Evolution In A Bottle
Our National Chairman reflects on the last 20 years of The SMWS, how whisky has changed in Australia, how The SMWS has changed, and some of the early challenges that were faced.
Bigs or Smalls?
Andrew Derbidge reflects on the pros and cons of filling into larger casks in Australia compared to smaller-sized casks. Extracted from September Outturn 2022.
The Shape Of Water
August Outturn 2022 Chariman's Column With the joys of La Nina re-visiting us once more, I’m staring out my window at the moment, observing a non-stop deluge of insanely heavy rain that hasn’t stopped [...]
Changing Choices
Our National Chairman ponders a question he was recently asked "Which aspect or area of whisky do you think has seen the most change in the last two decades?"
Whisky Reprise
Andrew discusses revisiting old whiskies to see how they compare with your memories of them, and how experiences had since can influence and impact present enjoyment.
The Dilemma & Dramas of Drams in Demand…
Australian Cellarmaster Andrew Derbidge discusses the secondary whisky market, bottle flippers and the elephant in the room...
The Whisky Staples
It's back to basics with Andrew as he highlights some of the foundations of whisky appreciation that will help you understand and cultivate a deeper appreciation for the spirit.
Your Musical Whisky Companion
March Outturn 2022 Feature Article Whisky is a versatile spirit that lends itself to many occasions and applications. In the last 20-30 years, it’s also increasingly being used to pair, match with, or provide [...]
It’s All in the Narrative
Cellarmaster, Andrew Derbidge, explores the way views are changed over time in the whisky world and how something like the importance of an age statement can be changed through a different narrative.
Nostalgia – it’s a thing of the past
One of the great discussion topics that vexes many a whisky enthusiast and ignites many strong opinions is the notion of whether or not whisky used to be better “back in the day”. Even [...]