Rewind to May 2019 in the cask room at the Vaults in Edinburgh enjoying a great dinner and a few drams, and I was lucky enough to be sitting literally right next to the very founder of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Pip Hills.
A truly traveled man with wondrous stories, his journey from not knowing a single thing about Scotch whisky, to being one of the most renowned and respected figures not just in his role in creating single cask whisky, but shaping the perception of Scotch whisky worldwide, is nothing short of outstanding.
At this very dinner in the cask room back in May, Pip announced that he was officially writing a book about how the Society came about, how that changed the whisky scene forever, and some of the characters along the way. If the book was going to be anything like his colourful tales at this dinner table, it was going to be a rollicking good read.
Thankfully, and unsurprisingly, it is. Pip’s tales of the early years starting the world’s most unique whisky club, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, is available to purchase as a hardback book this October Outturn, Friday 4th Oct 2019, for just $35. In the meantime, have a watch of Society panelist, member, and avid book reader Murray Hassan join me in the office for a chat about Pip’s new book here:
