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| WHAT ARE THE TASTINGS ABOUT... |
| As a whisky enthusiast, no doubt your palate is attuned to the subtleties of many single malts... but... how well do you know the differences between a highland malt or an island malt, or perhaps a lowland malt?
Come along to our next tasting and test your skills on some of the latest exclusive single malts to arrive on our shores. Finger food, specifically chosen to accentuate and compliment the different flavours in the various whiskies will be served.
The evenings are designed not only to stimulate the palate but also to answer your questions and for general discussion. Come along, practise your nosing and tasting skills and learn more about this fine drop!
Please go to our Calendar of Events page for more information |
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News Library
The Inaugural Malt Whisky Convention Review
"The Inaugural Australian Malt Whisky Convention was a happy occasion for all participants. We assembled from all over Australia ("CS", a gentleman from Singapore was the only International delegate) at Ridges Hotel, Canberra, which we shared with the Tongan World Cup Rugby squad, who did not participate in the tastings.
The Trade Show in the Bradman Room at Manuka Oval saw the SMWS go head to head with all the big Scottish brands distributed here and a number of Antipodean ones too.
A great selection of quality commercial whiskies and single malts were shown, and the Society’s stall attracted much attention for the quality of the whiskies it presented. The Caol Ila in particular was popular and I do not think that there was an exhibitor or delegate who did not try it. The quality of the membership whisky, a Linkwood, also brought many favourable comments, and ten of the delegates joined the Society on that afternoon.
On the Australian side, The Small Concern Distillery, whose Cradle Mountain and Double Malt versions have been known to us for a while, displayed their goods next to Bill Lark's Hobart whiskies, and the new player on the block, Bakery Hill from Melbourne exhibited for the first time, and received a lot of local support. Milford from New Zealand was there also, as were the usual suppliers from Swift and Moore, Maxxium and Orlando Wyndham. They were joined by Angoves, William Grant & Sons, Gordon & MacPhail, Baily & Baily and so on, a truly wonderful afternoon, even though a few delegates were wearing wobbly boots back to the hotel for the evening reception.
Next day saw us all at breakfast, keen of palate, with noses honed, ready for the task ahead of us. We managed to listen to erudite whisky writers, taste the products of closed distilleries, attend a Glenrothes vertical tasting, and hear Bill Lark's story of how he persuaded the government to change a long standing Act of Parliament so that small distilleries could operate. Then, ever onwards, to take up the cask strength challenge, before the Conference Dinner, hosted by Glenmorrangie whose piece de resistance was the Ardbeg, Lord of the Isles, a truly grand Whisky!
Sunday morning saw the continuation of the Bill Lumsden Vs Jim Murray debate, which started at the dinner on Saturday night and was titled "Whether water should be added to Whisky". It was a highlight of what turned out to be a truly wonderful weekend.
We, all 60 of us, headed towards our homes on Sunday afternoon with the lingering flavours of Scotland’s finest tingling in our palates and vowing to come again in 2005!"
PETER JOHNSTON
SMWS Manager for Queensland
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MATCHING THE NUMBERS TO THE DISTILLERIES |
| A frequently asked question is "How do I match the numbers to the distilleries?"
Under the arrangement the Society has with distillers the Society undertakes not to put the distiller's name on the bottle, and not to publish a list which matches the numbers to the distilleries. However the Society map, together with the tasting notes, allow members to identify where the whisky comes from, without too much effort, and is a good way to learn a bit about Scotland.
A private whisky web site in Denmark (Whisky Portal), however, has published this list, and as the site contains useful whisky information for our members we have created a link to it off our own web site.
To find the site do the following:
Select "Links" (in the green area at the top of the page, second line, last word)
Under the heading "Whisky Sites" click on "Whisky Portal"
This brings up the Whisky portal disclaimer page. Click on the underlined words "Whisky portal"
On the left hand side of the page which then appears is a list. Click on "SMWS Codes" and the list of distilleries and codes will appear.
If you need any further assistance, please contact the Society direct.
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