Mads Schmoll

Episode 65: Matugga Rum

Episode  |  30 August 2023  |  31 mins 11 secs

cask strength whisky, matugga, rum, scotch, scotch malt whisky society, single malt whisky, whisky

A taste of rum at a family gathering led husband-and-wife team Jacine and Paul Rutasikwa on the path to setting up their own distillery in the town of Livingston, near Edinburgh. Mads Schmoll paid a visit to uncover the fascinating story behind Matugga Rum and how it blends elements of African, Caribbean and Scottish cultures and heritage

Episode 59: Craig Johnstone

Episode  |  5 April 2023  |  27 mins 30 secs

cask strength whisky, scotch, scotch malt whisky society, single malt whisky, whisky

From East Lothian to Tasmania and back to Scotland, Craig Johnstone has worked across the whisky industry for the past 20 years. Today he works for Edrington as master blender for The Famous Grouse, a role he came to via a stint as a distillery tour guide, a distillery manager and a few years behind the bar at the Society’s Members’ Room at 28 Queen Street. Mads Schmoll caught up with Craig at the 106 Sample Room to find out more about his whisky journey.

Episode 56: SMWS Women

Episode  |  1 March 2023  |  56 mins 24 secs

cask strength whisky, scotch, scotch malt whisky society, single malt whisky, whisky

Women have been instrumental in making the Society what it is today. The three As of Anne Dana, Anne Griffiths and Annabel Meikle came from different backgrounds and hadn’t planned to have a career in whisky. But driven by a thirst for knowledge, an encouraging environment and an openness to new ventures, these women ended up shaping some of the most recognisable parts of the Society. Who better to speak to them than three women shaping the future of the Society today?

Tune in to Whisky Talk to hear their stories.

Anne Dana meets Mads Schmoll, Social Media & Community Manager for the Society
Anne Griffiths meets Monique Ten Kortenaar, Society Ambassador for Benelux
Annabel Meikle meets Rebecca Hamilton, Group Marketing Director

Episode 55: Port of Leith

Episode  |  24 February 2023  |  47 mins 28 secs

cask strength whisky, scotch, scotch malt whisky society, single malt whisky, whisky

Port of Leith is Scotland's first vertical distillery, founded by Ian Stirling and Paddy Fletcher. Standing nine storeys tall, it’s just next door to the Royal Yacht Britannia and a stone's throw away from our spiritual home, The Vaults. As the distillery nears completion, the spirit of innovation continues in the development of their new Scotch, a process that Ian and Paddy began long before the distillery broke ground in Leith with research and experimentation on the role of yeast and fermentation. Mads Schmoll sat down with Ian and Paddy to find out more about what's ahead.

Episode 45: Dave Broom and A Sense of Place

Episode  |  31 August 2022  |  33 mins 47 secs

cask strength whisky, scotch, scotch malt whisky society, single malt whisky, whisky

Whisky writer Dave Broom has an endless curiosity and fascination for whisky, and in his latest book he has set out to explore the story of Scotland’s whisky history, the spirit’s importance within the country’s culture and the diverse landscapes that it comes from.
In "A Sense of Place" he takes the reader on a journey across the country, with pictures by photographer Christina Kernohan.
Mads Schmoll sat down with Dave to find out more about the book.

Episode 42: Jake King and Whisky Place-Names

Episode  |  2 August 2022  |  28 mins 21 secs

cask strength whisky, scotch, scotch malt whisky society, single malt whisky, whisky

Ever wondered about the origin of a whisky's place-name? Jake King, a Gaelic researcher from the Sabhal Mòr Ostaig campus of the University of the Islands and Highlands on the Isle of Skye, certainly has. He is the author of a new book, The A to Z of Whisky Place-Names: Landscape, Language & Invention, which explores the place-names found on whisky bottles, provides both their identity and their origin and explodes a few myths along the way. Mads Schmoll caught up with Jake at The Vaults to find out more.