WHISK ME AWAY TO A HAPPY PLACE:
THE SCOTCH MALT WHISKY SOCIETY CREATE WORLD’S FIRST LITERAL MEMORY BOXES
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The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Memory Boxes. Picture date: Sunday April 24, 2022. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: David Parry/PA Wire
JOIN THE FLAVOUR HUNTERS THIS MAY: The world’s most entertaining whisky club have created literal memory boxes in collaboration with a memory psychologist, chef and ‘thrill engineer’ to capture key moments in life that impact the way we experience flavour
To celebrate the SMWS Flavour Hunters festival throughout the whisky month of May, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) have created a sensory experience like no other. Based on the science of memory recall and creation, SMWS have designed the world’s first literal memory boxes.
Partnering with professional psychologist Dr Ansgar Endress, Scottish chef Bruce Clyne-Watson and rollercoaster designer & ‘thrill engineer’ Brendan Walker, the boxes will be available exclusively at The National Whisky Festival Glasgow 2022 on Saturday 7th May & 2022 London Whisky Weekender on Saturday 14th May, and in SMWS Members’ Rooms across the UK.
. Photo credit should read: David Parry/PA Wire
Utilising tasting notes from the six small batch festival bottlings specially released by the SMWS throughout May, the six distinct boxes use touch, taste, smell, sight and sound to transport people back to happy moments or places in their life, such as ‘Nan’s House of Tea’ which includes Haggis spiced lamb breast with caramelised red wine pineapple, malt loaf and toasted oats.
Renowned Scottish chef Bruce Clyne-Watson expertly crafted the memory-evoking canapes to feature alongside each box: ‘Camping Out’ embraces those warm Autumn nights huddling around the fire with rabbit liver rillette dressed in a marmalade chutney, candied walnut, and nasturtium leaves.
Paired with a peaty whisky, ‘Watching the Harbour Boats’ is matched with smoky langoustine sprayed with sea water and a smoke gun, served on pebbles alongside a deep-fried Mars Bar with Irn bru & tobacco essence, conjuring fond memories of the seashore.
The SMWS sensory experiences engage with the episodic memory, the part of the memory that takes in a whole experience and commits it to long-term memory, creating a pathway to a positive time. Experiencing these alongside the whiskies also gives our brains the power and tools to create new, happy memories over a dram.
Photo credit should read: David Parry/PA Wire
Adding his thoughts on the partnership, Bruce Clyne-Watson said: “It’s a real joy to be working with The Scotch Malt Whisky Society on such an unconventional and exciting project. The Society itself is an endless discovery of flavour, making it so much fun to create these canapes, which match perfectly with the SMWS bottlings.
“Memory really does affect the way we experience flavour. Sampling the produce for this campaign genuinely evoked memories of my childhood, like going to my Nan’s house for tea as a wee lad; reminiscing over those warming, joyous memories. I can’t wait to see this campaign come to life in May and witness each guest’s whisky eureka moment.”
Commenting on the campaign, Helen Stewart, SMWS Head of Membership, said: “At the Society we believe flavour is more than what’s in your glass. May is whisky month and is the perfect time to show the world what the Society is all about.
“This May we want people to join the Society in our hunt for flavour. Whisky lovers can become part of the world’s most entertaining whisky club and get involved in the Flavour Hunters festival wherever they are, through our website, Members’ Rooms and at the fabulous whisky festivals taking place across the UK.”
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society membership is about more than just whisky, come along to one of our UK Members’ Rooms to begin a discovery of flavour with the Society now: https://smws.com/
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
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Photo credit should read: David Parry/PA Wire
- The Society offers a new batch of around 20 single malt whiskies every month
- The Society offers a variety of membership packages that can be tailored. Please see: https://cutt.ly/aQGwfkH
- For more information about the Society, visit: https://cutt.ly/HQF6PTv
- Twitter: @SMWSUK Facebook: @thesmwsuk Instagram: @smws_uk
UK MEMBERS’ ROOMS
SMWS EDINBURGH
28 Queen St, Edinburgh EH2 1JX
The Vaults, 87 Giles St, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6BZ
SMWS GLASGOW
40 Bath St, Glasgow G2 1HG
SMWS LONDON
19 Greville St, London EC1N 8SQ
