THE SCOTCH MALT WHISKY SOCIETY

CELEBRATES HERITAGE WITH WEEK-LONG FESTIVAL IN EDINBURGH  

‘The Gathering’ encourages SMWS members from all over the globe to make the pilgrimage to their spiritual home at The Vaults, Leith 

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) is hosting ‘The Gathering’, a week-long celebration of its Leith origins that will bring members together to discover and share wonderful whisky experiences. The festival is taking place from Monday 2 to Sunday 8 September at The Vaults and other iconic Leith venues.

‘The Gathering’ encapsulates what it means to be a member of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, with a jam-packed week of fun-filled whisky-themed events. Festivities include a fascinating walking tour of Leith’s illustrious whisky history, an exclusive whisky and Leith food pairing, tasting and film screenings at renowned Leith venues, as well as member events in the courtyard of the spiritual home of the Society, The Vaults.

BRINGING MEMBERS TOGETHER WHEREVER THEY ARE IN THE WORLD

The SMWS is now a truly global membership organisation, with members and partner bars across the world. For those who can’t make the journey to Leith, SMWS will share the spirit of The Vaults through an integrated online tasting experience. The Virtual Tasting, hosted by SMWS Master Ambassador John McCheyne, will be screened live from The Vaults to the world via Facebook on Saturday 7 September.

Branches across Europe including Munich, Paris and Stockholm will also be holding The Gathering events at their venues for local members from August 20 to September 21.

CELEBRATING LEITH’S HERITAGE  

The SMWS will celebrate the arts and film that support its unconventional nature with festivities going beyond The Vaults to other iconic Leith venues, with exclusive screenings at the beautiful Leith Theatre, as well as The Biscuit Factory.

The whisky experts have partnered with local producers, including a colourful food pairing with the much-loved Kilted Donuts, who will be pairing five of their sweet and savoury donuts with delicious SMWS whiskies.

Throughout the week, SMWS member and history enthusiast Justine Hazlehurst will be hosting regular walking tours of Leith, getting up close to the area’s intriguing history and whisky heritage.

Jan Damen, Operations Director at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, said: “As a Society, we’re always striving to ensure that our global members feel connected to one another and are able to share their whisky experiences together.

“This is a rare opportunity for our members from all over the world to come together and congregate at The Vaults for a series of unique events. We look forward to welcoming whisky lovers from near and far.”

For details on all the events and to buy tickets, visit: http://bit.ly/2HaaTM6

Notes:

About The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 

• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society was established in Edinburgh in 1983 and now has more than 26,000 members and branches around the world
• The SMWS bottles rare single cask, single malt whisky, and a range of other spirits
• The Society bottles single malts, unique single casks and exclusive blends
• The Society has bottled whisky from more than 138 distilleries from Scotland and beyond
• The Society offers a new batch of around 20 single cask, single malt whiskies every month
• The Society offers a variety of membership packages which can be tailored. Please seehttps://bit.ly/2uqKanT
• For more information about the Society, visithttps://bit.ly/2HHiNyC
• Twitter: @SMWSUK Facebook: @thesmwsuk Instagram: @smws_uk

Gordon’s “A Spirit-ual Experience” Tasting 2019’s Biggest & Best Whisk(e)y & Spirits Event!

Gordon’s is proud to announce ticket sales are underway to our signature spirits walk-around tasting “A Spirit-ual Experience”, taking place on Sunday, September 22nd at Boston’s Artists for Humanity EpiCenter.

Since 2015, Ken Gordon and his world-class whisk(e)y team have hosted A Spirit-ual Experience, one of Massachusetts’ largest in-store spirits tastings, connecting connoisseurs with the world’s best distilleries. For the first time, we are moving A Spirit-ual Experience off-site to Boston’s innovative Artists for Humanity EpiCenter.

This year’s Spirit-ual Experience will feature over 300 of the world’s best spirits including whisk(e)y, tequila, rum, cordials, gin, local distilleries and, of course, Gordon’s Single Barrels!

Guests will enjoy 5 lounge experiences, gourmet food pairing stations, and live music in addition to over 50 tasting tables! Don’t miss this chance to raise a glass to the Distiller’s Art with Gordon’s!

Featured Distilleries/Brands include The Glenlivet, Pernod Ricard, Beam Suntory, Old Pulteney, 375 Park Ave Spirits, Diageo, William Grant & Sons, GHOST Tequila & many more!

Go to gordonswine.com for a full list of participating brands/distilleries and pre-event whisk(e)y dinners & seminars!

Gordon’s “A Spirit-ual Experience” At A Glance:

Date: Sunday, September 22nd from 2-5PM (1PM VIP Entrance) Event Capacity: 400

Location: Artists for Humanity EpiCenter 100 W 2nd St, Boston, MA 02127 Ticket Price: General Admission: $85.00 VIP Admission: $150.00 Ticket Sales Link: https://www.gordonswine.com/event/gordon-s-a-spirit-ual-experience-2019-09-22-18-00-00.html

About Gordon’s Fine Wine & Liquors:

For over 85 years and four generations, Gordon’s has been the leading purveyor of fine wines, spirits and craft beer in New England. We pride ourselves on offering outstanding products at the best prices while maintaining topnotch service.

With a wide range of beverage services such as exclusive email offers, private barrel whiskey selections, corporate events and beverage catering, and a wine storage facility, Gordon’s has proven to be a cutting-edge retailer. Our success has always been built on our ability to form long lasting relationships with our customers.

New Scotch and Bourbon Study & Certification Program Announced

The Council of Whiskey Masters​ in Los Angeles is introducing a dedicated certification program for whiskey. Two separate Level 1 tracks, Certified Scotch Professional (CSP)​ and Certified Bourbon Professional (CBP)​, are now open for student enrollment.

While several organizations have offered credentialing programs for spirits, no specialized and rigorous self study program has been available globally for Scotch or Bourbon, nor for whiskey in general. The market gap to offer a credential program that can gain the same industry trust as the leading wine and sommelier certifications can hereby be filled.

With growing interest for Scotch and Bourbon, beverage professionals and hobbyist can formalize their dedication to whiskey through a demanding study and examination program, from anywhere in the world.

Candidates enrolled in the CSP​ or CBP​ programs (Level 1) receive a detailed 100-page study guide to prepare for the exam. The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions, with an exam time of 1 hour. Passing grade is 80%. Exam dates are offered 4 times a year in local exam centers everywhere in the United States, Europe and Canada. Candidates receive a diploma and a lapel pin upon passing the exam, and may carry the corresponding postnominal after their name.

Passing either Level 1 exam (Scotch track or Bourbon track) allows candidates to register for the comprehensive Certified Whiskey Specialist​ (CWS;​ Level 2) exam, and they can later proceed to the Master of Scotch​ (SM​, Level 3) and Master of Whiskey​ (WM​, Level 4) levels.

Program and registration information, as well as curriculum overview and sample exam questions, can be found at www.WhiskeyMasters.org.

Contact email: Office@ScotchMasters.org

SUMMARY

Master of Whiskey – Study and Certification Program
Level 1: Certified Scotch Professional (CSP)​ OR Certified Bourbon Professional (CBP)
(open for enrollment now)
Level 2: Certified Whiskey Specialist (CWS)
Level 3: Master of Scotch (SM)
Level 4: Master of Whiskey (WM)

Friday August 30th 4-6PM:

Scotch Tasting: GlenAllachie 

Join us for a traditional whisky tasting of GlenAllachie scotch! We’ll have a variety of rare and award-winning releases to try at this expert presented tasting.

Established in Speyside in 1967, GlenAllachie produced blended whiskies under the Chivas Portfolio until 2018. Their single cask, aged releases, and peated blends, have since swept numerous international award competitions, including the 2019 World Whiskies Awards and San Francisco Spirits Challenge.

Click Here to RSVP

Last chance for tickets to our Summer Festival this weekend!

Make your week brighter by joining us at our Summer Festival this Saturday 17th August! With a very special limited single malt release on sale only to ticket holders, incredible live music with King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys headlining, delicious food and our Oustanding Natural Spirits, this is one you don’t want to miss!

We’re down to our last tickets, so get yours now to avoid missing out.

Head to our website via the link below to buy tickets and for more information.

GET YOUR TICKET HERE

Single Malt Tasting: Edradour, Signatory, & Kinahan’s at The Whisky Shop #SFO

Presented by single malt expert Tony Marino, this tasting features lesser-seen distilleries and independent bottlers. We’ll have with new and rare single malts from Edradour, Kinahan’s, and the Signatory Vintage portfolio to try from 11AM-6PM.

Click Here to RSVP

Friday, August 16th 5-7 PM: 

Indian Whiskey: Paul John 

Take a sip of the soul of India! The Great Indian single malt whisky John Paul will be featured at this expert presented tasting.

Distilled in the valley of Goa, India, John Paul whiskey is traditionally made in copper-pot sills without artificial colors, flavours, or chill-filtration. The mash is made from a heritage variety of six row barley, harvested in the foothills of the Himalayas. Paul John’s whiskies have gone on to receive multiple international awards, including Gold from both the World Whisky and Wizards of Whisky Awards.

Click Here to RSVP

WHISKY EXPERTS WELCOME VISITORS TO AUGUST EVENTS 

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society prepare for Edinburgh’s busiest month with an array of experiences 

As Edinburgh welcomes visitors from around the world in August, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) is putting on a number of special events, making it the perfect location for whisky-lovers in the city.

Throughout the month, SMWS are hosting the ultimate Edinburgh Fringe whisky tasting events at their Kaleidoscope venue at 28 Queen Street.

Hauf ‘N’ Hauf

They will also be celebrating the Hauf ‘N’ Hauf, a traditional Scottish serve of a dram and a half-pint, by pairing Society whiskies with specially selected craft beers.

As the world’s leading authority on single cask whiskies, the Society have paired their rare drams with complimentary beers in order to enhance the flavours of both drinks. Their experts will guide drinkers through the best beer pairings for their drams and have created a specially crafted menu of pairings.

The menu includes; ‘Ester Fest’, a Young & Spritely whisky served with a wheat beer to bring out the estery flavours of bananas and pineapples and ‘Sweet Dreams’, an IPA to be enjoyed alongside a Juicy, Oak & Vanilla SMWS whisky, where the dram’s refreshing sweetness will bring the best out of the bitter ale.

Edinburgh Fringe events 

All Senses Ahead! 

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/all-senses-ahead 

28 Queen Street, Edinburgh

7pm – 9.45pm

Throughout August, every day except Sunday and Monday

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society will be bringing a true taste of Scotland to the Fringe, with an all-encompassing sensory feast that celebrates the best of Scottish culture.

Within their beautifully restored Georgian building, guests will be treated to an unforgettable evening of a three course Scottish meal with three-dram whisky tasting, storytelling and music.

A truly immersive virtual reality experience will set the scene as guests explore romantic Scottish landscapes before Will Marshall, the real-life host for the evening, offers the audience the occasion to learn historic facts, participate in songs and indulge in Scottish culture.

A Dram is Worth a Thousand Words 

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on#q=whisky&start=10 

28 Queen Street, Edinburgh

Tastings at 1pm, 4pm and 7pm

Every day throughout August

Home of the largest single malt, single cask collection, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society invites whisky enthusiasts to explore their vast collection of single cask, single malts. Experience a three dram tutored whisky tasting like no other, in the company an SMWS brand ambassador.

The full list of Hauf ‘N’ Hauf pairings:

ESTER FEST – YOUNG & SPRITELY & WHEAT BEER

Savour the complementary estery flavours of bananas and pineapples from the wheat beer with a feisty young bourbon-matured dram.

FULL & FUNKY – SWEET, FRUITY & MELLOW & BELGIAN KRIEK LAMBIC

Pair the funky flavours of this fermented lambic brew from Belgium with the full-on fruity notes from this flavour profile.

LIGHT & LOVELY – SPICY & SWEET & PALE ALE

Easy-drinking and lightly hopped pale ale is the perfect counterpoint for the whisky’s prickly spiciness.

THIRST SLAKER – SPICY & DRY & LAGER

Quench your summer thirst with a lower strength lager paired with the strong aromas of our Spicy & Dry drams.

FOR ALL SAISONS – DEEP, RICH & DARK FRUITS & BELGIAN SAISON

A bold pairing of fruity, spicy Belgian saison beer with this deep and indulgent flavour profile.

DARK & DARING – OLD & DIGNIFIED & DUNKEL

Savour our oldest and most distinguished drams along with a smooth, malty dark German lager, to complement the whisky without overwhelming it.

ENTRY LEVEL – LIGHT & DELICATE & PILSNER

Waken up your palate with a Light & Delicate dram alongside a refreshing, hoppy pilsner.

SWEET DREAMS – JUICY, OAK & VANILLA & IPA

The whisky’s refreshing sweetness brings the best out of a more bitter and hoppy Indian Pale Ale.

SUMMERY SEASIDE – OILY & COASTAL & CITRUS BEER

Explore how a sharp citrusy beer cuts through the oily mouthfeel and marine notes from this flavour profile.

DARK AND SMOKY – LIGHTLY PEATED & STOUT

A deep, rich stout with a creamy head that’s light on the hops allows a Lightly Peated dram to shine.

THE DOUBLE P – PEATED & PORTER

Dive into a robust pairing of higher strength dark porter with a good blast of peaty goodness.

FULL SHILLING – HEAVILY PEATED & 80/- HEAVY BEER

A full-flavoured old school combination with an 80 shilling that’s lighter on the hops and heavier on cereal to stand up to our most heavily peated drams.

Ask us at the bar for more details and pairing prices.

Notes:

About The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 

• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society was established in Edinburgh in 1983 and now has more than 26,000 members and branches around the world
• The SMWS bottles rare single cask, single malt whisky, and a range of other spirits
• The Society bottles single malts, unique single casks and exclusive blends
• The Society has bottled whisky from more than 138 distilleries from Scotland and beyond
• The Society offers a new batch of around 20 single cask, single malt whiskies every month
• The Society offers a variety of membership packages which can be tailored. Please see https://bit.ly/2uqKanT
• For more information about the Society, visit https://bit.ly/2HHiNyC
• Twitter: @SMWSUK Facebook: @thesmwsuk Instagram: @smws_uk

MALTSTOCK 2019

And then there was only one month before Maltstock 2019! Icredible how relaxed time moves on and brings us back together again!

We are in full ‘prep mode’ now and can’t wait to meet you guys! And look at our relaxed program! It’s one of the most relaxed ones we’ve ever had! With a campfire hosted by Dave Broom, Sam Simmons and Mark Watt, a new set-up for the whisky quiz, and a Saturday filled with all new set-up for tastings. No less than 30 ‘Drinks with…’ sessions to make you even more relaxed! And of course meeting old and news friends sharing drams and stories. If you haven’t got a ticket yet… haste ye back to our shop, in a relaxed way of course 🙂

Annette, Bob, Klaas, Stan and Teun

Retox walk

11 years ago it started as a detox walk. That all changed when Jan & Dennis took over. It’s now a retox walk…

Saturday morning we have a relaxed walk, enjoying the beautiful scenery surrounding the Maltstock venue. It’s made all the more relaxed by sharing a few drams. Dennis and Jan are Irish Whisky Ambassadors, so no prizes for guessing where the whisky will come from.

But we do know that there will also be one rather nice and surprising whisky during the walk. So definitely not to be missed!!

Relaxed Masterclass reminder

If you have tickets to Maltstock but (for any reason) haven’t let us know your Masterclass preferences yet, please let us know before the 25th of august. If you did not get your invitation e-mail, please let us know at info@maltstock.com A.R.A.P. (As Relaxed As Possible).

Wanna win?

Win a relaxed trip to Schotland

How about this for a relaxed prize? Three nights in the best whisky bars in Scotland: Fiddler’s Loch Ness – Dornoch Castle Hotel and Highlander Inn – Craigellachie
And it can be yours! It’s our relaxed grand prize in the Maltstock raffle.

Big thank you to Jonny Fiddler, Tatsuya Minagawa and Phil Thompson & Simon Thompson for the continuous relaxed support!

Tickets are still available

Make sure you don’t miss out on what promises to be a very special edition of Maltstock! We’ll get the full program online soon, but what a line-up it is, wow!!

So if you haven’t done so already, get relaxed and get your Maltstock ticket here

Click here to go to our webshop