whisky talk

The name Dr Bill Lumsden doesn’t need much of an introduction in the whisky world – the head of distilling and whisky creation at Glenmorangie and Ardbeg has been a constant force of innovation and flavour development over the past 30 years or so. Members of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society were fortunate to attend a tasting conducted by Dr Bill at The Vaults in October, to taste some fantastic whiskies from Glenmorangie, Ardbeg and of course the Society….and also to hear his thoughts on everything in the whisky world from additional maturation, to non-aged statements, the use of sherry casks and a whole lot more in between. The Society’s spirits educator Dr Andy Forrester caught up with Bill for a quick chat before the pair of them hosted the tasting together in our Members’ Room.

Vic Galloway catches up with the Whisky Sisters – Inka Larissa and Jennifer Rose – in the latest episode of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music, to find out where their passion for whisky came from and what tunes their selection of Scotch Malt Whisky Society drams helped to inspire. SMWS whiskies tasted and the Whisky Sisters’ tunes were: Cask No. 41.46: Deep and dynamic / Jen: Mötley Crüe – Doctor Feelgood / Inka: George Michael –Freedom Cask No. 150.3: Conversation lubrication / Inka; Leonard Cohen – Dance Me to the End of Love / Jen: Led Zeppelin – Immigrant Song Cask No. 108.49: A particular kind of beauty / Inka: Bon Jovi – Bad Medicine / Jen: The Highwaymen – Highwayman Cask No. 113.60: Sweet Petrichor / Inka: Greta Van Fleet – Heat Above / Jen: Kate Bush – Hounds of Love You can watch a video of the conversation on the SMWS YouTube channel here (https://youtu.be/UA_v8zCc578) Spotify link can be found here (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/75sE4HLHMMwlcECyNB8ryz)

Writer Doug Johnstone shares four SMWS drams with DJ Vic Galloway in the latest episode of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music, with reflections on how his love of whisky inspired his novel Smokeheads and how these Society drams pair perfectly with music from Little Simz to Biffy Clyro. Whiskies tasted and Doug’s tunes were: Cask No. 12.48: Hoppy madness / The Avalanches, Since I Left You Cask No. 38.31: The magic is so strong / Little Simz, Point And Kill featuring Obongjayar Cask No. 44.154: Terra Firma / Spoon, Held Cask No. 138.12: Spice wreck / Biffy Clyro, Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies You can watch a video of the conversation on the SMWS YouTube channel here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9nyjpoWtRg) Spotify link can be found here (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/75sE4HLHMMwlcECyNB8ryz)

Whisky writer Dave Broom has an endless curiosity and fascination for whisky, and in his latest book he has set out to explore the story of Scotland’s whisky history, the spirit’s importance within the country’s culture and the diverse landscapes that it comes from. In "A Sense of Place" he takes the reader on a journey across the country, with pictures by photographer Christina Kernohan. Mads Schmoll sat down with Dave to find out more about the book.

Depending on who you speak to, the cask that you put your whisky into to mature can contribute anything from 50 to more than 70 per cent of its final flavour. Whatever figure you land on, it plays a crucial role. One person who knows more about the impact of various forms of oak on whisky – and especially from sherry influenced casks – is Stuart MacPherson, until very recently Macallan’s Master of Wood. Stuart has now retired from the role, but Whisky Talk caught up with him to find out all about his life’s work in the world of wood – which goes all the way back to his schooldays in the late 1970s.

Musician, writer and whisky fan James Yorkston shares four SMWS drams with DJ Vic Galloway in the latest episode of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music, with an eclectic mix of music inspired by a wide range of Society whiskies. James and Vic reflect on their musical journeys, their passion for whisky and why you can’t beat exploring music with an SMWS single cask dram in your glass. Whiskies tasted and James's tunes were: 74.73.128: Flowers crushed by a falling oak tree + Ted Lucas / It’s so easy (when you know what you’re doing) 68.49: A day at the funfair + Elizabeth Cronin / The little pack of tailors 39.242: A curious concatenation + Philip Tabane / Dithabeng 16.50: Tar in the night + Susan Bear / M6 You can watch a video of the conversation on the SMWS YouTube channel here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFP0X04jIMs) Spotify link can be found here (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/75sE4HLHMMwlcECyNB8ryz)

Ever wondered about the origin of a whisky's place-name? Jake King, a Gaelic researcher from the Sabhal Mòr Ostaig campus of the University of the Islands and Highlands on the Isle of Skye, certainly has. He is the author of a new book, The A to Z of Whisky Place-Names: Landscape, Language & Invention, which explores the place-names found on whisky bottles, provides both their identity and their origin and explodes a few myths along the way. Mads Schmoll caught up with Jake at The Vaults to find out more.

Broadcaster Gemma Cairney sits down at The Vaults with DJ and writer Vic Galloway in the new episode of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music, to chat about her creative world, her move to Edinburgh, and memories of childhood holidays in Scotland. Gemma also finds the Society’s selection of single cask whiskies bringing up associations with the music of Erykah Badu, George Benson and more. Whiskies tasted and Gemma's tunes were: Cask No. 2.132: Taking the pith / Erykah Badu, On & On Cask No. 72.108: Gobstopper / The Langan Band, Winter Song Cask No. 73.130: Sticks and stones / George Benson, Give Me The Night Cask No. 108.50: Mountain bothy morning / PJ Morton & Yebba, How Deep is your Love You can watch a video of the conversation on the SMWS YouTube channel here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MtmkJZP38o) Spotify link can be found here (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/75sE4HLHMMwlcECyNB8ryz)

The SMWS returned to Islay for the first in-person festival since 2019, with an Open Day at Islay House to share drams, the Society's festival Rare Release bottlings, tastings and good times. We caught up with members from near and far to find out about their combined passions for Islay and whisky.

DJ and writer Vic Galloway is back with a new series of Malts & Music, where he invites guests from across Scotland’s creative landscape to share Scotch Malt Whisky Society drams and find out what musical choices they inspire. In the new episode, Vic sits down to share four SMWS whiskies with Olaf Furniss, long-term Society member, journalist and founder of Born To Be Wide organisation that hosts music business seminars such as Wide Days in Edinburgh, to explore his twin passions for music and whisky. TUNES and DRAMS 5.81: A Fruity Prescription with Soup Dragons, Whole Wide World G10.33: Co-Co Nut with The Upsetters, Return of Django 112.90: A Fruit Alloy with Annie, Chewing Gum 24.153: Midsummer Night’s Dream with Plastilina Mosh, Paso Fino You can watch a video of the conversation on the SMWS YouTube channel here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0RX4S3qthU&t=3607s) Spotify link can be found here (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/75sE4HLHMMwlcECyNB8ryz)

In this episode we dig into the rich tradition of whisky storytelling, with contributions from two Scottish musicians, storytellers and whisky lovers. First up is Hamish Napier, a musician from Strathspey in the heart of Scotland’s whisky country. From Speyside, we travel to Islay to hear from Whisky Bard, musician and SMWS Tasting Panel chair, Robin Laing – with music supplied by Robin himself.

From studying engineering, Pete Begg found himself drawn to the world of cooking, working in various restaurants before becoming friends and subsequently colleague of Jamie Oliver. Now Head of Food Development with Jamie’s organisation, Pete is also a devoted member of the SMWS. Our master brand ambassador John McCheyne caught up with him for a dram in our London Members’ Room at 19 Greville Street to find out more about his journey and whisky passion.

This farm distillery in Ayrshire has quietly started producing whisky and lured John Campbell away from Laphroaig in Islay in the process. Whisky Talk's Richard Goslan paid a visit to find out more and hear about the distillery’s ambitions.

Writer Val McDermid joins BBC Scotland DJ and writer Vic Galloway for Episode 6 of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music, brought to you by The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Val describes her early introduction to whisky, her life and work and how these SMWS drams transported her to different times and places throughout her life. TUNES and DRAMS Cask No. 73.121: Meemaw’s Moonpie / Aztec Camera, Somewhere in my Heart Cask No. 39.209: Apple aperitif / Mungo Jerry, In the Summertime Cask No. 35:269: Banana balaclava / Nitin Sawhney, Nadia Cask No. 36.164: Bittersweet Xmas stocking treat / Alison Moyet, The Coventry Carol Cask No. 10.204: Pineapples ahoy / Mike Vass, Settled in Clay You can watch a video of the conversation on the SMWS YouTube channel here (https://youtu.be/k8i9gIuIsEg) Spotify link can be found here (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/75sE4HLHMMwlcECyNB8ryz) Special Guest: Val McDermid .

Music and arts broadcaster and writer Nicola Meighan joins BBC Scotland DJ and writer Vic Galloway for Episode 5 of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music, brought to you by The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Whiskies tasted and Nicola's tunes were: Cask No. 1.245: Pour it around midnight / My Baby Just Cares For Me by Nina Simone Cask No. 5.81: A fruity prescription / Feed the Tree by Belly Cask No. 24.153: Midsummer night’s dream / Utopia by Goldfrapp Cask No. G10.33: Co-co-nut / Young Hearts Run Free by Candi Staton Cask No. 112.90: Fruit alloy / January February by Barbara Dickson

Justin Currie, founder and frontman of Del Amitri, joins BBC Scotland DJ and writer Vic Galloway for Episode 4 of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music, brought to you by The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Justin discusses his career and musical passions over five Society drams with Vic, with the single cask whiskies inspiring his choice of music from Cat Power, Gillian Welch, James Brown, Pulp and Prefab Sprout. Special Guest: Justin Currie.

Episode 3 of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music, brought to you by The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, finds BBC Scotland DJ and writer Vic Galloway deep into conversation over a few Society drams with Stina Tweeddale. The Honeyblood singer-songwriter has a combined passion for whisky and music and pairs up her five SMWS whiskies with music from The Slits, Soccer Mommy, The B-52s, Dream Wife and Mazzy Star. Special Guest: Stina Tweeddale.

Charlie MacLean is one of the whisky world’s leading writers and experts, and this year saw him honoured as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire – better known as an MBE – in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Whisky Talk caught up with Charlie at 28 Queen Street to find out about the award and his long-term connection with the SMWS.

In Episode 2 of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music, BBC Scotland DJ and writer Vic Galloway sits down with Norman Blake, co-founder of Scottish indie rock legends Teenage Fanclub. Vic pours a few Society drams and finds out why the whiskies get Norman thinking about Gang of Four, Captain Beefheart, The Kinks, Ennio Morricone and the Wicker Man. Tune in to the SMWS Malts & Music playlist at: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/75sE4HLHMMwlcECyNB8ryz Special Guest: Norman Blake.

BBC Scotland DJ and writer Vic Galloway presents the first in our special series of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music podcasts, for a whisky-fuelled chat with creative personalities from across Scotland’s cultural life. From the Tasting Room at The Vaults, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s spiritual home in Leith, Vic shares five SMWS drams with writer Ian Rankin, who pairs his whiskies with tunes from John Martyn, James Yorkston, Karine Polwart, The Skids and The Blue Nile. Special Guest: Ian Rankin.