When science meets sorcery

There’s always a slight tension between the scientific approach to whisky – the lab-coated quest to analyse and understand every aspect of what makes a whisky great – and the emotional response, which is more interested in the beauty of the unknown and the flights of fancy that whisky can launch us on.

It’s a fine line, but at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, we celebrate both worlds, as Kami Newton explores in his feature on taking a technical versus an emotional approach to whisky. As a Tasting Panel chair, Kami knows better than most how important it is for the Panel to objectively evaluate a whisky on a serious sensory level – but also to find the words, and a name, that capture the whisky’s essence and can send you on a flavour-inspired journey of the imagination.

If it’s summery wherever you are, we also have some cocktail suggestions this month. And even if it isn’t particularly sunny, with our Flight to Jerez cocktail you can transport yourself to the warmth of Andalucia with some basic ingredients and a measure of Society sherry cask-matured whisky.

Elsewhere, we’re delighted to take you on a Society night out in buzzing Seoul, South Korea, which is now home to four incredible SMWS partner bars and a thriving whisky scene. Get the inside scoop from Bon Kim in the SMWS Seoul team.

We also catch up with SMWS alumnus Georgie Crawford, to find out about her journey from working at the bar at The Vaults to managing the development of Islay’s new Portintruan distillery.

Finally, take a trip Stateside to meet the team at Washington State’s Woodinville distillery, one of the most highly praised craft distillers to come on the scene in recent years.

Enjoy your August,

Cheers,