A Halloween-themed review of an excellent blend from Adelphi Independent Bottlers.
The Gorbals Vampire
“…in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left.”
– Daniel 7:7
Regular readers will be aware that I like to indulge my love for spooky stories at Halloween. In previous years I’ve shared the story of the Devil’s visit to Bowmore and of the Haunting of Ballechin House. I’ve tracked the phantom wolf that prowls Tomatin and gone in search of the beast that stalks Ardbeg. Last year I told a grim tale of murder and grave robbing that culminated in a violent death at Deanston mill. This year, however, I decided to look much closer to home for a little slice of the macabre…
The Adelphi distillery once perched on the southside of the River Clyde in the city of Glasgow. Established in 1825 by Charles and David Gray, it resided in an area of the city known as the Gorbals. The Gorbals was once a successful industrial suburb but in the 1870s, the old village was cleared away to be replaced by modern tenements. The streets became overcrowded and poverty and disease were soon rife. Even to this day, the Gorbals struggles to shake off the undesirable reputation it earned in that period.
The Gorbals was also the backdrop to one of the strangest tales ever to be told of Glasgow. Not far from the site of the old Adelphi distillery, lies a Victorian cemetery known as the Southern Necropolis. On a foggy night in September of 1954, two local children were passing the cemetery when they took fright at a looming figure that skulked among the gravestones. The following day, local school playgrounds were abuzz with rumours of missing children, supposedly kidnapped and murdered by a seven-foot-tall vampire with iron teeth.
No-one is quite sure where the story came from, though curiously, there were tales of an old witch that haunted Glasgow Green called Jenny wi’ the Iron Teeth. Misbehaving children were often threatened with the rhyme…
“Jenny wi’ the Airn Teeth,
Come an tak’ the bairn,
Tak’ him to your den,
Where the bowgie bides,
But first put baith your big teeth,
In his wee plump sides”.
In fear of the Vampire, children were driven into a frenzy. After school they armed themselves with knives and crosses and went with pet dogs to hunt among the gravestones for evidence of the demon. The Necropolis was a queer place at night, however. Shrouded in smog and eerily lit by the fires from the neighbouring iron works, shadows danced and burled in the gloom. Soon panicked calls echoed across the cemetery as various alleged sightings of the beast sparked terror among the young hunters.
Such was the commotion, the Police were called to the scene. Upon arrival, they found the place overrun by hysterical children. Only a typically torrential downpour of freezing Glasgow rain calmed the mob and allowed the police to direct them homeward only for the impressively determined weans to return the following night. Soon the local community was embroiled in a full-blown panic. Parents kept their children indoors and demanded that police guard the graveyard, in case there should be any truth to the tale.
There is, of course, no evidence of the disappearance of any children at the time of the events. Some attribute the children’s behaviour simply to overactive imaginations. Others point the finger at an American Horror comic published in 1953 called “The Vampire with the Iron Teeth”. It’s certainly a handy coincidence that such a title had been produced around the time but little confirmation has been found that any of the children had access to American horror comics.
Nevertheless, local Christians decided that the Comics industry should be held responsible. The Children and Young Persons Harmful Publications Act of 1955 banned the sale of “repulsive or horrible” reading material to children. The same act remains in place today, although somewhat ironically, the tale of the Gorbals Vampire has itself been immortalised as a comic book.
Wandering through the cemetery today, it’s easy to see how the Southern Necropolis could inspire such wild imaginings. Over the years it has fallen into disrepair and the gravestones are cracked, toppled and broken. Memorials to the long dead are buried under moss and vines and overgrown bushes poke jagged fingers outwards, as if trying to snare passers-by. It didn’t help that I visited on an incredibly gloomy day with drizzle in the air and gusting winds stirring the crooked trees. One could be forgiven for imagining oneself on the set of a Hammer Horror picture.
A short distance from the Necropolis is a mural dedicated to the story. It was designed by teenager Ella Bryson with help from the Art Pistol street artists. The mural is located at St Luke’s Place, a mere stone’s throw from Adelphi Street, where the original Adelphi distillery once stood.
Adelphi Private Stock Reserve Review
The Adelphi Private Stock Reserve is a blended Scotch whisky bottled at 57.6%. It retailed between £35 and £40.
Smell: Lots of citrus. Furniture polish. Heather honey. Toffee. Vanilla. Wood smoke and charcoal. Pepper. A splash of water brings forth a maritime character with sea shells and fresh, ocean air.
Taste: The peppery spice is right at the forefront. Then comes some oaky citrus and more toffee. Vanilla and honey. A touch of hazelnut. Caramel. An undercurrent of bonfire smoke throughout. Water tones down the spice and dials up the honey and caramel notes. A wee note of biscuit, right at the finish.
Thoughts: This is a cracker of a dram. A slight lightness of body tells you you’re drinking a blend but the intensity of flavour more than makes up for any slight lack of weight. You really get the feeling some fine whiskies have contributed to its creation.
As time goes by, it develops more of a coastal, almost medicinal character, suggesting, perhaps, an Islay influence. Whatever, the components, though, it has been put together fantastically well. In fact, there are whiskies two or three times the price that fail to meet this standard.
While on the subject of price, an enormous amount of credit must go to Adelphi. Their Ardnamurchan single malt bottlings have been brilliantly affordable and this rather exceptional cask strength blend is an absolute bargain.
Thanks for reading and Happy Hallowe’en.
Neill.
For more on Adelphi visit here.
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