September Outturn 2022 Article
It’s been about nine months since I joined The Scotch Malt Whisky Society as Marketing Assistant, and whilst I enjoyed whisk(e)y and could appreciate the flavours on an amateur level, there has been so much that I’ve learnt in just a short amount of time.
Like any hobby, field or passion, I suppose, there are ways to appreciate on a surface level, ways to dive into the real nerdy aspect of things, and a good middle ground that draws the best of both worlds. I’ve definitely encountered those who fall into all three of those categories and it’s honestly just wonderful because at the end of the day, it’s the common love and appreciation for the spirit in glass that binds us all together, regardless of how in-depth you want to go.
This month is the Global Gathering month, it will be my first with The Society (as I’m sure it will be many others’ first) and, in the spirit of gathering and sharing, I wanted to share some things that I’ve learnt so far that may help other newcomers on their whisky journey.
1. The SMWS tasting notes aren’t checklists
Everyone’s senses are different, everyone will nose and taste different things; this is why we have a panel of expert tasters and not just a single person. The tasting notes are a compilation of what you may taste or nose, not what you definitely will. If you don’t quite get the faint waft of a Southampton bathroom off the M3…that’s okay, few probably will. The tasting panel allows for a wider net of potential flavours and notes to be discovered thus delivering a definitive and concise guide for each cask. The key word being guide — they’re designed to help you pick casks you might like, but there’s nothing wrong if you don’t sense all or even any of the notes; as long as you actually enjoy the whisky.
2. Don’t be hasty
This can be a subjective notion (but one that’s definitely worth a try) and that’s letting the whisky sit for a bit in your glass before drinking it. I’ve had the opportunity to share some SMWS spirit around with friends and family over the last few months and I always say “I’d let it sit 
for 10 – 15 minutes at least”. For me, I’ve always found that the spirit eases up after it’s had time to relax in the glass and open up to its new temporary home. I say this is subjective not because people don’t believe in it, but because some people just like to sip as soon as it has been poured. This isn’t a taboo by any stretch, but I have found that letting it sit for a while does pay off; often this may not even require any additional water reduction.
3. Whisky regionality isn’t all it’s made out to be
When the term ‘whisky regionality’ is used, people often think of the Highlands, Islay, Campbeltown etc… but it’s not just the Scotch whisky regions I’m going to be talking about here — world whisky can be REALLY good. I’ve been blessed to have the opportunities to try single cask expressions from places such as Taiwan, India and Wales, three countries I don’t think I ever would have considered trying whisky from before, and each time they blew me away — especially the Indian whisky I have to say; our releases from distillery 134 are seriously some of the best Society drams I’ve tasted.
Whilst I believe the general consensus is that people are starting to move away from automatic exclusion based on region, I still think it needs to be said. Islay whisky is synonymous with peat, but they’re not the only region in the world (nor are they the only region in Scotland) producing peated whisky. Highland peat and even English peated whiskies are phenomenal and definitely worth exploring. Of course, this all comes back to whether or not the flavour notes pique your interest, but no whisky should be overlooked based on regionality.
4. Age is just a number
Coming from outside of the whisky passion ecosystem, I can definitely say that the assumption that older whisky must mean better whisky is very much alive. Older whiskies tend to have grander presentations and prices to accompany them. But as I’ve learnt, and as Matt has stated in multiple videos we’ve done, they’re not better, they’re just different. But people definitely should not be so quick to overlook younger whiskies as they can sometimes offer extraordinary flavours.
A recent release from July, Cask 140.4 Throws you curve balls — was an absolute stunner at four years old, and a Texan single malt no-less! Better? No. Different? Yes. Each whisky from each region, distillery, and age statement carries with it its own quirks. Older whiskies tend to sit more on the delicate end of the spectrum, whereas younger expressions are a bit more forward and full-on (and I don’t just mean in ethanol value).
5. Whisky really is fantastic when shared
There was a great article in Unfiltered #70 a few months back titled ‘The Spirit of Sharing’ (which you can read for free on our Whiskywise blog) that dived into the scientific side of this, but even on a surface level, it’s just good fun. It’s an opportunity to discuss the flavours you’re tasting and identify the contrasting or comparative flavours and textures between each other. It also invites the opportunity to try other things you may not have considered, whether that be other whiskies, pairing with different foods or even trying cocktails with Society spirit. Not that there’s anything wrong with having a dram by yourself, but wherever possible I urge you all to share the spirit around and enjoy it with friends.
6. Everyone is eager to learn
There are a lot of terms that some probably won’t be acquainted with when coming into the whisky world for the first time — but the best thing about our SMWS community is that everyone is eager to teach and learn, and one of the best ways to learn is by engaging with other members and ambassadors. I’ve learnt a lot on the job from Matt and other staff, but I’ve also learned quite a bit from members that I’ve had casual chats with at events, at the bar or even on our Facebook group.
I’ve even started a whisky glossary bible with phrases and terminology to help moving forward. Understanding more about processes, cask maturation, flavours etc… isn’t just interesting, but it also heightens your drinking experience; for some, all of this background information helps to further your appreciation of what’s in the bottle. The journey is never-ending and no one can truly know everything.
If you’re new to The Scotch Malt Whisky Society — welcome, this really is the best whisky club on Earth. It’s continually expanding in all ways and forms and it’s only going to get better the larger we become. This Global Gathering month is all about sharing and coming together, I implore all members and friends to do exactly that, to share the spirit (in both meanings of the word), share the knowledge and share the journey. Grab a bottle of the Gathering cask this year — it’s all part of the experience.
This article features in the September 2022 Outturn — available to read Friday the 26th of August midday AEST; bottles will be available to purchase on Friday the 2nd of September midday AEST exclusively to members of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Not a member? Click here to learn more about the world’s most colourful whisky club.
