Spring in our step

Is that a little hint of spring in the air? It certainly feels that way at the Society, as we embrace the changing of the seasons, a landmark 150th distillery release and finally a fun use for those unwelcome face masks.

Edinburgh is the perfect place for a whisky-fuelled spring break, so we asked local writer Moa Nilsson to sketch out her ideal 24 hours in the city. From Japan, Janelle Ong tells us how hanami, or cherry blossom viewing parties, are a hugely anticipated part of spring’s arrival in that part of the world – and the perfect excuse for a whisky under the cherry trees.

As we prepare to welcome the 150th whisky distillery into the Society fold – and no, it’s not a Scotch – it felt like a good time to cast our minds back to the various international bottlings we’ve released over the years. The Society has always gone its own way – even when it provoked outrage among some members – and our Aussie ambassador Alex Moores has done a fantastic job of tracing the Society’s global whisky adventures over the years.

Even if you’re a relatively new member, you’ll have figured out that we’ve always liked to do things differently at the SMWS, and that hasn’t changed over the years. Our founder Pip Hills is still coming up with inspired ideas, and his latest was to pour a little whisky on a face mask to find out if it could actually enhance our enjoyment of its aromas. Did it work? You’ll have to read Kami Newton’s feature to find out.

With all that and much more in our March issue, I hope there’s a spring in your step this month.

Cheers,