Andrew Derbidge

Life begins at

Iwrite these paragraphs as many of us return to work after the Christmas / New Year holiday break. It is always an interesting time of year: For many of us, we collapsed in a heap on December 23rd after a long and trying year; yet we rise and return, refreshed and reinvigorated by the first or second week of January. The intervening weeks are spent unwinding, wining and dining, catching up with family and friends, and possibly enjoying all forms of the summer (e.g. cricket, beach, tennis, etc). And hopefully enjoying a dram or two.

It is also an interesting time of year in the context of whisky. In our unique circles, a lot of the “noise” comes out of Scotland – where it is winter, and the drams are flowing. The notion of the “Christmas dram” rings loud. We hear about the new developments and plans for various brands, industry gossip and news, people taking up new posts and positions at various distilleries and companies, etc.

It’s in contrast to our own situation where it’s hot and attention is perhaps focussed on more “summer-suited” drinks. For many years, we here at SMWS Australia felt that the whisky year didn’t really start until March. That said, things have changed somewhat and it’s now pleasing to see a number of events, releases, launches, and tastings take place at the start of the year. Of course, later this year we will turn our attention to the Society’s 40th Anniversary. And whilst we officially celebrated our local 20th anniversary for the Australian branch last October, it was 2003 when cities like Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide held their first SMWS events – so we can continue our own 20 year celebrations here simultaneously! Much will be said in correspondence and publications to come but, for those old enough, cast your mind back to the state of the world (and, in particular, the state of the whisky world) in 1983 and 2003 respectively. We’ve come a long way. Raise a dram with me, and here’s to 2023! If life begins at 40, then the Society is about to kick some serious butt. (That’s a sherry cask, by the way).

“Later this year we will turn our attention to the Society's 40th Anniversary.”

Andrew Derbidge ~

Chairman and NSW Manager, SMWS Australia