Episode Archive
72 episodes of Whisky Talk since the first episode, which aired on 18 March 2019.
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Episode 40: The Islay Festival
Episode | 30 May 2022 | 30 mins 21 secs
cask strength whisky, scotch, scotch malt whisky society, single malt whisky, whisky
The SMWS returned to Islay for the first in-person festival since 2019, with an Open Day at Islay House to share drams, the Society's festival Rare Release bottlings, tastings and good times. We caught up with members from near and far to find out about their combined passions for Islay and whisky.
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Episode 39: Malts & Music with Olaf Furniss
Episode | 20 May 2022 | 1 hr 13 mins
cask strength whisky, scotch, scotch malt whisky society, single malt whisky, whisky
DJ and writer Vic Galloway is back with a new series of Malts & Music, where he invites guests from across Scotland’s creative landscape to share Scotch Malt Whisky Society drams and find out what musical choices they inspire. In the new episode, Vic sits down to share four SMWS whiskies with Olaf Furniss, long-term Society member, journalist and founder of Born To Be Wide organisation that hosts music business seminars such as Wide Days in Edinburgh, to explore his twin passions for music and whisky.
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Episode 38: Whisky Storytellers
Episode | 22 April 2022 | 51 mins 46 secs
cask strength whisky, scotch, scotch malt whisky society, single malt whisky, whisky
In this episode we dig into the rich tradition of whisky storytelling, with contributions from two Scottish musicians, storytellers and whisky lovers. First up is Hamish Napier, a musician from Strathspey in the heart of Scotland’s whisky country. From Speyside, we travel to Islay to hear from Whisky Bard, musician and SMWS Tasting Panel chair, Robin Laing – with music supplied by Robin himself.
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Episode 37: SMWS member Pete Begg
Episode | 25 March 2022 | 24 mins 28 secs
cask strength whisky, scotch, scotch malt whisky society, single malt whisky, whisky
From studying engineering, Pete Begg found himself drawn to the world of cooking, working in various restaurants before becoming friends and subsequently business partner with Jamie Oliver. Now Head of Food Development with Jamie’s organisation, Pete is also a devoted member of the SMWS. Our master brand ambassador John McCheyne caught up with him for a dram in our London Members’ Room at 19 Greville Street to find out more about his journey and whisky passion.
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Episode 36: Lochlea with John Campbell
Episode | 24 March 2022 | 27 mins 47 secs
cask strength whisky, scotch, scotch malt whisky society, single malt whisky, whisky
This farm distillery in Ayrshire has quietly started producing whisky and lured John Campbell away from Laphroaig in Islay in the process. Whisky Talk's Richard Goslan paid a visit to find out more and hear about the distillery’s ambitions.
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Episode 35: Malts & Music with Val McDermid
Episode | 10 March 2022 | 1 hr 15 mins
cask strength whisky, scotch, scotch malt whisky society, single malt whisky, whisky
Writer Val McDermid joins BBC Scotland DJ and writer Vic Galloway for Episode 6 of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music, brought to you by The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Val describes her early introduction to whisky, her life and work and how these SMWS drams transported her to different times and places throughout her life.
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Episode 34: Malts & Music with Nicola Meighan
Episode | 10 February 2022 | 1 hr 29 mins
cask strength whisky, scotch, scotch malt whisky society, single malt whisky, whisky
Music and arts broadcaster and writer Nicola Meighan joins BBC Scotland DJ and writer Vic Galloway for Episode 5 of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music, brought to you by The Scotch Malt Whisky Society.
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Episode 33: Malts & Music with Justin Currie
Episode | 13 January 2022 | 1 hr 42 mins
cask strength whisky, scotch, scotch malt whisky society, single malt whisky, whisky
Justin Currie, founder and frontman of Del Amitri, joins BBC Scotland DJ and writer Vic Galloway for Episode 4 of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music, brought to you by The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Justin discusses his career and musical passions over five Society drams with Vic, with the single cask whiskies inspiring his choice of music from Cat Power, Gillian Welch, James Brown, Pulp and Prefab Sprout.
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Episode 32: Malts & Music with Stina Tweeddale
Episode | 9 December 2021 | 1 hr 5 mins
cask strength whisky, scotch, scotch malt whisky society, single malt whisky, whisky
Episode 3 of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music, brought to you by The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, finds BBC Scotland DJ and writer Vic Galloway deep into conversation over a few Society drams with Stina Tweeddale. The Honeyblood singer-songwriter has a combined passion for whisky and music and pairs up her five SMWS whiskies with music from The Slits, Soccer Mommy, The B-52s, Dream Wife and Mazzy Star.
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Episode 31: Charlie MacLean MBE
Episode | 22 November 2021 | 47 mins 17 secs
cask strength whisky, scotch, scotch malt whisky society, single malt whisky, whisky
Charlie MacLean is one of the whisky world’s leading writers and experts, and this year saw him honoured as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire – better known as an MBE – in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Whisky Talk caught up with Charlie at 28 Queen Street to find out about the award and his long-term connection with the SMWS.
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Episode 30: Malts & Music with Norman Blake from Teenage Fanclub
Episode | 10 November 2021 | 1 hr 11 mins
cask strength whisky, scotch, scotch malt whisky society, single malt whisky, whisky
In Episode 2 of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music, BBC Scotland DJ and writer Vic Galloway sits down with Norman Blake, co-founder of Scottish indie rock legends Teenage Fanclub. Vic pours a few Society drams and finds out why the whiskies get Norman thinking about Gang of Four, Captain Beefheart, The Kinks, Ennio Morricone and the Wicker Man.
Tune in to the SMWS Malts & Music playlist at: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/75sE4HLHMMwlcECyNB8ryz -
Episode 29: Malts & Music with Ian Rankin
Episode | 6 October 2021 | 1 hr 2 mins
cask strength whisky, scotch, scotch malt whisky society, single malt whisky, whisky
BBC Scotland DJ and writer Vic Galloway presents the first in our special series of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music podcasts, for a whisky-fuelled chat with creative personalities from across Scotland’s cultural life. From the Tasting Room at The Vaults, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s spiritual home in Leith, Vic shares five SMWS drams with writer Ian Rankin, who pairs his whiskies with tunes from John Martyn, James Yorkston, Karine Polwart, The Skids and The Blue Nile.
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Episode 28: Glenturret Distillery
Episode | 21 July 2021 | 13 mins 58 secs
cask strength whisky, scotch, scotch malt whisky society, single malt whisky, whisky
With a new owner, a new look – and even a new date of birth – Glenturret distillery is emerging from the shadows to take its place in the single malt spotlight. The Scotch Malt Whisky Society paid a visit for Whisky Talk to find out more.
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Episode 27: Dennis Malcolm and Glen Grant Distillery
Episode | 27 May 2021 | 45 mins 36 secs
cask strength whisky, scotch, scotch malt whisky society, single malt whisky, whisky
Dennis Malcolm started out at Glen Grant distillery in Speyside as a 15-year-old apprentice cooper. He worked his way up through different roles in the distillery, and 60 years later he is now Scotland’s long-serving distiller. He tells Whisky Talk about his life, career and the momentous changes he has witnessed in an incredible six decades of life in distilleries.
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Episode 26: Ardnamurchan distillery
Episode | 1 March 2021 | 41 mins 55 secs
adelphi, alex bruce, ardnamurchan, cask strength whisky, scotch, scotch malt whisky society, single malt whisky, whisky
Ardnamurchan distillery is tucked away at the end of Scotland’s most westerly peninsula, where the natural environment is playing a major role in both fuelling and flavouring the spirit. Alex Bruce, managing director of distillery owner Adelphi, tells Whisky Talk all about it.
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Episode 25: Whisky and perfume
Episode | 2 February 2021 | 27 mins 9 secs
cask strength whisky, scotch, scotch malt whisky society, single malt whisky, whisky
Imogen Russon-Taylor started out working in whisky before her nose led her to explore the possibility of creating her own perfumes, and after a period of in-depth research she launched Scotland’s first perfume house, known as Kingdom Scotland.
Madeleine Schmoll from the SMWS caught up with Imogen to explore the subject of scent memories, being inspired by The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, and why a splash of perfume can enhance our mood, whether we’re able to leave the house or not.