Sauna, swim and slàinte
As The Scotch Malt Whisky Society continues its 40th anniversary celebrations as a maverick whisky club, we’re on a mission to uncover alternative ways to bring our drams to life. With that in mind, the Society’s Duncan Gorman experimented with some steam, a swim and a campfire to put our adventurous members’ senses to the test. Read up on Duncan’s reflections over this outlandish tasting below, or get a glimpse of what the evening looked like first hand on the Society’s YouTube channel
PHOTOS: MIKE WILKINSON
ABOVE: SMWS maverick members from left to right, Andrew Little, Lyndsay Murphy, Calum Russell and Jemma Porter
Enjoying whisky is all about the senses, and analysing the aromas and flavours within our glasses is a treasured ritual to many. But why stop at merely nosing and sipping – what more enjoyment can we stretch from our beloved golden spirit?
On a warm summer’s evening, as the sun began to set on Portobello beach, four adventurous Society members arrived to find out. Straying from the comfort of our living rooms with an open mind, Jemma, Andrew, Calum and Lindsay delved into a world of extreme temperatures, testing our senses and stretching the boundaries of whisky indulgence.
FEEL THE HEAT
To begin with we ramped up the heat, huddling into a scorching hot woodfired sauna, courtesy of Kirsty from Soul Water Sauna. Handily positioned right on the beach front, we watched the dark orange glimmers cast over the ocean as the temperature began to rise.
Saunas often go hand in hand with various scents because the humidity enhances your sense of smell, with many practising aromatherapies through essential oils and diffusers. Kirsty added water to the hot coals, bellowing out steam and making the temperature soar. It was time to experience our first whisky of the evening, Cask No. 58.53: Tropically total taste. At 58.1% abv, this 14-year-old Speyside was matured in a first fill ex-bourbon barrel, with the Tasting Panel finding lots of vibrant fruity flavours.
But we weren’t going to drink it – well, not yet at least. In the name of science, we decanted a small measure of this Sweet, Fruity & Mellow whisky into a spray bottle to experiment with its reaction with the steam.
With our eyes closed and our senses heightened, Kirsty sprayed the whisky around the sauna and enticing wafts of fruit and flora began emerging.
It wasn’t long before our jaws dropped in amazement at the intensity and clarity of the notes we could smell.
Calum was amazed as his nose filled with robust notes of dark cherries, so potent he could almost taste them.Lindsay agreed, this was a completely unique and relaxing way to interact with the whisky, unlike anything she’d tried before. Basking in the sweet, scintillating steam, myself, Andrew and Jemma soaked in other fruity notes like juicy peaches and plums.
As someone with a questionable palate and an underwhelming nose, it was an incredible sensation to be able to define such robust notes from the spirit so easily.
TAKING THE PLUNGE
Sufficiently boiled within an inch of our lives it was time to cool down, which called for a cold plunge in the North Sea. Instantly refreshed, the cool water unleashed a new sense of energy in all of us. With a beautiful sunset across the Firth of Forth, this was a truly special moment to share with our maverick members, and experiencing a tasting in such unusual circumstances drew us closer.
After a reinvigorating stint bonding over some frolicking in the ocean, it was finally time to get a proper taste of Tropically total taste. The first thing we all seemed to feel before I’d even poured a dram was how exhilarated and refreshed we all were.
Cobwebs well and truly cleared, it felt as though a weight had been lifted and the experience suddenly felt much more intimate and personal. I poured out some drams as the waves crashed behind us and we soaked in this stunning summer night. As you could imagine, the dram went down a treat, with intensely sweet flavours bringing a range of robust fruits to the palate.
There’s certainly something to be said for the feeling of tranquillity and simplicity that came from the sauna and plunge – it stripped all the noise away and allowed us to focus purely on the sensation of flavours in the whisky. A completely unique way to experience the same spirit from the wafting scents of the sauna, but magically more engaging than what you’d expect sitting on a sofa.
CAMPFIRE SMOKE AND SUNSET
Dried off, we sat on the sand and warmed by a smouldering fire as the sky faded through its final shades of pink before nightfall. The experience (or the single cask whisky) had certainly drawn us all closer and we shared laughs and stories around the campfire.
To round off the evening, we broke out Cask No. 108.70: Smoky Bloody Mary. At 11-years old, this Lightly Peated Speyside had aged in a second fill ex-bourbon barrel and was the perfect dram to match the hints of smoke emerging from the mesmerising glowing embers of our fire.
This pairing needs no explanation – enjoying a dram by a campfire is a combination as old as time, but along with a cracking sunset, some new pals and the refreshing reset of a sauna and plunge, this was pure bliss.
“This experience reminded me of how beautiful life can be. It made me think, why don't I do this more often?” said Jemma. “Frolicking in the sea, a driftwood fire, fantastic company – and excellent whisky. It was a great way to take us out of our comfort zone and remind us that life is what you make it. My word of advice to anyone wanting to try something different is to go for it. Life is short, don’t let fear hold you back from moments of outrageous joy.”
Although the evening had certainly added more value to the whisky in taste and smell, the experience was also entirely remarkable in a way that words cannot quite describe.
Trying something out of the norm, with complete strangers, watching an incredible sunset, rounded off with world class whisky made the feeling among us unanimous – this was a tasting and experience that would live long in the memory.
ABOVE: our maverick members raise a glass to their tasting with a difference on Portobello beach in Edinburgh