Let’s do this!
For this year’s Gathering we’re going global, as we attempt to achieve an official Guinness World Record by bringing members together for the largest ever online tasting event. Here’s everything you need to know to be part of whisky-drinking history!
As we celebrate the Gathering and our 40th anniversary, we’re going bigger than ever this September as we attempt to achieve a Guinness World Record for the largest ever online whisky tasting.
On Saturday, 30 September 2023 at 2pm BST, we’ll unite SMWS members from around the world in a very special 45-minute three-dram tasting.
The worldwide tasting will include members from the UK and EU along with the United States, China, Canada, South Africa, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, Denmark, Switzerland, New Zealand, Mexico, Taiwan and Korea all joining in.
Our own Mads Schmoll will host, with SMWS master ambassador John McCheyne leading the first dram. We’ll then pass things over to the US with senior director Tom Smith hosting the second dram. For dram number three we’ll head to Australia with SMWS Australia director Matt Bailey.
The tasting includes three drams shared simultaneously with up to 1,250 members around the world:
- Cask No. 55.78: What a spread! is a 13-year-old Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits whisky from the Highlands. At 59.2% abv it came from a first fill ex-Pedro Ximenez hogshead.
- Cask No. 39.244: Tutti Frutti in a wooden bowl (Bottled in the US as Sunshine in a wooden bowl) is an 11-year-old whisky from Speyside. The Juicy, Oak & Vanilla whisky came from a first fill ex-bourbon barrel.
- Batch 15: Smokus Fruticosus is a peated blended malt whisky comprised of malt whiskies from the islands of Islay & Orkney. The whisky is 10-years-old and bottled at 50% abv.
Are you ready to be a part of the world’s largest online tasting? Head here to get your pack.
Already have your tasting pack? Make sure you register it and then take a look at the rules. You’ll find the details of these here along with a link to the tasting mat.
See you online on Saturday, 30 September – and let’s make (record-breaking) history together!