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Lagavulin creates ‘world’s first’ drum from Scotch cask

Diageo-owned Lagavulin Distillery has partnered with musical duo The Rhythm and Booze Project to build what is thought to be the world’s first bass drum made from an entire Scotch whisky cask.

The bass drum has been created from a cask used to mature Lagavulin whisky

The Rhythm and Booze Project teamed up with vintage drum specialist Majetone Industries to create the instrument from an ex-Bourbon cask used to mature Lagavulin single malt.

Felipe Schrieberg and Paul Archibald founded The Rhythm and Booze Project in 2018 to “fuse their passion for music, performance, and whisky”.

The drum is built like a Viennese timpani drum. By using the whisky cask for the drum, its resulting sound is said to be “loud, vibrant, deep, and unlike any other instrument of its kind”.

Distillery manager Colin Gordon said: “I have known the band for a few years and similar to myself they share a passion for great music and great whisky.

“Having played the drums since school, I was so excited when Felipe and Paul presented us with this idea.

“We quickly sourced the cask, which had previously held our iconic Islay whisky Lagavulin, and in a short space of time it was transformed into the bass drum.

“I was lucky enough to join the band at Feis Ile 2019 and play along on the drums using the new bass drum.

“It was the perfect way to celebrate the building of the drum and we all agree that it is an excellent musical representation of our whisky, famous worldwide for its signature smoke and robust flavours.”

Schrieberg and Archibald have released a video on YouTube (see below), recounting the drum’s construction and showcasing its sound with a cover version of John Lee Hooker’s classic blues tune Boom Boom.

“The idea for the drum began as a light-hearted chat that we didn’t think would actually happen, but when we asked Colin Gordon about it, he was on board,” said Schrieberg. “We’re delighted and proud of the result. It sounds like thunder.”

The drum is currently on display at the Lagavulin Distillery on Islay.

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