WHISKY KNOWLEDGE
Focus on
Flavour
Ever wanted to take your love for whisky to the next level? Whether you’re a complete novice or a veteran member who’s keen to learn more, the Society’s Focus on Flavour education pack could be for you, as Duncan Gorman writes
PHOTOS: MIKE WILKINSON
ABOVE: Each Focus on Flavour education pack comes with four 50ml whiskies to taste as you work your way through the course
Whisky lovers can take all sorts of different forms. Many have meticulous approaches that become almost ritualistic in preparing drams the only way they see fit.
Others are more relaxed, and are happy to share a few measures with some friends. But there’s one thing that almost all of us are keen to understand, and that’s what is actually in our glass.
If you’re new to The Scotch Malt Whisky Society then you might have recently learned what makes us so special – most of our whiskies are cask strength, single cask, and un-chillfiltered. But arguably most important of all is the immense variety on offer.
With more than 20 one-of-a kind bottles released every single month in the UK, you’ll be hard placed trying to find anywhere else that offers such a wide selection of flavours in their whisky. But how is it that a drink, that by law can only be made using malted barley, water and yeast, can offer so many distinct expressions, and each one entirely unique?
Trying to fully understand every aspect that contributes to a whisky’s flavour can be a bit daunting and is somewhat of a never-ending cycle as the industry continues to evolve. But by understanding a few fundamental areas in the production process, you’ll be taken a long way towards a more rounded appreciation of the singularity of each Society whisky.
That’s why The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has created a whisky-first approach to uncovering the magic inside your glass. Our Focus on Flavour education course is a one-hour online programme designed to teach you everything you need to know about the flavours in your whisky and where they come from. This way you can learn about every step of the whisky creation process, in your own time, in your own home, and most importantly alongside four cracking Society drams!
Each pack comes with four 50ml whiskies and upon completion will leave you with a fully accredited digital certificate. The course was formed in partnership with The Edinburgh Whisky Academy and will take you through a series of videos telling you everything you need to know about flavour creation. So, grab your Focus on Flavour pack today and walk away with a deeper understanding and enjoyment of whisky!
Check your local branch for availability of our Focus on Flavour pack, and if it isn’t already on offer, look out for it in the course of 2025