It’s no secret that the staff right here at Ape are relatively keen on a prime notch whisky or two. And if we do say so ourselves, we considerably know our stuff, particularly relating to single malts. We do, although, discover it more and more tough to chop by the advertising and marketing and hype of recent releases. We’re after the true stuff; the cask-strength whiskies which have extra substance than story.
SMWS: A Members-Solely Whisky Membership
That’s why we regularly name on the The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS), a members-only whisky membership. Their mannequin is straightforward: purchase whisky one cask at a time and bottle it solely for members. There’s no colouring nor filtration. Every bottle is whisky from a single cask of spirit distilled at only one distillery. And with relationships with most of Scotland’s 130+ distilleries, the Society is ready to get their fingers on some whiskies which not often make it to market.
Higher but, there’s no fake ‘restricted version’ advertising and marketing puffery; every launch states the exact variety of bottles yielded by every cask and as soon as they’re gone, they’re gone. So sure, one for the whisky purists, maybe, however the Society is actually not a house for snobbery nor pretence. Know completely nothing about whisky, rum or cognac? No drawback. You’ll be spared the appeal offensive of sure showy manufacturers and as a substitute be welcomed in for a couple of drinks to search out out precisely what you do and don’t like.
Overlook The Model And Focus On Style
That emphasis on flavour signifies that you’ll by no means discover a distillery identify on a Society bottling; they’ve been reduce in favour of numerical codes. The logic? Overlook the model and give attention to what the stuff tastes like.
Alongside the code, every bottle has its personal moniker which charmingly displays its style profile and magnificence. “Oil Rubbed Rhubarb”, anybody? Each bottling is curated by a ‘Tasting Panel’ charged with sifting the masterpieces from the muck, with solely stand-out drams going forth to bear the Society’s identify.
Unique Society Members’ Rooms
Past unique entry to bottlings on-line, membership throws open the doorways to the Society’s clubhouses in London, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
This author has spent many a night within the Farringdon outpost, ordering charcuterie boards by the metric tonnage while the barmen hunt out one thing he hasn’t tried. They not often come up quick, although; any Society member can attest to the reassuring, if overwhelming, sight of tons of of the Society’s moss-green bottles which line the again bar.
Handily, they’ve devised an ingenious resolution to the a lot welcome drawback of alternative. Each bottle on the bar falls into an alphabetic worth class. ‘A’ drams are this quantity, ‘D’ is that quantity, and so forth and so forth. Sensible, sure, however with the ability to choose a random member of the alphabet and be given a glass of whisky in trade is frankly only a very pleasing expertise.
At-Dwelling Leisure
Whereas we await restrictions to be lifted throughout the nation, the Society has thoughtfully tailored to its member’s wants with an prolonged programme of at-home leisure over the festive interval.
SMWS members can stay up for digital tastings and reside pub classes, masterclasses, reside music, podcasts, video content material, music playlists and rather more.
The Good Reward: SMWS Membership
Membership may be sought on-line, for oneself or as a present to a different. A reputation, e-mail tackle and the relatively agreeable sum of £65 is all that’s required. Nevertheless, in the event you actually wish to deal with them, why not add a 5 dram Discovery Pack or their first full bottle to the order? These elective extras will give the recipient a welcome style of what’s to come back from the world’s main whisky membership.
Membership of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) begins as £65 and is obtainable at smws.com now.