Scottish 'whisky' matured in Loch Ness sold for £850 at auction
Just six bottles of the spirit exist in the world.
The first bottle of 'whisky' matured in casks submerged in Loch Ness has been sold at auction. The unique spirit was purchased for £850 after dozens of bids.
Domhayn, which gets its name from the Gaelic word for 'deep', was plunged 214 metres underneath the surface of the legendary loch on Valentine's Day, February 14. As previously reported by the Daily Record, the Stirlingshire-based release comes from a 2010 single malt barley spirit that was bottled at natural strength 55.5 per cent ABV.
As a result of its one-of-a-kind production method that changes its molecular profile, Domhayn cannot be legally classed a whisky. There are just six bottles of Domhayn in existence. The first of these sold at auction for £850 from 42 bids.
Domhayn founder James Patterson commented: "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".
The idea for the spirit came to Patterson while he was observing wild swimmers from the shore of Loch Ness. He became inspired as he watched the swimmers take a celebratory dram after a dook.
Patterson continued: "This is about pushing the boundaries of how we understand spirit maturation.
"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.
"When we retrieved the cask, the difference was undeniable. 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."
In order to guarantee authenticity and quality, the spirit from each cask of Domhayn received molecular-level analysis. This was carried out at the Department of Chemistry at the University of Oxford.
Patterson added: "Submersion causes the cask to compress and decompress, triggering a unique interaction between the wood and the spirit involving both extraction and absorption.
"It's a one-off opportunity—each cask can only withstand one dive before the pressure permanently alters it.
"We wanted to go beyond tasting notes and detect 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."
The first bottle of Domhayn was auctioned at Whisky Auctioneer. More information about the spirit can be found on the Domhayn website.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Know your Scots: When did you last see a pair of nicky tams?
The Statistical Account from East Lothian in 1953 gives the following information: 'It was characteristic of the ploughman to secure his trousers round his legs immediately below the knees by a narrow buckled strap or thong. These attachments were known in this part of the country as nickie tams or bow yanks'. In 1998, we have the following from Ian Cameron's The Jimmy Shand Story: '… proudly brushed down his new moleskin trousers, making sure they had their own knee strings to make nicky-tams'. The term is still remembered in the 21st century, but requires explanation, as this memory recalled in the Daily Record of July 2021 attests: 'He would always be wearing nicky tams – working trousers tied at the knee with cord – and tackety boots. The sparks would be fair flying off the road when he tramped down to the Cross Keys'.
Daily Record
18 hours ago
- Daily Record
Items recovered from 1859 tragic Ayrshire shipwreck to go on display at museum
The SS Eagle is seen as an unprecedented example of an almost intact cargo of 19th century Glaswegian ceramics. A collection of rare 19th century ceramics recovered from the wreck of the 1857 iron steamship SS Eagle off Lamlash Bay, Arran, last year, will go on display for the first time in the Scottish Maritime Museum's Summer exhibition which opens tomorrow. The 'Beneath the Waves' exhibition, which goes on show in the museum's Linthouse building on Irvine Harbourside, brings together the historic ceramic collection, award-winning underwater photography and an artist's detailed marine sketches to celebrate the extraordinary world beneath the ocean's surface. The SS Eagle launched from the Dumbarton yard of Alexander Denny in July 1857. The 324 tonne steamer was acquired by the McConnel and Laird Line of Glasgow in June 1859 for service as a passenger and cargo vessel. Just five months later, on November 28, 1859, SS Eagle sank after colliding with a sailing boat, the Pladda, whilst en route from Glasgow to Londonderry with a general cargo, two hundred sheep and fifty four passengers. Eleven lives were lost. The SS Eagle ceramics, which were discovered by Oban-based diver and maritime explorer Graeme Bruce and team in July 2024, were made by Glasgow-based Bell's Pottery. Bell's Pottery was established by brothers John and Matthew Perston Bell in late 1840 or 1841. The site at the corner of Stafford Street and Pulteney Street was close to the Forth & Clyde Canal which was used to transport goods and raw materials. According to the Scottish Pottery Society, Bell's Pottery export wares have been found as far afield as South America, the Far East, Australia and Canada. The last piece of Bell's Pottery was probably made around 1912. In the 19th century, Glasgow was a major centre for the production of ceramics and rivalled the Staffordshire potteries. Bell's Pottery itself is recognised as arguably the most internationally significant producer of ceramic wares in Scotland at the time. The lack of surviving pottery from Glasgow's industrial ceramics period, which spanned three centuries from 1748 to the mid 1980's, makes the SS Eagle's ceramic tableware nationally significant. The SS Eagle collection features ceramics destined for trade and exhibition in Londonderry, Northern Island, and artefacts from the ship's galley. Exhibits include seven plates and a bowl, a teapot lid and two bottles which still hold 'sparkling water' in addition to a decanter and bell. Complementing the SS Eagle ceramics, 'Beneath the Waves' also features cups and plates from the Scottish Maritime Museum's own national maritime heritage collection as well as four vessels dating back to the Roman Empire on loan from North Ayrshire Heritage Centre. Eva Bukowska, Exhibitions and Events Officer at the Scottish Maritime Museum, said: "We are really excited to host the first showing of these fascinating ceramics recovered from SS Eagle. The vessel also has a significance for the Museum as it was built by Alexander Denny, who was the brother of William Denny, whose test tank is now home to our second collection in Dumbarton." Graeme Bruce added: "Diving has been my great passion for 35 years. For me, a shipwreck is a 'time capsule' hidden from view over time by the sea. The privilege of being able to explore and connect with the past is beyond description. Enabling the artefacts from shipwrecks like this Bell's Pottery collection to then have a new life on show for everyone to learn from and appreciate is so important. Connecting people with a heritage like this means everything to me and those I dive with." 'Beneath the Waves' exhibition has been curated in collaboration with renowned underwater photographer, marine conservationist and writer Lawson Wood; diver, maritime explorer and retired engineer Graeme Bruce; and Ayrshire underwater artist and writer Christina Riley. In the exhibition, Lawson Wood, who enjoyed his first scuba dive aged 11 years, draws on 60 years of underwater photography. His images reveal the captivating world of marine life and range from colourful tropical fish and seals to corals and anemones. Christina Riley's work focuses on the small details of complex and beautiful marine ecosystems. The exhibition features a selection of photographs and pencil drawings created during her time as a snorkelling-artist-in-residence at the Argyll Hope Spot. Part of the global Mission Blue initiative led by the renowned oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle, the Hope Spots project highlights areas critical to the health of the ocean. Other Hope Spots include the Galapagos Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. Visitors can also learn more about freediving and how this ancient practice has advanced our understanding of marine archaeology and conservation. 'Beneath the Waves' runs from Saturday, June 7 to Saturday, September 13. Admission to 'Beneath the Waves' is included in Museum admission. The museum is open daily from 10am until 5pm. Up to three children go FREE with each Adult/Concession ticket.
Daily Record
20 hours ago
- Daily Record
Five 1920s Scottish household objects you won't see in modern homes
The Daily Record has looked back at houses in Scotland 100 years ago. The 1920s may seem like a long time ago. However, in the grand scheme of things, 100 years is the blink of an eye. Journeying back a century in time, there are many things about Scotland that have changed and many things that have stayed the same. Unless you know somebody who lived through the decade, you will never truly have a real grasp of what life was like back then. However, one way to get a small glimpse into the past is to look at the household objects that were common at the time. Technology has advanced hugely since the 1920s, but Scots back then weren't so different to us today. The Daily Record has put together a small roundup of common household objects you may have found in Scotland 100 years ago. From marbles to old-fashioned sewing machines, it is fascinating to see what Scots used all those years ago. Read on for five 1920s Scottish household objects you probably won't see in modern homes. Singer sewing machine Cast iron stove Marbles Gas lamp
