Our good friends at Birkentree recently invited us up to the Cardney Estate, near Dunkeld in Perthshire to have a look at how they harvest their very special birch sap.
For the last few years this ancient tradition of tapping birch trees for it's rich elixir water has been re vitalised and is growing commercially as a perfect mixer with Scotch Whisky.
Birkentree is the old Scottish word for birch tree water, Traditionally done in other Nordic countries and Europe, Scotland hasn't tapped trees commercially for 100 years.
Here, Rob Glamp, Co-founder, describes the process in the perthshire woods.
Birch tree tapping has a rich history in Europe, dating back to ancient times. It has been used for medicinal purposes, as a source of food and drink, and as a cultural tradition.
In Finland, birch sap was used to treat various ailments, including stomach problems and joint pain. In Russia, it was used to cure colds and other respiratory problems. The practice of birch tree tapping was also documented in the works of the famous Greek physician, Dioscorides, who lived in the first century AD.
Today the practice of birch tree tapping is still alive in many parts of Europe but only recently in Scotland with Rob and Gabriella's foresight, It continues to evolve as new technologies and techniques are developed. Whether used for its health benefits or as a culinary ingredient like adding as the perfect mixer for whisky, birch sap remains an important part of European heritage..
Try mixing Birkentree water with our own range of Whiskies available online.