Society news

It depends on who you ask, but a general consensus says that somewhere between 60 and 80 per cent of the character of the whisky we drink...

The age-old solera system is fundamental to the world of sherry production, with an intricate process designed to ensure a consistent and...

SCOTCH & SHERRY Meet the sherry masters The Scotch Malt Whisky Society works with a range of cooperages and bodegas in Spain to source...

Having produced malt spirit destined to become whisky, there is then the little matter of having to wait three years for it to achieve...

Ever stuck your head in a washback on a distillery tour? The powerful reactions taking place are crucial in transforming the wort into...

Once a distillery has decided what variety of barley it will be using, the humble grain has to be malted before it can germinate and...

A whisky’s final flavour can come from various parts of the production process, and the character of the spirit still – and how it is...

The stillhouse is the beating heart of every distillery, the glamorous showpiece every visitor wants to see. This is what all the...

FLAVOUR FOCUS Do the mash At its most basic, the process of mashing involves mixing ground malt – known as grist – with hot water to...

So what is sherry? There’s a lot to learn when you start your whisky journey. But sometimes you have to broaden your horizons and dive...

MAVERICK MOMENTS : MORE THAN A NUMBER Whisky is a matter of great ingredients, know-how and patience. But is it only worth bottling after...

Traditional values As we’ve established, when you add 100 Scotch bonnet chilli peppers to a cask of whisky, Scotch Whisky Association...

Ever wondered why Scotch whisky has to be matured for a minimum of three years? Gavin D Smith reveals how the stipulation came to be...

MAIN PHOTOS : PETER SANDGROUND Throughout 2024, we're going to be looking at the origins of flavors in our whisky, from the very...

Our ability to experience, or enjoy, certain tastes is dependent on various factors, finds Tom Bruce-Gardyne. But whatever our...

A question of casks WORDS: GAVIN D. SMITH We all know how important wood is to the ultimate character of the whisky we drink, and from a...

It’s 40 years since The Scotch Malt Whisky Society launched its first bottling list, with an 8-year-old Glenfarclas ‘matured in sherry...

THE KNOWLEDGE : When two become one The Society’s Spirits Team are all about experimentation, with a view to providing members a constant...

The rough and the smooth There’s nothing quite like the mouthfeel of an undiluted, un-chillfiltered Society single malt on the palate,...

If you’re new to cask strength Society bottlings, the alcohol burn you experience when nosing and tasting can come as a bit of a...