Inspired by a never-ending journey

When you explore the world of sherry bodegas, one of the first things you need to get your head around is the concept of the solera system. It’s a kind of never-ending journey of sherry through tiers of casks, where new wine is married with old to preserve a homogenous style that is the ultimate in ‘non-age statements’.

These solera systems date back decades – in the case of our friends at the Ximénez-Spínola bodega, they have one that goes back to 1918 – and will have been in continual use since then, even if the casks have been replaced over time.

In this issue we uncover the world of the sherry triangle’s solera systems, as well as introducing you to how the SMWS Whisky Team has been inspired by their visits to Spain to create our very own solera here in Scotland’s Central Belt.

Sticking with the Spanish theme this month, Julien has his take on the latest small-batch bottling Spanish Splendour, while Duncan dives into the world of quality and variety in the kinds of casks the Society has been bottling from – with a staggering 160 different spirits going into around 100 different wood types in the past year alone.

We also kick off a new series this month where we shine a light on some of Scotland’s lesser-known and somewhat underappreciated distilleries, starting with the rare beast that is Balmenach.

I hope you get to enjoy one of our many Gathering events this month, taking place wherever you happen to be. Drop us a line and let us know how it went!

Enjoy your September,

Cheers,