Naturally, a little explanation is necessary to explain how this could have been made possible. No, this is not any kind of a trick of Celtic magic ! Much more simply, we had decided in 1999 to distill our first whisky in order to gain experience, without waiting to have at our disposal the facilities of the full distillery, which was only at project's stage at the time. Also, we were seduced by the idea that Glann ar Mor would have started its activity before entering the year 2000.

Done in a small still which had been heated by wood, this first distillation allowed the filling of a small cask which eventually delivered just 99 bottles of 50 cl, knowing that only a few centilitres were missing to complete the filling of what would have been the hundredth bottle. Decidedly, this TAOL ESA was definitely bound to be marked by the figure 99 !

In consequence of the sadly famous "Tempest of the century" which blew over France and some parts of Europe on 26 December 1999, the site of what was already that of Glann ar Mor Distillery had been deprived of electricity for several days. Although the planning of production had been completely upset as a result, by a kind of small miracle, this first whisky could still be distilled before entering year 2000, the cask having just been filled on 31 December 1999 at nightfall !

The equipment necessary for preparing the wash not being in place at the time, the wash had been specially prepared by a local brewery.

By the type of still used as by the specification of the wash, TAOL ESA cannot be considered as being representative of the whiskies which will be offered by Glann ar Mor, now fully equipped with its new installation allowing for a full in house process of whisky making. It is nonetheless a Single Malt offering much seduction by its specificity and its aromas. It is therefore a most unique whisky, by its character, by its rarity and by the very special circumstances in which it has been made.

The cask was emptied on 14 May 2004, enabling the bottling at an age of slightly over 4 years, which was done at 46% without chill filtration and at the natural colour, in order to preserve the full integrity of the whisky's character and aromas.
Each of the 99 bottles of TAOL ESA comes in a wooden box, with its hand numbered certificate of origin and a decorated pewter flask.

One of the two worm condensers of Glann ar Mor Distillery