| | What is the Scotch Malt Whisky Society? |
| The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is a society of and for lovers of single malt scotch whisky. |
"The range and quality of the society's single malts is unparalleled; the fact that their availability is absolutely limited to the number of bottles which can be got from each individual cask lends pathos to the enjoyment of them." - David Daiches
Scotland has over a hundred malt whisky distilleries -although only around 90 are in operation at this time. Each ofthem produces a malt quite different from the next, and less thanhalf of these whiskies are available as single malts. Since theSociety's foundation in 1983, we have bottled over 750 casks from111 distilleries all over Scotland. Thus, we offer members a wideand constantly changing selection of malt whiskies. These areonly available to members; they are not for sale in shops. Sincethe Society is independent of any distiller, it can afford to beobjective in its evaluation and selection of casks.
The Society bottles all its whiskies direct from the cask, atfull strength; this normally ranges from 55% to 65% alcohol. Thewhiskies you buy in shops are usually diluted and bottled at aconstant 40% or 43% alcohol. Because dilution produces a slightcloudiness, commercial whiskies are then chilled and filtered - aprocess which leaves the spirit clear, but can remove some of theconstituents which give it taste and character. The Society onlyruns its whiskies through a very coarse filter, thus leaving theoriginal character intact.
The type and quality of casks used for maturing malt whiskyhave a profound effect on the flavour of the final product. Incommercial bottlings, a number of casks are mixed together tocombine their individual characteristics and achieve a uniformproduct.
By contrast, the Society exults in diversity. Each of ourbottlings comes from a single cask, yielding between 200 and 700bottles, depending on the type of cask, its age, and itstightness. Thus the wonderful variety of flavours and aromas inmalt whisky can be experienced to the full. It is important toremember that, once a cask is finished, it is gone forever andwill never be exactly replicated. So it is a case of"catching the joy as it flies."
"The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is informal and friendly. The common purpose which brings members together - an interest in the finest liquor in the world - presupposes conviviality. You are never a stranger in such company or surroundings." - Henri Dubois
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society began as a group of friends whoshared the price of a cask of fine malt whisky; only after manyyears did the syndicate open its doors wider. It retains itspersonal and companionable atmosphere in its publications,meetings and premises.
The Newsletter is sent to members three times a year. It isthe only publication in the entire world 100% dedicated to maltwhisky! It contains articles which are likely to be of interestto members - portraits of distilleries, news about the whiskyindustry, profiles of whisky people, and so on; as well asSociety news, notices of tastings and meetings, and a livelyletters page.
These are produced up to six times a year and carryparticulars of the whiskies currently available to members.Colourful tasting notes are provided for each cask by our highlyexperienced Tasting Panel.
The Society has been described as "lively andsociable" - read into this what you wish. Tastings of maltwhisky are held throughout the countries where the Society ispresent, at which members and their guests are introduced to thenew bottlings and other whisky matters. In addition to thescheduled tastings, the Society also holds private tastings;contact your local branch for details. All tastings are sociableand entertaining occasions, with a dash of whisky education.
"If you don't belong, you may never taste the delights of a full strength unfiltered dram. For the malt whisky lover a subscription to the Scotch Malt Whisky Society might be the ultimate gift." - Derek Cooper
The Scotch Malt whisky Society is for anyone who enjoysdrinking fine Scotch. Its purpose is to further this appreciationby making the very finest whisky available to our members -single malt whiskies from distilleries all over Scotland, bottleddirect from the cask in the peak of condition.
When you join - or make a present of membership to a friend(and there is no finer gift for anyone fond of Scotch whisky) -you, or they, will
For further information, please contactthe branch of the Society nearest to you.
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