First bottle of 'whisky' matured in casks submerged in Loch Ness sells for over $1,000
The first bottle of "whisky" matured in casks submerged in Scotland's Loch Ness has sold at auction for more than $1,000.
Domhayn, named after the Gaelic word for "deep," was submerged 702 feet beneath the surface of the legendary Scottish freshwater on Valentine's Day, according to news agency SWNS.
The inaugural "Loch Ness edition" bottle, which comes from a 2010 single malt barley spirit with 55.5% alcohol by volume (ABV), recently sold at auction for £850, or about $1,133.
''We're thrilled that someone out there is now going to have that incredible experience of tasting a spirit that has touched the bottom of Loch Ness," founder James Patterson told SWNS.
Patterson said he hatched the idea while watching swimmers in Loch Ness.
"This is about pushing the boundaries of how we understand spirit maturation," he said. "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, Patterson said, were "astounding."
"When we retrieved the cask, the difference was undeniable," he said.
"The spirit had developed a distinctly different aroma and smoothness – something traditional maturation simply couldn't achieve in the same timeframe."
With only six bottles existing, the spirit can't legally be called "whisky" (the Scottish spelling of whiskey) because its submersion in water alters its molecular profile, as SWNS reported.
"Submersion causes the cask to compress and decompress, triggering a unique interaction between the wood and the spirit involving both extraction and absorption," Patterson said.
"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 by the Department of Chemistry at the University of Oxford.
"The technique measures differences in the compounds found in samples," Patterson said.
"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."
Patterson said he expects "collectors and enthusiasts to be very curious about how this method compares to conventional maturation."
He said the technique is also being applied to wine, rum and vodka.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Edinburgh residents baffled as streets become 'dystopian future' for film set
Edinburgh residents opened their windows to find themselves in the future, after a film set transformed the city streets. Those in the old town will have spotted cast and crew on set, with several spots in the area taken over for filming. The Warner Bros set is understood to be JJ Abrams upcoming movie, Ghostwriter. It's rumoured to have a cast including the likes of Samuel L Jackson, Glen Powell, Jenna Ortega and Emma Mackey. While details have been kept under wraps, the film is said to be a sci-fi story that tells of a writer whose fictional, futuristic world turns out to be very much real. READ MORE: Edinburgh resident makes disturbing discovery after noticing 'gate left open' READ MORE: Popular Edinburgh Old Town pub transformed as filming gets underway in capital Production is also said to be happening in London. Spots in Edinburgh such as West College Street, Merchant Street, and Chambers Street are being used as filming locations. On Tuesday, Candlemaker Row was transformed into a dystopian set, with residents impressed One posted to TikTok: "POV - you're walking around Edinburgh and enter a dystopian future." Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox Another resident responded: "Warner Bros trucks have been seen in the city along with a couple of big actors." A second asked: "Most important question, will this affect Greggs opening time?" Locals first spotted the cast and crew setting up in Holyrood Park. It's understood that the film is set for release in 2026, though this is yet to be confirmed. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. One lifelong Samuel L Jackson fan claims to have had an interaction with his hero while the star is here filming in Edinburgh. Matt's partner, Rosie, told Edinburgh Live: "Matt finally had his dream come true this week when the legendary actor was spotted filming scenes for his new movie Ghostwriter in the city. "Determined not to miss his hero, Matt camped out for 15 hours near the filming location with snacks, a fold-up chair, and unshakable optimism. Armed with only hope and a homemade sign that read 'I've had it with these motherlovin' waits!' he finally got the moment he'd waited a lifetime for."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Scientists find new pathway which could help prevent diet-related liver cancer
Researchers have discovered a scientific pathway that could prevent fatty liver disease, caused by a Western diet high in fat and sugar, from progressing to liver cancer. Scientists said that cases of the cancer arising from underlying fatty liver disease are on the rise. However currently there are said to be no effective therapies to stop fatty liver disease from progressing to liver cancer due to a lack of understanding of the mechanisms involved. Glasgow Caledonian University cancer experts along with scientists from the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute and The Francis Crick Institute previously identified the tumour suppressor gene p53 as crucial in protecting the liver against toxins. They have now discovered that p53 also protects the liver from the damaging effects of a high-fat, high-sugar diet. Scientists found that it does so through a gene known as TIGAR, which acts as an antioxidant and detoxifies lipids in a fatty liver. Experts said the breakthrough suggests antioxidant therapy could be developed to mimic the protective response of p53 and TIGAR, which would prevent the development of some of the key features of fatty liver disease. Dr Timothy Humpton, who leads the 'Liver p53 lab' at Glasgow Caledonian University, worked on the research paper with his PhD student Celine Wittke, who is co-first author with Dr Eric Cheung, from The Francis Crick Institute. Dr Humpton said: 'This research has established a key role for p53 and TIGAR in protecting against the progression from liver disease to liver cancer. Targeting this through the use of antioxidants is of great interest for future therapies aiming to prevent liver cancer. 'Many people still don't realise that a bad diet full of fat and sugar, and the lack of exercise, can actually cause fatty liver disease which can progress to liver cancer, so it's not just people who drink alcohol that are susceptible.' 'Fatty liver disease is hard to diagnose because it's asymptomatic for the most part. 'That's why liver cancer prognosis is so poor in these patients. It's frequently not flagged until it's advanced cancer. 'We are hoping that an antioxidant therapy can be developed through the results of our p53 and TIGAR research to help reverse some of the damage done to the liver by the Western diet high in fat and sugar.' The research is published in JHep Reports, a leading journal in the field of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
New 1.2km 'Power Trail' showcases village's waterpower history
A new 1.2km 'Power Trail' has opened at New Lanark and the Falls of Clyde. The trail invites visitors, schools, and learners of all ages to explore the history of waterpower from the 18th century to modern renewable energy. It was constructed as part of the Vision for Lanark initiative and is a joint effort by Lanark Community Development Trust, Drax, New Lanark Trust, and the Scottish Wildlife Trust. (Image: Supplied) The project was funded by the Drax Group, operators of Bonnington Power Station, and SSE's Sustainable Development Fund. Starting at New Lanark, the trail takes approximately 45 minutes to complete and features 12 information panels located across eight sites. Read more: Russell Martin outlines Rangers ambitions in Celtic comparison Train station on Glasgow line renamed ahead of Kylie Minogue's OVO Hydro show Robin Propper to leave Rangers after just one season - reports On June 2, the trail was officially launched, with representatives from all partner organisations and students from Lanark Grammar School present. The new trail is designed to support school group learning, introducing learners to core themes of heritage, environment, and hydro-electricity. (Image: Supplied) While it is primarily intended for educational purposes, the trail is open to all visitors. Michael Shanks, MP for Rutherglen and Minister for Energy, said: "This exciting new trail showcases New Lanark's incredible heritage in the development of some of our first renewables – an early marker of Scotland's potential to generate clean power. "Hydro schemes continue to play a critical role in our energy mix, and being able to see the journey of this technology through the centuries is a great opportunity." Sarah Cameron, Scotland community manager at Drax, said: "Drax are delighted to support the development of the Power Trail, as our Lanark Hydro scheme approaches its 100th anniversary. "We hope all visitors following the trail enjoy learning about how Bonnington Power Station operates using the River Clyde." Sylvia Russell, chairman of Lanark Community Development Trust, said: "We are also very grateful to Drax and SSE for their generous grant funding. "We hope that visitors to New Lanark will find the new trail interesting and informative and that school groups will make use of the excellent STEM teaching resources."
