Matt Bailey

2022

let’s do this!

I’m super excited to be writing this Ambassador’s column as we kickstart into the whisky year! February is all about Wine & Spice. The flavours and exploration into wine casks and their use in the world of whisky.

Depending on who you talk to, wine casks are either a blessing or a curse. A much smaller part of the whisky world uses them, but why? Especially in the context of this month’s special release of Cask 148.2 Kirsch me quick, a full maturation wine cask from Australian distillery 148 in the Spicy & Sweet flavour profile, this is the perfect time to dig further into understanding wine casks, understanding their use, and what to expect from them. We also dig a bit deeper into their use in the context of Australian whisky thanks to special guest author Luke McCarthy, plus my own guide on some of the terminology and words you see thrown about to decipher. On the broader picture for a moment however: This year is shaping up to be one of the most exciting years ahead for the SMWS, for our members, for our Partner Bars, and for the broader whisky community in Australia. 2022 is the 20th anniversary of the Australian branch, which is a massive milestone with some casks and experiences to match. We’ll also see the return of the Australian Malt Whisky Tasting Championship (finally) which might be better known as the ‘whisky champs’, plus the Festival casks in May, and The Global Gathering in September. There’s a lot of work and finish already going on behind the scenes to make this all happen, and really create an incredible year for every whisky enthusiast in Australia.

The one regret I hear from members more than any other is, “I only wish I’d joined sooner”. If any of your friends, family, or colleagues

“This year is shaping up to be one of the most exciting years ahead for the SMWS, for our members, for our Partner Bars, and for the broader whisky community in Australia.”

want to join the Society, now is the time to get onboard for all that’s coming up in flavour at the world’s most colourful whisky club. Let’s raise a glass to our first Outturn for 2022, our big year ahead together, and to amazing whisky adventures throughout the year!

Matt Bailey ~ SMWS National Ambassador