MAVERICK MOMENTS
What lies ahead
Throughout our 40th anniversary year, Julien Willems has been reflecting on various aspects of our history of doing things differently and following our own path. Here, he takes the opportunity to look ahead to whatever maverick moments could be in store for members as we head towards our half century
There’s a chill in the air. Autumn’s carpets of golden leaves slowly blush to copper and fade to bronze. Sure, it’s easy to give in to nostalgia and long for happier summer days. But as they say, for everything there is a season, and this one stands for contrast in all things.
Days may be at their shortest and often overcast, but even though darkness tightens its grip on northern skies, never in the year will you see so many lights shine after sundown. And how lively are those evenings ushering in the new year? With life beaten back indoors by the bitter weather, togetherness is more than ever the currency of joy, and whisky a comfort shared among friends, with family or with perfect strangers alike.
This year we have chatted about everything from grain whisky to tipples from over the horizon, as we’ve taken stock of some of the Society’s maverick moments. These times the Society surprised, challenged, and yes, maybe ruffled a few feathers, by doing things differently, sometimes bending our own rules, sometimes creating new ones. It has been a delight to reminisce about the last decade and research those times I was not fortunate enough to witness. But as the Society’s life comes full circle a 40th time, nights only draw longer to soon herald in a new dawn.
SHERRY DELIGHTS
So, what unthinkable schemes are we cooking up for the immediate future? Well, I can’t say much about that, but we will be celebrating all things sherry next year, so expect a vast amount of sherried whiskies in their extra-matured and single cask iterations. Indeed, since 2014 the Society has multiplied and strengthened its ties with many bodegas and cooperages in Spain to source the best possible sherry vessels out there. These casks are the cornerstone of our extra maturation programme, that has now fully come into its own. There is more, though: high quality sherry casks also account for a large share of the vessels used for our fillings programme. What does this mean? Well, new-make spirit filled into sherry butts, hogsheads and barriques since 2014 is only now starting to come through. So, there are definitely great times ahead, with this first generation of whiskies we have had control over from beginning to end.
FANTASY WHISKY
Of course, there will be more experiments and fun flavours in our ‘Heresy’ small-batch range eagerly awaiting to see the world from within a clear glass bottle. But ultimately, it’s worth asking people what would really make them smile if it somehow found its way in the Society’s range, as a serious experiment, or just a tongue-in-cheek dig at some more conformist ideas. So, let’s see what some of my colleagues can come up with for their wish list if I put them on the spot. Even if none of these ideas are current projects, it’s still fun to wonder what could be:
Kai Ivalo, Spirits Director: What I would have a great deal of fun with would be putting forward a late 19th century style BLENDED whisky. Yes, you heard me. At least a good 50 per cent of malt and served raw, with no dilution or chill filtration. There would obviously need to be a few Society twists to it. After all, when bringing such an outlandish idea to the home of single malts and single casks, you must be prepared to either go big, or go home.
Euan Campbell, Head of Whisky Creation: I’d love to look at blending whiskies from different countries. Some have done this before, but there are so many options to explore. Imagine a Scotch/US rye blend married in sherry casks, or some other such madness!
Richard Goslan, Unfiltered editor: I’m intrigued by the possibilities of doing a custom distillation here in Scotland that takes inspiration from the renaissance of Ireland’s tradition of ‘pot still whiskey’, made with at least 30 per cent of unmalted barley and distilled twice in the Scottish style. Take a wide cut to capture more of the oils and robust character from the new-make spirit and put it into first fill ex-bourbon barrels – we might be cracking it open and toasting our good health in our 50th year.
Ed Furmston-Evans, Cask Warehouse Planner: It may be a longer-term idea, but I’d like to see us experiment more with filling strength, particularly with lower filling strength and gradual in-cask reduction. There has been lots of experimentation resulting in a gradual trend towards reduced ‘entry proof’ in American whiskey. I think there is a lot of work to be done in this area in Scotland that could deliver some extraordinary results, delivering more flavours to our members.
“I’d love to look at blending whiskies from different countries”
Euan Campbell
As for me, I’d be eager to see an experiment that break the rules for the same reason as I like the ‘Heresy’ small-batch releases: to take a stroll down the path not taken. There’s nothing like pushing the boundaries a bit to learn and discover what’s on the other side, even if it means that despite the highest quality standards, we might not be allowed to call the delicious result ‘whisky’. After all, the rules are the rules and they are often there for a reason, but it doesn’t mean they should not be discussed, debated, or challenged, sometimes. Would it be going too far? Maybe. Maybe there’s no market for it, that’s not how things are done, or maybe it just doesn’t work...
When everything’s said and done, we all know someone who carried on despite all the criticism and started a really fun and special Society 40 years ago.
In a nutshell, time will tell what’s coming our members’ way, but without a doubt, you’ll find 2024 packed with flavours and fun whiskies to share and enjoy. It has been a huge anniversary year, but now’s the time to look to the future. See you on the other side of the new year, and here’s to us turning 41!
ABOVE: The Society’s ‘Heresy’ small-batch release #20 Whisky Baba, which won a Double Gold medal in the 2023 SFWSC