A YEAR TO SAVOUR
The best of times
From new distilleries to small-batch bottlings and a celebration of sherry cask-matured whiskies, 2024 has been a year to remember for members of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, as chief executive Andrew Dane reflects
PHOTOS: MIKE WILKINSON AND PETER SANDGROUND
Whatever else is happening in the world, I’d like to think that there’s one constant – a regular release of outstanding and unique bottlings from The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, with enough variety to satisfy whatever your flavour preferences might be, or even to tempt you to head off in a different direction altogether.
SMALL-BATCH SENSATIONS
Our small-batch ‘Heresy’ range also continues to go from strength to strength, with the creative minds in our Whisky Team excelling themselves this year – from our Irish small-batch blend Shimmering Silk for St Patrick’s Day to Underwater Barbecue, Citrus Reveries, Spanish Splendour, Gastronomic Fusion through to this month’s delicious beer-influenced Spruce on the Loose.
SCOTCH & SHERRY
Another constant from the Society is in the depth and unfailingly high standard of our sherry cask-matured bottlings. If you haven’t seen the documentary we released about Scotch & Sherry, don’t miss out – not only does it explore so many aspects of the synergy between the worlds of Scotland and Spain, it demonstrates the lengths that we go to when it comes to sourcing the best wood, working with the best cooperages and seasoning our casks with the best sherries.
ABOVE: Our small-batch ‘Heresy’ range continues to go from strength to strength, with Gastronomic Fusion and Spruce on the Loose
AWARDS SUCCESS
Whatever I might think about the quality of what we’re doing, it’s always satisfying to receive plaudits from the wider industry, and we’ve had another phenomenal year on the awards front.
In 2024 we picked up a total of 54 new awards for SMWS whiskies across various global competitions, bringing our total since 2018 to 347. That’s a reflection of the incredible consistency in what we offer members, and testament to the amazing work by our Whisky Team – and of course our Tasting Panel – in sourcing and then sampling and approving whatever gets the green light to go into our bottles.
ABOVE: Another Society first, filling bottles on the Isle of Harris
GLOBAL GROWTH
The SMWS was set up more than 40 years ago now to share the love for outstanding whiskies, and we’re so proud that we can now count 40,000 like-minded whisky lovers around the world as members of our club.
I love getting to meet members around the world and our annual Gathering celebrations are a highlight for me, bringing that global membership to life and this year providing me with the chance to meet members from 15 different countries here in Edinburgh, all in one room at the same time. It’s always amazing that despite the huge variety of cultures present, the shared love of whisky never fails to bind everyone together. Our global community continues to grow as well. After the successful addition of our SMWS branches in Korea and Taiwan, we’re now looking forward to welcoming members in Vietnam in 2025.
ABOVE: Assistant venue manager Miguel Treleani welcomes members to the Society’s spiritual home for our Gathering festival
LOOK TO THE FUTURE
Finally, if you haven’t joined our 50th Cask Club yet, the festive season is the perfect time to have a think about owning your very own Society cask – or have a chat with some like-minded friends to chip in together and enjoy monitoring the maturation of your unique cask all the way through to 2033.
Wherever you are, and whoever you’re spending time with this festive season, I hope this finds you well and ready for another year of whisky adventures with the Society. There’s lots more in store and it’s going to be great, Slàinte!
Andrew Dane, Chief Executive
ABOVE: 2024 has been a year to remember for members of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, says chief executive Andrew Dane