Whisky Talk

The podcast from The Scotch Malt Whisky Society

About the show

Welcome to Whisky Talk! Hosted by Richard Goslan, editor of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s members magazine Unfiltered, we'll be introducing you to some of the people who make whisky, the places it comes from and the characters who bring it to life.

Whisky Talk on social media

Episodes and Blog Entries

  • Episode 6: From Glen Scotia to Jura and Islay's Ardnahoe

    Episode  |  20 June 2019  |  25 mins 32 secs
    ardnahoe, cask strength whisky, glen scotia, jura, scotch, scotch malt whisky society, single malt whisky, whisky

    The Scotch Malt Whisky Society travels from Glen Scotia in Campbeltown, where Iain McAlister explains why there's a new buzz around the distillery, to Jura to meet distillery manager Graham Logan and finally on to Islay to chat to Stewart Laing, who has recently realised his dream of opening Hunter Laing's new distillery on the island, Ardnahoe.

  • Episode 5: Whisky pilgrims at the Islay Festival

    Episode  |  29 May 2019  |  9 mins 14 secs
    cask strength whisky, islay festival, scotch, scotch malt whisky society, single malt whisky, whisky

    Join The Scotch Malt Whisky Society in the splendid surroundings of Islay House, where members and whisky pilgrims have gathered for the Islay Whisky Festival and the Society’s Open Day. Whisky Talk meets members who have travelled from around the world, and catches up with SMWS ambassador Matt Bailey before he presents a sensational ‘Old & Rare’ masterclass.

  • Episode 4: Tobermory, The Golden Dram and the Northern Pole of Inaccessibility

    Episode  |  18 May 2019  |  27 mins 25 secs
    cask strength whisky, scotch, scotch malt whisky society, single malt whisky, whisky

    In this episode, we catch up with Tobermory distillery’s master blender Kirstie McCallum, find out about the documentary Scotch – The Golden Dram from its director Andrew Peat, and hear from an adventurous Scotch Malt Whisky Society member about his preparations to walk to the as-yet-unreached Northern Pole of Inaccessibility. From the Scottish islands to the Arctic Circle, pour yourself a dram and settle down for the latest episode of Whisky Talk.

  • Episode 3: Sandy Hyslop

    Episode  |  29 April 2019  |  30 mins 4 secs
    cask strength whisky, scotch, scotch malt whisky society, single malt whisky, whisky

    Sandy Hyslop, director of blending at Chivas Brothers talks to our Spirits Manager, Euan Campbell from his sample room in Dumbarton near Glasgow. Hyslop has spent a lifetime working in whisky and is responsible for some of the most iconic names in the whisky world from Chivas Regal to Ballantine's and Aberlour A'Bunadh. But how did his whisky journey begin? Tune in to find out.

  • Episode 2: Pip Hills & The Flavour Revolution - Pt 2

    Episode  |  18 March 2019  |  44 mins 19 secs

    Part two sees Scotch Malt Whisky Society founder Pip Hills talk about the early rebellious days of The Society. Recorded at The Vaults in Edinburgh on Monday 18th February 2019, the talk was part of Pip Hills & The Flavour Revolution, a special event where the first ever Society bottling, 1.1 was opened and tasted.

  • Episode 1: Pip Hills & The Flavour Revolution - Pt 1

    Episode  |  18 March 2019  |  57 mins 47 secs
    smws, whisky talk

    Scotch Malt Whisky Society founder Pip Hills talks about the early rebellious days of the Society. Recorded at The Vaults in Edinburgh on Monday 18th February 2019, the talk was part of Pip Hills & The Flavour Revolution, a special event where the first ever Society bottling, 1.1 was opened and tasted. Pour yourself a dram and have a listen!