PERSBERICHT

Uit de Ileach van september 2005.

Trestarig, (pronounced "trace-arak"), refers to a triple, distilled spirit that may have it's origins in "Arak", the original Middle Eastern spirit distilled from wine. Distilling was discovered by Arab alchemists in 9th Century Syria for making ladies' eye shadow called 'al-kohl' - the origin of the word "alcohol". 

The art of making "burnt wine" and it's aniseed-flavoured descendants (Raki, Pastis etc.) spread with Islam around the Mediterranean. Christianity took it on to Ireland and the pagan Gaels of the Scottish Hebrides where barley replaced the vine as the raw material of alcohol production.

In this 'Description of the Western Islands of Scotland' of 1703 Martin Marin observes: "the air is temperately cold and moist, and for the corrective, the natives use a dose of Trestarig". This is described as "aquavitae three times distilled"- not the usual two.

Bruichladdich distillery, has distilled Trestarig once again. The first triple-distilled spirit in the Western Isles for many centuries was created bij Master Distiller Jim McEwan. 

CEO Mark Reynier: "we like to do things differently at Bruichladdich - and if it means going back in time for inspriation - so be it.

"The word "Trestarig" may be Gaelic or Viking in origin. Unusually, both share the Arabic word "Arak" inferring "distilled spirit".  "Treas" is the Gaelic for 'triple', while the Norse 'trost, means 'protection'. To the pagan Viking invaders "protection spirit" may have been needed against the cold, illness, pain - or just missionaries."

"The Eastern Vikings are known to have voyaged to Turkey and the Black Sea via the large rivers of central Europe. Intriguingly, they could have brought the knowledge of triple - distilled Arak to the Hebrides before the Christians. 

"12,000 litres of Bruichladdich Trestarig, the world's first triple - distilled Islay single malt - were laid down at 84,5% alcohol.

Jim McEwan: "At 84,5%. this is a rock show of a malt."