitty).

From left to right: Catherine, Nettie, Roderick and Kitty Kemp

So, by now, some of you will have watched that eight-minute video commemorating the 1926 Macallan bottling. If not, click on the link HERE.

In short, it focuses on Janet – or Nettie - who went on to run Macallan distillery.

Janet “Nettie” Kemp had married Dr Alexander Harbinson, who ran the distillery after Roderick Kemp’s death.

Now, these emails are somewhat limited in that embedding video clips doesn’t seem possible. So, I’ll need to highlight each section with a brief note. And yes, pedantic is my middle name. So, in true fun sponge style, let’s pick apart the elements of this video that just don’t add up.

1 min 04 sec:

In The Distilleries of Great Britain and Ireland 1922 - 1929 published by James Eadie, the section on Macallan, dated 1924, states that there are three stills of the old “smuggler” type. The wash-still contains 3,000 gallons, and the two low-wines’ stills hold 900 and 700 gallons respectively. Well, there are definitely more than three stills here.

Also, did thermometer probes exist at the start of the 20th century? Did seal pots? If so, did they look like those here? Thanks to Conor, distiller at Holyrood Distillery, for pointing these out to me.

1 min 27 sec:

Whereas The Mash Tun in Aberlour was established in 1896, I don’t think they were using that sign (top left) until much, much later. Speyside folk, feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.

1 min 35 sec:

OK, so Janet Kemp was born in 1869; Alexander Harbinson was born in 1848 – making him a good twenty years older than her. The couple married in 1894 when Nettie was twenty-five and Alexander was forty-six. So, a) make of that what you will and b) according to my maths, there’s no way they could have been forty year old anythings at the same time.

2 min 14 sec:

Well, between you, me and the gatepost, that looked like Nettie gave Alexander a wee push there 😉. But anyway, Alexander Harbinson died of stomach cancer, haematemesis (vomiting of blood) and cardiac failure. Sudden? Well, possibly. But he died at 7am in the morning so the chances are he wasn’t out for a wee stroll with his wife when it happened:

3 min 15 sec:

Ok, this bit is important because of what’s coming next…

3 min 50 sec:

The date on that cheque shows the year as 1926. But Nettie’s husband died in 1918. So, hurry up seems a little strange given the best part of eight years has just elapsed.

5 min 05 sec:

Now, this bottle. Jeezo. 43% vol? 700ml? Sherry seasoned casks? Does anything about this bottle label say 1926 to you? No? Thought not 😂

5 min 12 sec:

Likewise, those bottle codes. Yeah, yeah; I know I need to get out more.

5 min 59 sec:

“It’s time to go home and fetch more tea towels to drape across things that wouldn’t have been there in 1926” more like. Would there have been a wee plastic junction box (centre) on the wall back then? And would the pipes (bottom left) have had fibreglass lagging? You tell me.

6 min 30 sec:

Preferably ones without metric measurements, given it’s 1926.

And on that note, we’ll leave it there. If you notice any more and want to channel your inner fun sponge too, feel free to get in touch.

Slàinte! Justine