Whisky Talk

Episode 43: Malts & Music with James Yorkston

Episode  |  11 August 2022  |  1 hr 13 mins

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

Musician, writer and whisky fan James Yorkston shares four SMWS drams with DJ Vic Galloway in the latest episode of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music, with an eclectic mix of music inspired by a wide range of Society whiskies. James and Vic reflect on their musical journeys, their passion for whisky and why you can’t beat exploring music with an SMWS single cask dram in your glass.

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.

Episode 41: Malts & Music with Gemma Cairney

Episode  |  15 June 2022  |  1 hr 10 mins

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

Broadcaster Gemma Cairney sits down at The Vaults with DJ and writer Vic Galloway in the new episode of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music, to chat about her creative world, her move to Edinburgh, and memories of childhood holidays in Scotland. Gemma also finds the Society’s selection of single cask whiskies bringing up associations with the music of Erykah Badu, George Benson and more.

Whiskies tasted and Gemma's tunes were:
Cask No. 2.132: Taking the pith / Erykah Badu, On & On
Cask No. 72.108: Gobstopper / The Langan Band, Winter Song
Cask No. 73.130: Sticks and stones / George Benson, Give Me The Night
Cask No. 108.50: Mountain bothy morning / PJ Morton & Yebba, How Deep is your Love

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.