Podcasts about Scotch Malt Whisky Society

Refer a friend to the Society and earn £50 in vouchers: UK: https://smws.io/wm8 EU: https://smws.io/gzj Become a member of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society: UK: https://smws.io/3gu EU: https://smws.io/mp1 The Scotch Malt Whisky Society wishes its whisky director Kai Ivalo a long and healthy retirement, after 22 years of overseeing our stocks of whisky – along with various other roles with the world's leading whisky club. Before he heads off, Richard Goslan caught up with Kai to reflect on his time with the Society, the changes he's seen and been part of over the past two decades and what he's planning to do with his newfound spare time.

Daniel ist weiterhin Mitglied bei der Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Das freut nicht nur die Society, sondern auch mich. Denn die jährliche Verlägerung geht immer mit einer Flasche Whisky einher. Und genau diesen Whisky hat Danile heute mitgebracht und wir verkosten ihn für euch. Natürlich wieder in Fassstärke, natürlich lecker und natürlich haben wir auch gut die Hintergrundinfos recherchiert. Aber was hat es mit dem Namen auf sich? Tatsächlich genau das, was er verspricht.

Duncan and Calum are back to get stuck into some of the most exciting bottlings being released in this month's Outturn. Tune in to hear the pair get set for Scotland's long-awaited return to a World Cup, switch up their Tasting Notes, and uncork a whisky with breathtaking colour.

The MAFFEO DRINKS Podcast is a leading drinks business podcast, listened to in 120 countries worldwide. Not the conference version. Honest conversations about how the industry actually works, from the bar, not the boardroom. This Episode is hosted by Chris Maffeo and brought to you by MAFFEO DRINKS.In this episode, Heather Greene shares her journey from Scotland's Scotch Malt Whisky Society and William Grant & Sons to founding Milam & Greene in Texas, drawn by the chance to explore how the Texas climate shapes bourbon and rye.She discusses what's changed in whiskey: broader, newer audiences and the need to keep “Whiskey 101” welcoming despite online gatekeeping and rigid rules. We talk about blending as a once-taboo trend, climate-driven aging experiments, and a new Provisions bourbon designed for easy, social drinking.Heather Greene recently stepped back from her role as CEO and now sits on the board while consulting for brands as a strategist and Master Blender. The conversation covers the shrinking playbook for craft spirits, the pivot from local-first to national-first out of necessity, how press access becomes survival, and why new consumer waves keep asking the same questions the industry is tired of answering. It's a field-level account of what the drinks ecosystem actually looks like when the wolves come back.Timestamps:00:00 Welcome and Introductions00:26 Heather's Whiskey Journey01:18 Why Texas Whiskey03:12 Whiskey Industry Shifts06:29 Keeping Whiskey Welcoming10:37 Local vs National Strategy19:29 Pandemic Pivot Playbook24:00 No Playbook for Survival26:16 Leading Through Uncertainty27:19 Humility and Curiosity Win27:50 Stepping Down as CEO29:28 Whiskey Planning Horizons31:08 Betting on Blends32:50 Climate-Driven Whiskey34:47 Market Boots On36:58 Social Terroir Explained41:33 Tradition Versus Creativity46:22 House of Whiskeys Strategy47:48 Provisions This Episode is hosted by Chris Maffeo and brought to you by MAFFEO DRINKS. If what we discuss in this episode makes you think about your own commercial situation, I can look at it with you directly with our Commercial X-Ray. Find out more at maffeodrinks.comA Deep-Dive Analysis of This Episode is Available. Celebrate with us our 3rd anniversary with a special 30% off forever at maffeodrinks.com/anniversary  

Refer a friend to the Society and earn £50 in vouchers: UK: https://smws.io/wm8 EU: https://smws.io/gzj Join the Society for £100 a year and your first bottle, worth £70, is on us: UK: https://smws.io/3gu EU: https://smws.io/mp1 This month Calum and Duncan dive in to festival season with five spectacular drams each representing one of the five whisky regions. Tune in to hear the pair discuss whether the regions still have a place in the modern whisky world, unveil some exciting summer bottlings, and get their fill on some scintillating surprises in this months Outturn.

Refer a friend to the Society and earn £50 in vouchers: UK: https://smws.io/wm8 EU: https://smws.io/gzj Become a member of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society: UK: https://smws.io/3gu EU: https://smws.io/mp1 Tune into this episode of the Whisky Talk Podcast as Richard Goslan visits Annandale distillery to meet co-founder Professor David Thomson. Richard finds out about the incredible story of resurrection, renovation and the revival of whisky-making at the site near Dumfries after almost a century.

Refer a friend to the Society and earn £50 in vouchers: UK: https://smws.io/wm8 EU: https://smws.io/gzj Become a member of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society: UK: https://smws.io/3gu EU: https://smws.io/mp1 Settle down and enjoy some quality drams and craic with these three legends of Scottish comedy; Greg Hemphill, Rab Florence, and Michael Hines. Known for their roles in creating iconic Scottish comedies like Still Game, Chewin' the Fat and Burnistoun, there was no shortage of laughs in this episode. This isn't one you want to miss!

This this month Duncan is joined by brand ambassador Francesco Ramella and assistant Queen Street manager Logan Shaw. The trio get stuck into some of the most exciting casks coming out in April and say farewell to Logan as he counts down his final days with the Society.

This month Calum and Duncan are joined by Anna Grahn where the trio uncover our latest Creators Collection, uncork a brand new 'Heresy' release, and get stuck into the Society's third year of partnership with the OurWhisky Foundation.

We're back, and life got realIt has been the lightest recording stretch the show has had in almost ten years. Adam owns the delay and explains why. Since the last episode, baby Mary arrived very early at around 27 weeks and about two pounds. She was baptized immediately, and there is a question about whether she was also confirmed due to the use of holy oils and the circumstances.A few days after birth, Mary underwent an intense and invasive surgery that lasted more than six hours. The surgeon later said it was the hardest operation he had ever performed. The procedure connected her esophagus to her stomach, and the family is now living the day to day reality of the NICU: small adjustments, constant monitoring, and a careful balance with oxygen, blood pressure, heart rate, and long term risks.The charity that is hard to receiveA theme that keeps surfacing is gratitude, and how hard it can be to receive help when you want to be in control. Adam and David thank listeners for prayers, meals, transportation help, and the quiet generosity that shows up when you least expect it.They give a major shoutout to the Ronald McDonald House, which provided a place for the family to stay near the hospital, along with meals and support that would have been financially impossible otherwise. Adam also mentions friends and patrons who opened their homes and brought food. It is a reminder that “village” is not a cliché when your world turns upside down.Also, in the middle of all this, Adam's son Leo drops a classic kid moment at Mass: during a serious homily he leans over and asks when he will get to meet J.B. Mooney, the professional bull rider. Fatherhood keeps you humble.What they're drinkingDavid brings a bottle from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society featuring Royal Brackla. The tasting notes are ridiculous in the best way, described like “dessert in the workshop,” with custard, toffee chunks, marshmallow, and an unexpected “carpenter's shop” vibe. It even has a hint of iodine that makes David think of Islay, without the heavy peat and smoke.A relic in the hotel roomA priest from the diocese drops off a first class relic of St. Gemma, telling Adam to keep it while the family walks through this trial. Adam and David talk about the reality of having the body of a saint in the room with you, and the comfort that brings, especially when the road ahead is long.Lent and temperance: not a “no,” but a “yes”The episode's main topic is temperance, framed as the Lenten virtue that touches everything. The simple kid definition they love is: temperance is having a healthy amount of everything. Not perfect, but memorable.They push back against the idea that temperance is just restriction. Temperance is not merely refusing the extra piece of cake. It is also the positive ordering of your life so you can say yes to the right things at the right time in the right way: exercise, prayer, rest, work, family presence, joy, celebration.The key theme: virtue is always a yes. The “no” exists to protect the “yes.”St. John Cassian and the “bread” of SodomOne of the most interesting turns comes from St. John Cassian's Institutes. Cassian argues that Sodom's first sin was not the obvious sin people associate with Sodom and Gomorrah. He points to Ezekiel and emphasizes surplus, abundance, and gluttony. Cassian's logic is that the disorder starts low and spreads upward: feed the appetite, then the passions grow louder, the will weakens, and eventually the mind rationalizes what it should never have chosen.They connect this to the common sense link between food appetites and sexual appetites. If you cannot curb the basic, you will struggle to curb the...

OurWhisky Foundation is a non-profit organisation that seeks to recognise, support and empower women working in the whisky industry. The Society's Julie Roberts has been both a mentee and mentor for OurWhisky Foundation. She sat down for a catch up at The Vaults with founder Becky Paskin, where the pair sampled our latest release of special bottlings for International Women's Day in support of the programme.

In this episode we're joined by whisky expert and master distiller Brendan McCarron. Having spent time with Diageo, Distell, and Glenmorangie, Brendan has worked with some of the biggest names in Scotch whisky, and is no stranger to us here at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Listen in as he recounts his horrific first dram, offers up a whisky masterclass, and analyses today's industry.

This month love is in the air as Calum and Duncan unpack some of the Society's most scintillating Valentine's Day bottlings. With plenty of cheeky names along the way the pair dive into an unconventional Speyside, a distillery with a staggeringly long fermentation and a popular Islay dram.

This month Calum and Duncan welcome in the new year by covering a great range of Society offerings. They uncloak a lesser-known industry secret with our two new 'Heresy' bottlings, get a taste for life down under with our latest Creators Collection, Fortified, and get stuck into some custom casks from a peculiar distillery.

Ever wake up with that “today is the day” feeling, like you are ready to conquer the world? The guys start there, take a hard left into Pinky and the Brain, and somehow end up pondering what it was like when Christ rose from the dead. From there, it turns into a practical, tradition-packed episode on celebrating Christmas well. Not the Hallmark version, and not the American “Christmas ends on December 26” version either. The kind that actually follows the liturgical calendar, keeps Advent as Advent, and treats Christmas as a season, not a day.Along the way, they review a Taiwanese whiskey from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, talk family customs that make the day feel grounded, and make a strong case for grandfathers and fathers to be the custodians of tradition. One of the best parts is a simple, doable challenge: take the 12 Days of Christmas seriously and mark the feast days with small, intentional practices your family will actually remember.In this episode:The “wake up and conquer the world” mood vs the day Christ resurrectedAdvent vs Christmas, and why our culture gets it backwardsWhy “Merry” used to mean more like blessed than happyMidnight Mass, caroling, real Christmas trees, and reading Luke before presentsA great grandfather tradition: gather the family and speak from the heartGifts for kids: fewer and meaningful vs abundance as a sign of the Father's generosityThe 12 Days of Christmas, and the feast days that stack up fastSt. John's Blessing of Wine and why you should do itA practical idea for the Holy Innocents: dads blessing their children out loudEpiphany water and why you should plan ahead to get it blessedWhiskey for the episode: Taiwanese whiskey (Scotch Malt Whisky Society pick), “Dunker's Delight” style notes, 107 proof, with flavors like caramel and apple pie crust.Challenge for the week: Pick two feast days during the 12 Days of Christmas and do something small but real. Bless your kids, bless wine, invite someone over, go to Mass, or start a tradition worth keeping.

This month Duncan and Calum are joined by the Society's head of whisky creation Euan Campbell where the trio get stuck into all the best drams in the December Outturn. In this Christmas special we embrace the festivities, uncover some unsung heroes, and taste the first bottling to come from the Society's very own solera system.

Wie ihr ja wisst sind wir beide Mitglied bei der Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Und auch Daniel hat seine Mitgliedschaft verlängert und dazu einen guten Tropfen bekommen: Subtle, Innocent & Charm. Natürlich sind wir wieder in Fassstärke unterwegs und freuen uns auf einen leckeren Whisky. Denn: Von der Society haben wir noch nichts im Glas gehabt bei dem wir sagen würden, dass er nicht gut ist. Wie "innocent" ein Whisky in Fassstärke sein kann finden wir also dieses Mal heraus. Viel Spaß beim Hören.

As managing director of The Macallan in the 1970s, Willie Phillips helped to build its reputation at a time when the industry was in the doldrums and the market for single malts was still miniscule. After bringing The Macallan to the world stage, Willie went on to become chairman of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, collecting plenty of stories along the way.

This month Calum and Duncan head out to Edinburgh Whisky Festival where they get stuck in to the biggest Outturn of the year. Tune in to hear them chat with some familiar Society faces, uncover an entirely new cask type and get into the Christmas spirit with the perfect stocking filler.

In this episode Richard Goslan sits down with Pip Hills, the founder of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Pip lost contact with the Society in the 1990s, and didn't rekindle his relationship with the SMWS until Richard tracked him down in 2018. Here the pair reflect on Pip's return to the Society, his health at the age of 85 and how the Society became a force for good with more than 40,000 members across the world.

Global Malts Ambassador for Brown-Forman, Stewart Buchanan stepped into Queen Street earlier this year to talk about his whisky adventures with Mads Schmoll. From his early days on the island of Mull to travelling the world to talk all about all things BenRiach today, he's worked in nearly every part of the industry. Tune in to hear more and watch as Stewart and Mads try The Vaults Collection, Cask No. 12.80: Heaven in a leather hammock.

This month Calum and Duncan are joined by Mads Schmoll to uncover the Society's eight new flavour profiles. Working their way through each of the new profiles, the trio reveal what members can expect from this evolution and shine a light on a new Winter Series.

The banter is back! This week, Brad, Adrian, and Vic are joined by the one and only Matt Bailey from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society — and it's a cracker of an episode. From life in the whisky scene to stories from behind the SMWS casks, the chat dives deep into how the Society continues to champion unique, single-cask expressions and bring whisky lovers together.Matt shares how the world of whisky has shifted, what makes SMWS bottlings so special, and why community and storytelling are still at the heart of great drams. Expect plenty of laughs, a few cheeky digs, and the kind of whisky talk that reminds us why we all fell in love with the spirit in the first place.

Angela D'Orazio is the new Creative Director of Whisky Making at Compass Box. She spent 17 years as master blender at Sweden's Mackmyra Distillery, building a reputation for innovation and creativity. D'Orazio joins us this week on WhiskyCast In-Depth in one of her first interviews since joining Compass Box. In the news, Scottish leaders are hoping this week's UK state visit by U.S. President Donald Trump leads to the end of tariffs on Scotch Whisky imports, the owner of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society and Single Cask Nation reports a drop in sales and memberships, and this year's Van Winkle whiskies are headed to retailers.

This month Calum and Duncan tuck into some unusual cask types, taste whisky from Taiwan and find the perfect introduction to peat. Our latest Creators Collection, Tales of the Worm Tub, transports the duo back in time as they experience a different era of Scotch whisky distillation.

This month Duncan and Calum are joined by Society brand ambassador and member services executive, Francesco Ramella. While finding out what's on offer in the July Outturn, the trio remember their favourite outdoor adventures and discuss Francesco's whisky journey.

This month Calum and Duncan are joined by Logan Shaw, the assistant venue manager at our Queen Street Members' Room. With hip flasks in hand, the three get stuck into this month's Outturn with plenty of adventures, stories and drams along the way.

James Walton, a passionate whiskey connoisseur and the driving force behind PureMalts, joins the conversation to share his deep-seated love for the spirit. PureMalts, as James explains, is dedicated to crafting exceptional, curated whiskey tasting experiences. His personal journey into the world of whisky began with a pivotal Forbes article highlighting the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, an inspiration that led him to a transformative trip to Scotland. Both James and Gavin recount their adventures with the Society, describing the unique locations they explored and the initial hurdles they faced in navigating the intricate language of whisky. Their discussion illuminates the Society's distinctive features, including its vast and diverse selection, the intriguing coded bottles, and the warm, inviting atmosphere. James particularly emphasizes the broader whiskey community's inclusive spirit, where genuine passion and active participation are prized far more than mere expertise or wealth. A significant portion of their conversation is dedicated to cherished memories of remarkable whiskies and tasting sessions. James vividly recalls his first noteworthy encounter with a Laphroaig from the Society, while Gavin shares captivating tales of rare and highly prized bottles. James further details PureMalts' mission, which centers on delivering curated tastings that feature extraordinary, elusive whiskies, designed to create lasting memories and cultivate a sense of fellowship. 

This month Calum and Richard are joined by The Scotch Malt Whisky Society's Anthony Delcros as the trio prepare for this year's whisky festivals. Anthony reveals his own whisky journey while covering all the adventures he has planned to take the Society's tastings off the beaten track at the Speyside, Campbeltown and Islay festivals.

This month Calum and Richard get zen as they're guided through a ‘dramaste' styled tasting by Lucy Connor. Lucy took a day out from her time behind the bar at The Vaults to chat through this year's International Women's Day bottlings, discuss some of her maverick tasting ideas, and share her own whisky journey.

Richard and Calum catch up with Matt Bailey, who recently joined The Scotch Malt Whisky Society's European team as managing director. The trio discuss Tasmanian whisky, psychotic dram decisions and delve into some of the Society bottlings coming out in the UK and Europe in February.

An Expat, Jim Swan, and Outstanding Natural Beauty Dan Szor is an expat, a native of New York City who has found a permanent home in the Cotswolds of England, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with rolling hills, flowers, and fruits. With a background in finance, Dan found whisky as a side passion, one he converted into a full-time role in the early 2010s by starting the Cotswolds Distillery.  In Part 1 of our conversation, Dan and I discuss his inspirations - the hedonistic time in Paris getting exposed to whisky through the Scotch Malt Whisky Society and La Maison du Whisky, the barley revelation, and meeting Jim McEwan, that wizard of whisky whose time at Bruichladdich inspired Dan long before a distillery was in the cards.  There's a lot to talk about on the Cotswolds, so we'll have a part two coming out next week to talk more about the distillery itself and the truly excellent single malts coming out.  Thanks everyone for listening, and thank you to Dan for entering the Whiskey Ring! _________________________________________________________ If you haven't joined the Patreon community yet, please consider doing so at patreon.com/whiskeyinmyweddingring There are 2-3 more spots available at the $25/month bottle share club level.  If you haven't yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to the newsletter on the website.  Cotswolds Distillery Cotswolds Distillery Website Cotswolds Distillery Instagram Cotswolds Distillery Facebook Cotswolds Distillery on Twitter/X Cotswolds Distillery on YouTube Cotswolds Distillery on LinkedIn Thanks to our Presenting Sponsor, BAXUS BAXUS Website BAXUS on Instagram BAXUS on Facebook BAXUS on Twitter/X BAXUS on LinkedIn Thanks to our Lead Sponsor, Black Button Distillery  Black Button Distilling Website Black Button Distilling on Facebook Black Button Distilling on Instagram

Jenna Elie, based in Atlanta Georgia jumped into the whisky industry 8 years ago and started Whisky A Go Girl. Since then Jenna has been featured in film, The Water of Life, worked with spirits brands around the globe, and judged cocktail and spirits competitions. Jenna has also held the role of The National Ambassador for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America for 5 of those years, one of the leading whisky clubs and independent bottlers in the world. Now, she works as the Eastern Brand Development Manager for Shand Import, and continues her consultancy work through Whisky A Go Girl! And a big thank you to this weeks sponsor - Civil Pours - A ready to pour, premium cocktail program that blends the highest quality, proprietary ingredients into shelf stable, top selling cocktails delivered to you in draft-ready kegs. All you do is pour, serve, and savour a seamless experience designed to captivate your customer and smooth your service. To get in touch contact sales@civilpours.com or check the website civilpours.com Links whiskyagogirl.com @whiskyagogirl @sugarrunbar @babylonsistersbar @the_industry_podcast email us: info@theindustrypodcast.club Podcast Artwork by Zak Hannah zakhannah.co

Scotch Malt Whisky Society ambassador and Tasting Panel chairperson Olaf Meier is a fountain of knowledge, driven by a limitless number of whisky stories and a huge passion for the Society and the wider whisky world. Olaf now finds himself celebrating his 20th year representing the Society. Despite having more than two decades of whisky experience, Olaf started his journey with humble beginnings, as Duncan Gorman finds out.

In this episode we're going on a special journey across Spain, to tell the story of whisky and sherry and the wonderful synergy between the two worlds when it comes to sherry cask matured whisky. We travel to the oak forests of Galicia in the far northwest of Spain to take the creation of Spanish oak casks right back to the beginning, in the Cantabrian forest, before heading south to Jerez and the Sherry Triangle, to visit the cooperages and bodegas where the casks are built and then seasoned with different styles of sherry wine.

Regular listeners will know that we are fortunate at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society to welcome representatives from distilleries, who visit us in our Members' Rooms, share some special samples of their whiskies with our members, and give us their insights and knowledge about their distilleries. In March we had a visit to the Vaults by Heemanshu Ashar from Paul John, the pioneering Indian distillery based in Goa on the country's tropical west coast. Before enjoying the tasting, we took the chance to find out more about Paul John distillery, India's whisky journey since independence in 1947 and what tropical maturation brings to this spirit.

Episode Deep-Dive Analysis Available at maffeodrinks.com In Episode 56, I continued the conversation with Georgie Bell, The Heart Cut's co-founder from Ep.55. She has extensive industry experience, having previously worked at Diageo, Bacardi, and the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. We discussed how to explain a product, starting from a liquid, going into taste profile, storytelling, and target occasions. We closed with a dive into the life of a start-up with learnings and course correction to build bottom-up. I hope you will enjoy our chat. Time Stamps 0:00 Intro 0:24 Where Do You Start 4:46 Importance Of Follow Up 7:41 Importance Of Normal Bars 13:05 Importance Of Off-Trade 15:18 When To Wholesale? 17:09 One Bottle, One Case, One Pallet 23:40 Building Demand With Partners 30:56 The Drinks Ecosystem 34:20 Start Up Challenges 47:34 Contact Details 49:19 Outro About The Host: Chris Maffeo About The Guest: Georgie Bell If what we discussed hits home and you want support from us, get in touch at bottomup@maffeodrinks.com or check maffeodrinks.com for the key insights from this episode.

In Episode 56, I continued the conversation with Georgie Bell, The Heart Cut's co-founder from Ep.55. She has extensive industry experience, having previously worked at Diageo, Bacardi, and the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. We discussed how to explain a product, starting from a liquid, going into taste profile, storytelling, and target occasions. We closed with a dive into the life of a start-up with learnings and course correction to build bottom-up. I hope you will enjoy our chat. Time Stamps 0:00 Intro 0:24 Where Do You Start 4:46 Importance Of Follow Up 7:41 Importance Of Normal Bars 13:05 Importance Of Off-Trade 15:18 When To Wholesale? 17:09 One Bottle, One Case, One Pallet 23:40 Building Demand With Partners 30:56 The Drinks Ecosystem 34:20 Start Up Challenges 47:34 Contact Details 49:19 Outro About The Host: Chris Maffeo About The Guest: Georgie Bell

Episode Deep-Dive Analysis Available at maffeodrinks.com In Episode 55, I enjoyed chatting with The Heart Cut's co-founder Georgie Bell. She has extensive industry experience, having previously worked at Diageo, Bacardi, and the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. We discussed how to explain a product, starting from a liquid, going into taste profile, storytelling, and target occasions. We closed with a dive into the life of a start-up with learnings and course correction to build bottom-up. I hope you will enjoy our chat. Time Stamps 0:00 Intro 2:03 Brand or Liquid? 6:43 Social Currency 12:43 Story Telling 23:22 Taste Profile 25:39 Target Consumer Vs Target Occasion 36:35 Women In Whisk(e)y 36:24 Outro About The Host: Chris Maffeo About The Guest: Georgie Bell If what we discussed hits home and you want support from us, get in touch at bottomup@maffeodrinks.com or check maffeodrinks.com for the key insights from this episode.

In Episode 55, I enjoyed chatting with The Heart Cut's co-founder Georgie Bell. She has extensive industry experience, having previously worked at Diageo, Bacardi, and the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. We discussed how to explain a product, starting from a liquid, going into taste profile, storytelling, and target occasions. We closed with a dive into the life of a start-up with learnings and course correction to build bottom-up. I hope you will enjoy our chat. Time Stamps 0:00 Intro 2:03 Brand or Liquid? 6:43 Social Currency 12:43 Story Telling 23:22 Taste Profile 25:39 Target Consumer Vs Target Occasion 36:35 Women In Whisk(e)y 36:24 Outro About The Host: Chris Maffeo About The Guest: Georgie Bell

In this episode, we're taking a deep dive into the flavour journey that takes place every time we uncork a bottle of whisky and then nose and taste it. It's a process that the Tasting Panel at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society goes through with every sample that is presented for possible inclusion in a Society bottling. So we caught up with Tasting Panel chair Kami Newton, to find out more about the different steps on this flavour journey and why we should take time to appreciate the complexities of what's in our glass.

We were fortunate to have a visit from two of the team from Blair Athol distillery to The Vaults in February, for a special tasting of four expressions of Blair Athol whisky, along with a sample of one of the Society's own single cask offerings. Blair Athol distillery manager Derek Younie was joined by Peter Milne from Diageo's Whisky Specialist Team to talk members through the samples and provide insight into the history and working of the distillery, what to expect from Blair Athol's spirit character, and how it works with different casks and forms of maturation.

As a padcost and as padcosters Joshua and Jason always set out to have a fair bit of a focus on independent brands, independent bottlers, and just the independent spirit of the whisky industry in general.  The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is not a distiller and they do not refer to themselves as an independent bottler. Rather, that are a "Society" (and quite easily the largest whisky society on the planet) that bottles whisky specifically for their Society members. It's a different take, for sure, but one of the most successful "different takes" on whisky since its inception some 41 years ago.  Listen in as Joshua and Jason talk with two key people within the SMWS: Kai Ivalo (Spirits Director) and Euan Campbell (Head of Whisky Creation). The conversation a blast, was wide ranging, and supplemented by a new sherry cask speysider.    ...as usual, have a seat, have a pour, and listen in. Unless you're driving. If you're driving, be smart and stay sober but be sure to listen into the conversation! Special thanks to: - Weigh Down for allowing us to use their song "Wooden Monsters" as our theme song - Moana McAuliffe for designing our Podcast Logo - RØDE for making *really* great microphones - Focusrite for making awesome USB receivers - Olympus and Tascam for making fine mobile recording devices - Joshua Hatton for producing and editing

In February, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society paid host to Melanie Stanger from Springbank distillery in Campbeltown, who visited our Members' Room at The Vaults in Leith to tell us more about this legendary distillery and share a few special drams.

Chances are by now you've heard the (amazing!) news that Single Cask Nation has joined the Artisanal Spirits Company family of brands which includes the Scotch Malt Whisky Society & J.G. Thompson. Listen in to hear from (and about) Andrew Dane, CEO of ASC regarding this big news!   ...as usual, have a seat, have a pour, and listen in. Unless you're driving. If you're driving, be smart and stay sober but be sure to listen into the conversation! Special thanks to: - Weigh Down for allowing us to use their song "Wooden Monsters" as our theme song - Moana McAuliffe for designing our Podcast Logo - RØDE for making *really* great microphones - Focusrite for making awesome USB receivers - Olympus and Tascam for making fine mobile recording devices - Joshua Hatton for producing and editing

The week's top story was the sale of the independent bottler Single Cask Nation to the Artisanal Spirits Company, which also owns the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. The two bottlers will co-exist under one corporate umbrella, with SCN founders Joshua Hatton and Jason Johnstone-Yellin remaining in charge. We'll talk with them on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, there's new life planned for a long-closed Speyside distillery and the winners of the 2023 John Barleycorn Awards have been announced. 

The vintage Lagonda belonging to Society founder Pip Hills played an instrumental part in our whisky club's foundation, carrying the first precious cargo of single casks from Speyside back to his Scotland Street home in Edinburgh to share with friends. In 1990, Pip Hills and his brother-in-law Dick Pountain decided to take a road trip to Prague in the Lagonda, to witness Václav Havel's inauguration as president of the Czech Republic. The magazine The Classic Motoring Review subsequently commissioned Pip and Dick to write a piece about the journey – and how Society whisky helped to make it a success. We asked Pip and Dick to tell us that story in their own words.

In this episode of the Vint Podcast,  Billy Galanko and Brady Weller focus in on Scotch whisky and chat with Tom Smith, the Sales and Operations Director for the USA chapter of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. The SMWS is one of the world's premier members clubs joining whisky enthusiasts with deep whisky education and exceptional independent bottlings of exclusive, world-class whiskies. Tom has a wealth of knowledge about whisky both here in the US and abroad and is an ambassador for enthusiasts at every stage of their whisky-drinking journey. With a background in wine, as well as spirits, Tom sheds some light on the exciting world of independent bottling and invites listeners to explore new Scotches through SMWS's select releases. You can learn more about the SMWS at the link below:https://smwsa.com/For more information on the Vint investment platform, please contact us anytime at brady@vint.co or billy@vint.co. The Vint Podcast is brought to you by the Vint Marketplace, your source for the highest quality stock of fine wines and rare whiskies. Visit www.vintmarketplace.com. Cheers!Past Guests Include: William Kelley, Peter Liem, Eric Asimov, Bobby Stuckey, Rajat "Raj" Parr, Erik Segelbaum, André Hueston Mack, Emily Saladino, Konstantin Baum, Landon Patterson, Heather Wibbels, Carlton "CJ" Fowler, Boris Guillome, Christopher Walkey, Danny Jassy, Kristy Wenz, Dan Petroski, Buster Scher, Andrew Nelson, Jane Anson, Tim Irwin, Matt Murphy, Allen Meadows, Altan Insights, Tim Gaiser, Vince Anter, Joel Peterson, Megan O'Connor, Adam Lapierre, Jason Haas, Ken Freeman, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Skyler Weekes, Mary Gorman McAdams, Nick King, Bartholomew Broadbent, Nick Jackson, Dillon Sykes, Mark Bell, David Keck, John Szabo, Channing Frye, Jay Hack Disclaimer: https://vint.co/disclaimer

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is marking its 40th anniversary in 2023, and we'll talk with founder Pip Hills on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. The 82-year-old Hills started the Society as a cask-share scheme with his friends...and their friends...and so on, until now, the Society's membership stands at 37,000 whisky lovers worldwide. In the news, Diageo CEO Ivan Menezes is retiring, Kentucky state lawmakers have passed the barrel tax phaseout bill into law, and Whisky Magazine handed out its annual awards this past week.