The Scotch Malt Whisky Society UK

Where does your whisky take you?

Today we're throwing it back to last year when we hosted a series of maverick tastings with members to explore the senses. In this particular tasting we combined pygmy goats, pilates and whisky to uncover how different environments can affect your appreciation of a dram.

Head straight over to our YouTube channel to watch the video: https://smws.io/c1752e

Please drink responsibly.

If you're heading to Edinburgh for the Fringe, make sure you come and say hello! 👋

From August, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Queen Street will be hosting a whisky drop-in session every day from Tuesday through to Sunday at 1pm.

Join us and dive into the extraordinary world of our whiskies. Our ambassadors will be there to help as you select five sample drams to enjoy.

Tickets are available from The Fringe website: https://smws.io/3df934

“We embrace the fact that Texas is a partner in what we’re doing. For instance, it’s around 90°F (32°C) in Waco today, yesterday it was nearer 50°F (10°C)," says Gabe RiCharde, spirits manager at Balcones. "Of course, that will mean a fluctuation in where we cut our spirit. We don’t have a sensor or thermometer to work out our cuts, we gauge them ourselves with our noses and mouths."

Find out more about our distilling partner Balcones in this month's issue of Unfiltered as Society brand ambassador Lee ‘Connas’ Connor heads to Waco, Texas.

As we head towards the end of the month, we're jumping over to Mexico to visit partner bar One Pound Terraza in Mexico City. The bar is a visual homage to British culture, designed meticulously by Luis Lopez Morton and his wife Inés.

🥃 In addition to SMWS bottles, there are around 78 different bottles of whisky on offer.

🖌️The decor features original artworks by both renowned and emerging UK artists and quirky auction finds. The two-level restaurant is bathed in natural light, with the first-floor housing a wine cellar and dining area while the second level has a terrace.

🍸You can choose from one of 16 signature cocktails prepared table-side on a repurposed British Airways trolley.

Read more about One Pound Terraza in the July issue of Unfiltered.

Did you know the Society has a home in Mexico? Head to The Scotch Malt Whisky Society México to find out more.

Are you coming to see us this summer? Our Members' Rooms have some incredible events on in August. Book your tickets now!

Tuesday 13 August - Worthy Park Rum Tasting, London Greville Street
Friday 16 & Friday 23 August - Drag me to the whisky, an evening with Ivy at Queen Street in Edinburgh
Thursday 22 August - La Masa Taco Bar tasting, Glasgow
Tuesday 27 August - Dramaste: A journey through the senses at The Vaults in Leith

🎫Book your place at these tastings and more here: https://smws.io/96fd40

Where does your whisky take you? Sometimes it's just great being at home. Our own Mads was inspired by Cask No. 95.104: To accompany gardening or sketching.

"After getting to try some of this month's Outturn whiskies with Richard in the Outturn podcast, I knew this was the perfect dram for soaking up a rare bit of sun at the end of the day. Gardening, like whisky requires plenty of patience. And when both are complete, the garden provides the perfect space to reflect on this oh-so-summery dram."

Where does your whisky take you? Share your whisky destination using .

Please drink responsibly.

The SMWS are headed to Germany next month for a roadshow with Society legends Olaf Meier and Andrew Park.

The duo will bring the spirit of the Vaults to six German cities. Expect loads of incredible whisky stories from Olaf's last 20 years and at least 15 different bottlings - not to mention a few surprises. The ticket price includes five drams, with the option to purchase additional drams. There will also be a bottle shop.

Sound good? Here are the dates:

• 27 August, Düsseldorf
• 28 August, Frankfurt
• 29 August, Stuttgart
• 30 August, Nürnberg
• 31 August, Dresden
• 1 September, Berlin

Head here to book your place: https://smws.io/7e5512

Discover the wild journey of maturation, where oak barrels work their wizardry on whisky. From vanilla dreams to smoky surprises, learn how your favourite flavours come to life. Read more: https://smws.io/211821

Which Edinburgh New Town address played a key part in the formation of the Society?

If you answered 10 Scotland Street, you've been doing your homework!

Next month, author Leslie Hills will be joined by fellow writer Val McDermid to talk about her book, 10 Scotland Street at the Edinburgh International Bookfest. The book follows the history of the house over the course of two centuries and includes an intriguing connection with The Vaults in Leith.

Head to the Edinburgh International Bookfest to get your tickets, or book your place to watch online. The event takes place at 10.30am on Friday 16 Aug at EFI Venue T.

Read the Unfiltered story from Issue 88 here: https://smws.io/e000f8

Where does your whisky take you? Here's what Gavin from our SMWS HQ team had to say...

"I travelled to Silverstone with some of my family for the 2024 British Grand Prix.

I'd seen this bottle advertised in the April Outturn and knew I had to get a bottle for the event, seemed rude not to. It was an excellent accompaniment for the weekend, especially back at the campsite and in the grandstands at the track. It was occasionally hard to know where the smell from the track ended and the whisky began.

We all had a fantastic weekend, with an excellent race amidst an ever unpredictable British "Summer's" day. A big congratulations to Lewis Hamilton for an incredible win - what a competitor, but alas, a less-than-brilliant day for my beloved Ferrari. Thankfully, that's where Hamilton is heading next year!"

Where does your whisky take you? Share your destination with the hashtag

Please drink responsibly.

Head to Johannesburg with the SMWS in this month's Unfiltered. Whether you’re a whisky newbie or a seasoned sipper, there’s something for everyone. Expect rare finds, fascinating stories, and plenty of good times. Whisky lovers, this is your moment - don’t miss out.

Read the story: https://smws.io/b7e908

📍 SMWS South Africa Sin+Tax WhiskyBrother Bar & Marble Johannesburg

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society London at Greville Street is turning 25, and we’re ready to party! From epic tastings to hilarious stories, this place has seen it all. Curious about what makes it legendary? Dive into the new issue of Unfiltered and join the uproarious celebrations at Greville Street.

Read the story here: https://smws.io/8072db

Get ready to raise a glass this summer as we celebrate our Members' Rooms with a special selection of whiskies - each carefully chosen to embody the spirit of each location and its team. As a cherry on top, we have an exquisite fifth bottling that pays tribute to the spirit of all our venues.

Join us for a series of exclusive tastings at our Members' Rooms to try all five of these extraordinary whiskies:

- The Scotch Malt Whisky Society London - Wednesday 10 July
- The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Glasgow - Thursday 18 July
- The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Queen Street - Thursday 25 July

In addition to your local exclusive, we'll have a limited stock of each exclusive bottling at all of our Members' Rooms for dramming - while they last. Don't miss out on this opportunity to experience these exceptional whiskies as we celebrate our venues. See you there!

Where does your whisky take you? For Unfiltered editor, Richard Goslan the answer is: cycling with a side of spot the distillery! Richard recently spent a weekend cycling the Speyside and Dava Ways. With 106 miles under his belt, it was a celebratory dram of Cask No. 41.173: Flamenco floorboard fantasy when all was said and done.

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Please drink responsibly.

Big news at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults! There’s a new whisky guru in town and he’s ready to shake things up.Get to know the latest member of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society team, whose passion and expertise are sure to make your next dram even more delightful.

This month we're diving into the rich history and unique production process at Catoctin Creek Distillery, the first legal distillery in Loudoun County, Virginia since prohibition. Read on in the latest Unfiltered issue: https://smws.io/54b1bd

📷 Courtesy of Catoctin Creek, Butcher Photography, Firefly Imageworks, Rachel Bradley and David Buchanan

If you want to know how sherry casks are crafted, the SMWS has got you sorted. Join Richard Goslan and Euan Campbell on a journey to Galicia’s oak forests and Andalucía’s cooperages to discover exactly how an oak tree turns into a whisky cask.

Read more in the latest Unfiltered issue.

🎞️ Looking for even more sherry storytelling? Watch our feature documentary Scotch & Sherry: A Flavour Odyssey over on our YouTube channel.

Last but not least, don't forget our Scotch & Sherry Tasting pack which includes three 50ml expertly chosen sherry cask-matured delights: https://smws.io/2d9d29

Where does your whisky take you? Ask Society Ambassador Bob Wenting of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Benelux, and you'll find him on a Tall Ship travelling down the west coast of Scotland - all the while acting as a resident whisky guide. So far the trip has included trips to distilleries 149, 42, 29 and 33. Next stop, Distillery 51!

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Please drink responsibly.

Curious how the SMWS comes up with its playful and eccentric bottle names? Discover the fascinating process in the latest issue of Unfiltered. Read the story here: https://smws.io/ef2832

Unfiltered explores newest Society partner bar, Onyx at Maria Loretto Castle in Austria. Here you'll find 240+ whiskies curated to perfection - including plenty of Society favourites. Read more: https://smws.io/07e3a6

📍Schloss Maria Loretto am Wörthersee
📷 Tanja and Josef Photography & Film

Here's a round-up of what's on at our Members' Rooms this week...

🎵 Live music: Hear it at The Vaults tonight Tuesday 18 June and at Queen Street on Wednesday 19 June. No ticket required.

🥃Guest visits: Whisky & Beer with Kernel Brewery in London (Wednesday 19th) and The Glenturret Distillery in Glasgow at Bath Street (Thursday 20th)

🦪 For the foodies: Meat & Malt at Queen Street (Wednesday 19th) with Champagne, oysters and whisky in Glasgow on Friday 21st.

Book your place now: https://smws.io/1159cb

Raise a glass to dad this Father’s Day! 🥃

Our own Sonia Raineri caught up with several members in the June issue of Unfiltered as they celebrate the joy of whisky and fatherhood, a shared passion across generations. Head to the magazine for the full story.

Pictured:
Shelley Connon and her dad
Jamie Brown
Alistair Whitby and his dad Stephen
Michael Ashley and his granddaughter Elizabeth
Paul Clohosey

Ever wondered what it would be like to explore Scotland's distilleries by bike? In this month's issue regular Unfiltered writer Tom Bruce-Gardyne heads on a two-wheeled Hebridean adventure from Skye to Stornoway.

Read on to learn more about the idea behind Saddle Grape & Grain tours as Tom, Aidan and our own Richard Goslan visit Torabhaig, Raasay and Harris distilleries.

📍Torabhaig Distillery, Isle of Raasay Distillery, The Isle of Harris Distillery

Please drink responsibly.

Last Thursday SMWS members gathered at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults for an evening with Alba Cooperage. The exclusive gathering, led by the all-knowledgeable Jordan McRorie, provided a unique glimpse into the art of cask-making and repairing — an essential part in the creation of fine Scotch whisky.

The evening kicked off with captivating demonstrations by master coopers, who showcased the intricate process of repairing whisky casks. We were enthralled watching the coopers skillfully taking apart and reassembling oak and sherry whisky barrels in just minutes.

Even better, attendees had the rare opportunity to engage in hands-on experience by assembling a barrel themselves

For those who missed the cooperage session, keep an eye on the Society’s event pages for future opportunities. Cheers to the art of cooperage and the exceptional spirits it helps create!

Our Society ambassadors are on the move bringing the Society's exclusive whisky tastings to a city near you every month.

Head to the 'upcoming events' section on our page for all the details on our upcoming stops and how to snag a spot at these coveted tastings.

These tastings are open to members and non-members. 🥃

Raise a Glass this Father’s Day!

Get ready to celebrate Dad in style with our exclusive Father’s Day Tasting Pack. Introducing the “A DRAM GOOD DAD” Whisky Trio – a handpicked selection of single malt whiskies that promises an unforgettable journey through diverse styles and rich flavours.

Each bottle in this trio showcases exceptional craftsmanship, making it the perfect gift for any whisky enthusiast.

Our exclusive Father’s Day offer is available to both members and non-members. To ensure your gift arrives in time for the big day, place your order by June 12th.

Plus, download our Father’s Day digital card to add a personalised message and make your gift extra special.

Make this Father’s Day one to remember!

MEMBER: https://smws.com/a-dram-good-dad/

NON-MEMBER: https://smws.com/a-dram-good-dad-non-member/