The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s once members-only venue at 28 Queen Street in capital to permanently open to public 

Once accessible to members only, the spectacular treasure trove of whiskies at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s venue at 28 Queen Street, Edinburgh will now be permanently open to everyone.

The elegant Georgian townhouse in the capital’s New Town is home to the UK’s largest collection of single cask whiskies and will now be a must-visit destination for local whisky fans, and visiting spirits enthusiasts from all over the world.

The Society is an award-winning whisky bottler and international membership club which each month releases more than 20 single cask whiskies. Since it was founded in 1983 in Edinburgh, it has bottled whisky from more than 130 different distilleries in Scotland and around the world, in addition to other spirits such as rum and Bourbon.

Opening 28 Queen Street to all: 

The 28 Queen Street venue has previously been open to non-members on a temporary trial basis – these trials proved so successful that it will now be permanently open for everyone to discover the largest collection of single malt whisky in the UK. Non members will now be able to use the bar and sample exclusive drams – though only members can buy bottles of Society whisky.

The Society’s other venue in Edinburgh, The Vaults in Leith, will continue to operate as a members-only venue – as will its venue in London at 19 Greville Street in Farringdon.

28 Queen Street, which first opened in May 2004, is a an elegant Georgian townhouse spread across 4 floors – it comprises of:

• A whisky bar on the first floor with an unrivalled selection of malts
• The Dining Room restaurant on the ground floor
• Event and meeting spaces on the second and third floors

Paul Miles, Managing Director of The Society, said: “Members have already discovered the joys of the Society and opening 28 Queen Street permanently for everyone is a great opportunity for others to enjoy the unrivalled array of whisky we have on offer.”

“These are very exciting times for the whisky industry and the Society. With exceptional new whiskies and other spirits released monthly, there has never been a better time to visit 28 Queen Street or join the Society.”

Opening plans – 12 Tub Cinema Club:

The Society is celebrating opening its 28 Queen Street venue to all by staging the 12 Tub Cinema Club, a series of intimate film screenings served with a range of 12 specially created whisky ice creams, called ‘Ice Dream Drams’.

Each of the classic films showing at the 12 Tub Cinema Club from Friday 19^th June to Saturday 11 July will have a whisky link, such as The Angels’ Share and Whisky Galore. Guests can take their pick from the Society’s menu of ‘Ice Dream Drams’, 12 flavours of whisky ice cream created in collaboration with renowned Edinburgh ice cream makers, S Luca.

The ice creams reflect the Society’s flavour-based approach to whisky. The Society categorises its whiskies by flavour, rather than by conventional whisky regions, using 12 unique whisky flavour profiles such as Oily & Coastal; Spicy & Sweet; and Young & Spritely. The ice creams include:

• Maple Bacon Crunch – sweet syrup and smoky bacon flavours combined with Peated whisky
• Banana-Dram-A – banana and marshmallow ice cream made with a Sweet, Fruity and Mellow whisky

http://www.smws.co.uk/ 

The 12 Tub Cinema Club will run from Friday 19 July – Sat 11 July at 28 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 1JX

http://www.smws.co.uk/12tubcinemaclub   

Tickets £5 includes film plus 1 serving of whisky ice cream and whisky

Photo Credit Phil Wilkinson