I heard a funny comment about the Scotch Malt Whisky Society the other day - that technically only one quarter of their name fully describes what they do. They no longer bottle only Scotch whisky, they no longer bottle only malt whisky, they no longer bottle only whisky...but they are still a Society (one of which I’ve been a devoted member since 2013).
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ome may think the inclusion of grain whiskies, world whiskies and other spirits has changed the Society, and I agree - it’s changed it for the better. My blog was always about enjoying whisky (and the occasional other dark spirit) on its merits and flavour alone, regardless of where it comes from or how old it is, and that’s a philosophy the SMWS really take to heart. So when SMWS started bottling whiskies from “new world” whisky countries like Taiwan, India, England, Denmark and Sweden, to me it wasn’t a case of “Oh no, they’re deviating from their roots!” it was a case of “Okay, so when will we see an Aussie distillery?” That question was answered last August, when Luke McCarthy’s excellent Oz Whisky Review broke the news that, finally, an Australian SMWS distillery code had been announced. Distillery 147 had the honour, with their 147.1 “Jacaranda Jam”.
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