It’s been a while, far too long since I have updated this blog. I’m probably only slightly better at posting pictures on Instagram ( @brakspearceramics ), and need to be more regular in my postings here. I become very obsessed by what’s going on in the workshop; all the different clays I am working with (across several projects – Islay, Leamington Spa, Clee Hill again), and glaze ingredients. Apologies for this. But now there is important news to share – which will follow over the next few posts.

In previous posts, I was tending towards naming my whisky tumblers craggan – following my archaeological investigations on-line. However, I have been reliably informed that this is not really an appropriate term to use – craggan generally being larger and more jar like. And so….. as I prepared for the next, important stage in following up this project, and the enthusiasm coming from the wonderful team at Bruichladdich Distillery, I decided to pursue which Scots Gaelic word(s) would be right for these tumblers.

I would like to thanks the staff at Islay Gaelic Centre, who helped me here. They informed me that a small cup, would be a cuach (cuachan in the plural). And from that day forth – that’s what we have calling the whisky tumblers I have been making. I feel that is very important to choose the right word for these pieces, given how much attention I like to put on building a sense of place. And on this point – I have another apology to make…. In many previous posts, I have been using the spelling – whiskey – the Irish / US spelling for the mercurial dram…. I should, of course have been using the correct Scottish spelling – whisky, for the water-of-life or Uisce Beatha. I’ll be sure to get this right henceforth.

You can read more about the project and the connection between Bruichladdich and yours truly on this page within Bruichladdich’s website.

The picture below is courtesy of Kate Hannett of Bruichladdich – thanks Kate!