
Stirling spirit brand puts casks to the depths for innovative offering
A Stirling-based drinks brand is rewriting the rules of traditional maturation - by plunging casks into the mysterious depths of Scotland's lochs. Domhayn – named after the Gaelic word for 'deep' – was born from an unexpected moment of inspiration. Founder James Patterson was watching wild swimmers take a celebratory dram after a dook in Loch Ness when the idea struck – what if a whisky cask could be submerged, too? Fast forward 20 years of research and for the first time in history a spirit-filled wooden cask has been plunged to the depths of Loch Ness, some 214 metres (702 feet) beneath the surface, where extreme hydrostatic pressure subtly alters its molecular profile. This revolutionary process is said to enhance and smooth spirits, creating unique flavour profiles compared to those achieved by traditional maturation. The pioneering hydrostatic diffusion technique, developed in-house, alters spirit composition in unprecedented ways – representing a potential game changer for the drinks industry. 'This is about pushing the boundaries of how we understand spirit maturation,' says Domhayn's founder, James Patterson. 'We know the environment a cask matures in has a huge impact, but no one has explored the application of pressure like this before. 'The results have been astounding.' Domhayn's inaugural release comes from cask DLNABK, which was submerged in Loch Ness on Valentine's Day 2025. This 2010 single malt barley spirit, bottled at natural strength 55.5 per cent ABV, is a true rarity – only six bottles exist. 'When we retrieved the cask, the difference was undeniable,' James said. 'The spirit had developed a distinctly different aroma and smoothness – something traditional maturation simply couldn't achieve in the same timeframe. 'Given its uniqueness, we expect collectors and enthusiasts to be very curious about how this method compares to conventional maturation. 'What's more, our proprietary technique isn't limited to spirits – it also applies to wine, rum, and vodka – and that makes it incredibly exciting.' The first bottle will be auctioned online today (Friday) at www.whiskyauctioneer.com. Ahead of launch, Domayn has shared samples with a select group of industry experts. 'Tasting the before and after samples reveals a distinct difference, both in flavour and mouthfeel', says Andrew Wilson, Commercial Manager at Young Spirits, Edinburgh. Each bottle of Domhayn can be traced back to the precise location where its cask rested on the loch bed, ensuring a unique provenance for every release. 'Each bottle comes with the precise coordinates of where its cask rested,' says James. 'It creates a direct, tangible link between the spirit and the environment that shaped it.' Domhayn have been experimenting with submersion cycles, which can range from minutes to a year or more. 'Submersion causes the cask to compress and decompress, triggering a unique interaction between the wood and the spirit involving both extraction and absorption,' said James. 'It's a one-off opportunity – each cask can only withstand one dive before the pressure permanently alters it.' To ensure authenticity and quality, the spirit from each cask undergoes molecular-level analysis at the Department of Chemistry at the University of Oxford. James said: 'We wanted to go beyond tasting notes and detect for molecular-level changes in the spirit. 'To do this, samples from each of the casks were tested by the Department of Chemistry at Oxford University using chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. 'The technique measures differences in the compounds found in samples. 'The results showed a different molecular composition in the processed samples, providing evidence that our process alters the molecular level profile of the spirits compared to control samples.' Each unique cask produces no more than 72 bottles, with every bottle presented in a bespoke waxed-cotton 'paper bag', designed in collaboration with Canadian fashion designer Charlotte McKeough. 'This is something for those who appreciate true rarity, innovation, and a drop of adventure in their glass,' James added. 'For collectors, connoisseurs and pioneers of taste, we believe Domhayn offers something truly extraordinary.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Herald Scotland
6 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Demolish vacant retail units. And reimagine them as open public areas
Upon exiting Marks & Spencer on Argyle Street, shoppers are immediately confronted with a depressing view: derelict, vandalised buildings that speak volumes about neglect. This isn't an isolated issue—it's symptomatic of a wider problem affecting the entire city centre. While every part of the city deserves care and attention, the area outside one of Glasgow's most prominent and long-established retailers should offer a far better impression. Instead, it leaves visitors with a sense of decay and missed opportunity. These vacant units have remained empty for far too long, and it's increasingly clear that many will never see meaningful investment. At best, they may be temporarily occupied without any long-term benefit to the community or the economy. It may sound drastic, but perhaps it's time to consider more radical solutions—such as demolition and reimagining these spaces as open public areas. Bold thinking is required to revive the heart of Glasgow and restore civic pride. Stuart Hindmarsh, Cambuslang, Glasgow. Read more: A weighty issue for electric cars As we begin to embrace the age of electric cars, perhaps we should consider the increased weight of these vehicles and the subsequent damage they are doing to our crumbling roads. For example, a petrol-powered Golf weighs in at 1250kg, whereas its electric equivalent comes in at 1585kg. In addition, most cars, regardless of their powertrain, seem to be getting larger and heavier. Perhaps the DVLA should consider an additional tax on the weight of vehicles which would be directed to the repair and maintenance of our roads. Alan R Melville, Newlands, Glasgow. Benefits of Gaelic schooling I refer to recent publicity and a letter on June 10 ('Why spending £2m on a Gaelic primary is a dubious allocation of public funds') about the renovation of St James Primary School in Glasgow and its planned reopening as a Gaelic medium primary. There are many reasons in favour of this. There is no other primary school for a considerable distance; many new houses and flats are being, and have been built, in the area; people with young children have moved out of the area because of the lack of schools. The other primary school nearby has been allowed to decay, so that only the front facade will be retained when flats are built behind it. And if we want people to live in the city then presumably some of these people will have children, who will need schools. Why is it to be a Gaelic medium school? One reason given to me, by someone who has lived here all his life is, that it avoids the debate as to whether it should be a Catholic or a Protestant, a debate that casts a cloud over the west of Scotland. A big reason in favour, though, is that Gaelic schools are popular and the education is seen as good. Research shows that children who are bi-lingual have an educational advantage and more easily learn other languages, being open to the quirks that every language seems to have. My granddaughter is now in P5 in Gaelic medium education and is doing fine; not only can she speak English and Gaelic but she is also learning some Spanish in school and is a very rounded individual. Patricia Fort, Glasgow. Sweating the small stuff One of the subtler joys of the Letters page is the thought given to the headings that marking out our missives. Were darker arts afoot, though, in the subliminal off-setting of Eric Macdonald's important concerns ('Below the belt', June 9), regarding the disturbing new front opened by the oppressive forces of the personal hygiene industry in its forever war agitating shame over our natural body smells? A column to the left, David Bradshaw's ostensible plea for sympathy with predatory wildlife was introduced with the heading: 'Lynx are not a danger to people.' James Macleod, Cardonald, Glasgow. Economic lunacy and visual blight SSEN'S recently-announced £20 billion 'Pathway to 2030' programme appears hell-bent on carpeting northern Scotland with unsightly industrial infrastructure – the Netherton Hub in Longside, 400 kV lines, and substations at New Deer, Kintore, Tealing, and Stornoway's HVDC hubs. This industrial sprawl, justified despite Scotland and the UK's negligible contribution to global emissions, also burdens consumers with crippling costs. Exporting intermittent wind power over vast distances via costly pylons and cables is not just inefficient – it's economic lunacy. Ed Miliband's nuclear expansion highlights the unreliability of wind, requiring costly nuclear and gas backups alongside this massive grid investment. Why pursue this insanity when the UK's total direct emissions are a global rounding error? Labour and the SNP's obsession with exporting erratic energy drives up bills through subsidies, transmission costs, and risky storage schemes. Consumers and businesses now face soaring electricity prices without transparency on who pays. In my view, intermittent power should stay local, powering high-value industries like AI data centres and green hydrogen – sectors that create real jobs and long-term economic growth. Instead, communities like Longside are left with visual blight and little local benefit. Energy providers must answer: Why do UK consumers pay the highest energy bills in Europe? Why fund distant energy 'exports' with taxes instead of growing local industries? Why avoid regional pricing that would reveal true costs. In summary, Labour and SNP policies risks fuelling voter anger, rightly handing Reform UK a sweeping electoral win if polices continue to damage industrial users and consumers alike. We must demand transparency and a shift toward local energy use that supports job creation – not the reckless export of unreliable power through unnecessary infrastructure. Ian Lakin, Milltimber, Aberdeen.


The Herald Scotland
7 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
This isn't just a scene of city dereliction. This is an M&S scene of dereliction ...
Upon exiting Marks & Spencer on Argyle Street, shoppers are immediately confronted with a depressing view: derelict, vandalised buildings that speak volumes about neglect. This isn't an isolated issue—it's symptomatic of a wider problem affecting the entire city centre. While every part of the city deserves care and attention, the area outside one of Glasgow's most prominent and long-established retailers should offer a far better impression. Instead, it leaves visitors with a sense of decay and missed opportunity. These vacant units have remained empty for far too long, and it's increasingly clear that many will never see meaningful investment. At best, they may be temporarily occupied without any long-term benefit to the community or the economy. It may sound drastic, but perhaps it's time to consider more radical solutions—such as demolition and reimagining these spaces as open public areas. Bold thinking is required to revive the heart of Glasgow and restore civic pride. Stuart Hindmarsh, Cambuslang, Glasgow. A weighty issue for electric cars AS we begin to embrace the age of electric cars, perhaps we should consider the increased weight of these vehicles and the subsequent damage they are doing to our crumbling roads. For example, a petrol-powered Golf weighs in at 1250kg, whereas its electric equivalent comes in at 1585kg. In addition, most cars, regardless of their powertrain, seem to be getting larger and heavier. Perhaps the DVLA should consider an additional tax on the weight of vehicles which would be directed to the repair and maintenance of our roads. Alan R Melville, Newlands, Glasgow. Benefits of Gaelic schooling I REFER to recent publicity and a letter on June 10 ('Why spending £2m on a Gaelic primary is a dubious allocation of public funds') about the renovation of St James Primary School in Glasgow and its planned reopening as a Gaelic medium primary. There are many reasons in favour of this. There is no other primary school for a considerable distance; many new houses and flats are being, and have been built, in the area; people with young children have moved out of the area because of the lack of schools. The other primary school nearby has been allowed to decay, so that only the front facade will be retained when flats are built behind it. And if we want people to live in the city then presumably some of these people will have children, who will need schools. Why is it to be a Gaelic medium school? One reason given to me, by someone who has lived here all his life is, that it avoids the debate as to whether it should be a Catholic or a Protestant, a debate that casts a cloud over the west of Scotland. A big reason in favour, though, is that Gaelic schools are popular and the education is seen as good. Research shows that children who are bi-lingual have an educational advantage and more easily learn other languages, being open to the quirks that every language seems to have. My granddaughter is now in P5 in Gaelic medium education and is doing fine; not only can she speak English and Gaelic but she is also learning some Spanish in school and is a very rounded individual. Patricia Fort, Glasgow. Sweating the small stuff ONE of the subtler joys of the Letters page is the thought given to the headings that marking out our missives. Were darker arts afoot, though, in the subliminal off-setting of Eric Macdonald's important concerns ('Below the belt', June 9), regarding the disturbing new front opened by the oppressive forces of the personal hygiene industry in its forever war agitating shame over our natural body smells? A column to the left, David Bradshaw's ostensible plea for sympathy with predatory wildlife was introduced with the heading: 'Lynx are not a danger to people.' James Macleod, Cardonald, Glasgow. Economic lunacy and visual blight SSEN'S recently-announced £20 billion 'Pathway to 2030' programme appears hell-bent on carpeting northern Scotland with unsightly industrial infrastructure – the Netherton Hub in Longside, 400 kV lines, and substations at New Deer, Kintore, Tealing, and Stornoway's HVDC hubs. This industrial sprawl, justified despite Scotland and the UK's negligible contribution to global emissions, also burdens consumers with crippling costs. Exporting intermittent wind power over vast distances via costly pylons and cables is not just inefficient – it's economic lunacy. Ed Miliband's nuclear expansion highlights the unreliability of wind, requiring costly nuclear and gas backups alongside this massive grid investment. Why pursue this insanity when the UK's total direct emissions are a global rounding error? Labour and the SNP's obsession with exporting erratic energy drives up bills through subsidies, transmission costs, and risky storage schemes. Consumers and businesses now face soaring electricity prices without transparency on who pays. In my view, intermittent power should stay local, powering high-value industries like AI data centres and green hydrogen – sectors that create real jobs and long-term economic growth. Instead, communities like Longside are left with visual blight and little local benefit. Energy providers must answer: Why do UK consumers pay the highest energy bills in Europe? Why fund distant energy 'exports' with taxes instead of growing local industries? Why avoid regional pricing that would reveal true costs. In summary, Labour and SNP policies risks fuelling voter anger, rightly handing Reform UK a sweeping electoral win if polices continue to damage industrial users and consumers alike. We must demand transparency and a shift toward local energy use that supports job creation – not the reckless export of unreliable power through unnecessary infrastructure. Ian Lakin, Milltimber, Aberdeen.

The National
10 hours ago
- The National
John Swinney announces new Scottish Cabinet ministers
With a largely unchanged team, the "minimalist" reshuffle comes after the SNP's loss to Labour in the Hamilton, Larkhall, and Stonehouse by-election. Despite the by-election loss and internal splits, the party continues to lead in the polls ahead of next year's election, with Swinney saying the Government must 'deliver on the priorities of the people of Scotland'. Future leadership contenders such as Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and McAllan were seen entering Bute House on Tuesday morning. McAllan has returned from maternity leave, and a new Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister has been appointed following the death of Christina McKelvie. Paul McLennan has left government as his ministerial role is developed into a cabinet role, and Alasdair Allan will leave his post at end of this week after assuming the temporary role of climate action. See the full Cabinet here: Here is the full list of who holds which Cabinet position in the new SNP minority government: Kate Forbes, the youngest-ever Deputy First Minister, will remain with the economy portfolio and responsibility for Gaelic Shona Robison remains in Cabinet with responsibility for finance and local government Jenny Gilruth remains Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills Angela Constance remains Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs Gillian Martin remains in Cabinet with responsibility for Net Zero and Energy portfolio Fiona Hyslop remains Cabinet Secretary for Transport Mairi McAllan returns in a new role, Cabinet Secretary for Housing Neil Gray remains Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Shirley-Anne Somerville remains Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Angus Robertson remains Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Mairi Gougeon remains Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands The changes mean the Scottish Cabinet now consists of twelve MSPs, including the First Minister, the majority of whom are women. Further changes mean the ministerial team reduces to eleven, from fourteen. Here's the full list of junior ministers in the SNP minority government: Minister for Parliamentary Business – Jamie Hepburn Minister for Business and Employment – Richard Lochhead Minister for Public Finance – Ivan McKee Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise – Natalie Don Minister for Higher and Further Education and Minister for Veterans – Graeme Dey Minister for Victims and Community Safety – Siobhian Brown Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity – Jim Fairlie Minister for Public Health and Women's Health – Jenni Minto Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport – Tom Arthur Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy – Maree Todd Minister for Equalities – Kaukab Stewart Arthur was previously minister for employment and investment. His investment responsibilities will be assumed by Forbes, while Lochhead's extended responsibilities see him become Minister for Business and Employment. The reshuffle comes amid discontent within the party which was sparked by the party's underwhelming by-election result in Hamilton last week. A reported meeting of 25 senior SNP figures took place on Monday night where the removal of Swinney as party leader was discussed.