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Tasting uisge-beatha


Tasting uisge-beatha
Photo Information
Copyright: Niek Bouwen (SunToucher) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1234 W: 121 N: 1103] (5716)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-07-12
Categories: Food, Event, Abstract
Camera: Canon EOS 350D, Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG Macro, Tiffen 82mm UV
Exposure: f/2.8, 1/30 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Summer vacation 2007: Scotland
Date Submitted: 2007-09-02 4:34
Viewed: 683
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
We were staying in the Speyside valley while we visited some of the location on the eastcoast of Scotland. The Speyside valley is considered to be a mekka for Whiky lovers since you can visit many distilleries within less then an hour drive. We only visited two during our stay in Aberlour, but the experience was great. The firs, and for me the best, was the distellery of Aberlour.

We opted for the early tour causing us to taste the water of life before luch. The tasting consited out of 6 glasses. Starting with the spirit and next the single cast from an oak cast, then a single cast from a sherry cast. The next was a 12 year old malt the next a 16 year old malt and ending with Aberlour a'bunadh. Of the latter I bought a bottel.

Whisky is an Anglicisation of the 17th century Irish uisce beatha (IPA: [ɪʃkʲə bʲahə]) meaning "water of life". The name itself may have originally derived from a Goidelic translation of the Latin phrase aqua vitae.

The spelling whisky (plural whiskies) is generally used for whiskies distilled in Scotland, Wales, Canada, and Japan, while whiskey is used for the spirits distilled in Ireland.

In the late Victorian era, Irish whiskey was the world's whiskey of choice. Of the Irish whiskeys, Dublin whiskeys were regarded as the grands crus of whiskeys. In order to differentiate Dublin whiskey from other whiskeys, the Dublin distilleries adopted the spelling "whiskey". The other Irish distilleries eventually followed suit. The last Irish "whisky" was Paddy, which adopted the "e" in 1966.

A mnemonic used to remember which spelling is used is that "Ireland" and "United States" have at least one "e" in their names, while "Scotland", "Canada" and "Japan" do not. Welsh whisky is an exception to this rule.

In many countries, the abbreviated term "Scotch" is often used for "Scotch whisky". However in Britain the term "Scotch" is relatively rare and "whisky" generally refers to "Scotch whisky". There is no relation to scotch tape.
hester, GreenBaron, pablominto, shelbeesmom, kbeall, go2stones, pdp, evelynn, Silke has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To GreenBaron: Gaan we schelden.SunToucher 3 09-03 03:56
To mbasil: RoyaltiesSunToucher 1 09-03 03:55
To hester: So sorrySunToucher 1 09-03 03:52
To Helkoryo: JugSunToucher 1 09-02 08:53
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Critiques [Translate]

Good morning Niek

Wonderful capture here, I really like the lighting and soft colours.Nice depth to give different sharpness and well matched framing. If I might just mention I think I would have prefered not to have teh jug cropped on the right hand side but far be it for me to criticise your work my friend as I am just beginner.

Excecellent and informative notes.

TFS regards Helen

Wow, as a "scotch" drinker this is a very intriguing shot.(Since I hail from North America, "whiskey" is the general category, "scotch" [from barley] is the whiskey from the UK, "bourbon" [from corn] is from the US, and "rye" [from rye] is from Canada). I love the quality of light here -- it just seems to be a bit hazy (but maybe that's just what the shot evokes in me)! With regard to cropping, I would crop out the two things on the wall (just above the chair) to focus on the stuff at hand. Now, I better have a one... :-)
Mike
P.S. I hope you get royalties from Aberlour!

..and you didn't invite me?

Wonderful lighting Niek and nice composition. DOF and POV are both very effective in this shot.

Cheers!

Karan

  • Great 
  • Beger Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3046 W: 568 N: 3415] (15131)
  • [2007-09-02 12:06]

Hi Niek,
Beautiful capture of this interesting visit! Excellent DOF giving a great clarity on glasses in foreground and good blurred BG. I like the warm tones which point out the warm taste of whisky. Very well done! Annie

Heavy night Niek?lol

great colours and tones with this shot as well as excellent sharpness, still life isnt my forte but composition looks good to me.


Dean

Hi Niek,
You have a perfect eye for detail my friend! Excellent seen and under difficult light circumstances (and respective camera settings) an attractive image with warm colours and bright lighting on the glasses. Superb posting Niels!
TFS
Hans

Hi Niek,

Lovely capture!! Perfect usage of lighting and I like the shallow DOF. Nice colors and sharpness. TFS.

Kiran.

Hello Niek,
A lovely collection!
Fine effect from lighting, well framed with excellent details!
Greetings,
Pablo -

Hi Niek!
Wonderful idea and superb picture!
I very like colours and lighting here!
Regards!
Yuri

Nice image Niek, like the way you have focused on the centre of the
photo with the short depth of field. Also the warm brownish colours
are eye pleasing and give a certain relaxing mood to the presentation.

Paul

Wonderful tones here Niek! It's amazing how photographers often take pics of the same thing, even though we've never met, not even in the same country! I took a pic similar to this a while back...a row of glasses on a bar...I love the clarity here! Very nice DOF too!
Linda
I'll be back..............B-)

Great stuff! I was a member of the Robert Burns Club for many years. They have a great cottage here in Atlanta. A duplicate of Burns birthplace in Scotland. I hosted a single malt tasting once and explained the transition to the word "whisky", which I said usually took place over the period of the evening. :-)

Your great image brings back fond memories. Well done.

TFS!
Reid

  •      
  • pdp Gold Star Critiquer [C: 116 W: 39 N: 123] (538)
  • [2007-09-17 3:26]

Hello Niek, I really like this shot. It makes me feel that whisky warmth just looking at it. I like the tones here and the exposure. It's great as it is but if I have to suggest somethign it would be to crop a little from the top - just above the chair back. Nice work!

Well I didn't expect to get a lesson on whisky, or whiskies or whiskey or whiskeys or whatever but thanks!!

I'll say it again... you do have a knack for this intimate type of shots. Super lighting!

TFS
Evelynn : )

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3366 W: 284 N: 6438] (23896)
  • [2007-10-22 4:33]

Delightful composition!
Glass is SO hard to photograph well and you have done a super fine job here
Great colours and composition!
TFS
silke
P.S. I owe you big time for your kind assistance with my missing Adobe font package!!!
:D OK

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