A BBC programme has filmed an unusual biofuel experiment on the whisky island of Islay.
TV’s wine expert, Oz Clarke, and Top Gear’s, James May, attempted to run a high-performance racing car on a special distillation of Bruichladdich single malt whisky.
The presenters were filming for Oz and James’ Great British Adventure, the third series, that follows on from their educational wine tours in French and Californian vineyards.
A 150 mph Radical SR4 racing car from Radical Sportscars, the Peterborough-based manufacturer, was selected for the test. The engine was not modified in anyway at all.
Bruichladdich’s unique quadruple-distilled X4 Islay Spirit was first tasted by wine & spirit expert Oz Clarke for proof before three litres were filled in to the car’s fuel tank.
Using an Atlantic shore road closed to traffic by the island’s 5 policemen – cleared of sheep and cattle – the racing car achieved a hair-raising 0-60 in 3.5 seconds over four runs.
“The exhaust smells much better than petrol,” said Duncan MacGillivray, Bruichladdich distillery manager. “Sure, it’s a sustainable biofuel; but at £26 a litre, the Duty and VAT isn’t!
“Fuel here is £1.50 – £1.60 a litre – so it’s not a viable alternative just yet. The police even tried to breathalyse the car but fortunately they had the wrong type of tester.”
Notes for Editors:
http://www.radicalsportscars.com/range/sr4/sr4.php
The Radical’s 1500cc engine generates 205 bhp. The X4 Islay spirit in an unmodified engine generated only 5 bhp less.
For images: michael@bruichladdich.com
Oz and James’ Great British Adventure will be broadcast later this year on BBC2.
X4 Islay spirit, the purest single malt in Scotland, is uniquely four times distilled in pot stills. Single malt whisky is usually double distilled.
X4, or any newly made spirit, cannot be called whisky until it is matured in oak casks in Scotland for three years.
X4 Islay spirit was first distilled at Bruichladdich distillery at 92% ABV in 2006 and is maturing in casks. The clear spirit used in this experiment was distilled in spring 2008. X4 Distillation details: http://www.bruichladdich.com/trade/press_quad.htm
X4 Islay spirit already maturing in new oak casks has taken on surprisingly deep dark colours and evocative flavours of cinnamon and spices thanks to it’s purity and strength.
A small release of X4 will be bottled in the autumn at 55 per cent ABV.
Standard whisky would damage a car’s engine and management system and should not in any way be used to replicate this experiment.
Youtube film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgoVTv8cEXg
PRESS RELEASE issued by Mark Reynier at Bruichladdich. You too can post media releases (aka story ideas for journalists) on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.
Contact: Mark
Phone: 7799346137
Email: mark@bruichladdich.com
Website: http://www.bruichladdich.com
