Whisky club opens its doors to members and non-members alike, for Clans & Drams, a month-long celebration of flavour during Homecoming Scotland’s Whisky Month.
Clans are famously associated with territorial battles and bloody skirmishes. But this May, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is putting ancient rivalries aside with the launch of Clans & Drams – a month-long celebration of ‘whisky clans’ based on flavours that takes place during Homecoming Scotland 2014’s Whisky Month.
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society believes that the pleasure of exquisite whisky supersedes any family feud or clan dispute. So instead of battling over bloodlines, everyone (Scot or not) is invited into the Society’s members’ rooms in Edinburgh, Leith and London during May to ally themselves to a whisky clan.
The Society, which bottles single cask single malt whiskies from a huge range of distilleries, has created 12 special whisky clans based on flavour profiles. Every traditional family clan has a reputation that defines them, attributes such as bravery, honesty or dexterity. The Society have taken real clan mottos and personalities and attributed these to their flavour clans. Whether you’re the fiery ‘Spicy and Sweet’, or the majestic ‘Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits’, there is a whisky clan for everyone.
Mark van der Vijver, UK Sales Manager for The Scotch Malt Whisky Society said: “Here at the Society, we believe it’s really important for our members not to have any preconceptions based on traditional whisky regions or distillery brands when choosing a whisky; we encourage everyone to focus on the flavours within each whisky so they don’t miss out on discovering something they may not usually try. Clans & Drams embodies this concept by taking a playful approach to traditional clans and creating our own flavour-based whisky clans.”
Caroline Packman, Homecoming Director adds, “The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is one of the world’s most renowned whisky clubs, and their Clans & Drams events will give visitors a unique tasting experience this May. Homecoming is a great opportunity to place the spotlight on Scotland’s greatest assets, with Whisky Month set to celebrate our national drink through a series of innovative and engaging events.”
As well as opening its doors to non-members throughout May and pairing its latest release of whiskies to the 12 flavour clans, The Society is hosting a number of events – from ‘Clan Whisky Feasts’ featuring unique kinships of delicious whisky and food pairings, to The Bon Vivant’s Stuart McCluskey hosting ‘Clan Cocktails’ in the Society’s secret Bothy (see full list of events below). The Edinburgh Members lounges will also host the official signature event of World Whisky Day on Saturday 17th May.
Every one of the Society’s whiskies in Leith, Edinburgh and London have been assigned to a whisky clan, including those in the new May outturn of bottlings, so drinkers should be prepared to adopt an new clan whenever they choose a dram.
Find a full list of events attached and by clicking here.
DRINKS ENTHUSIAST 