Whisky Talk

Episode 47: Malts & Music with The Whisky Sisters

Episode  |  18 October 2022  |  1 hr 8 mins

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

Vic Galloway catches up with the Whisky Sisters – Inka Larissa and Jennifer Rose – in the latest episode of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music, to find out where their passion for whisky came from and what tunes their selection of Scotch Malt Whisky Society drams helped to inspire.

Episode 46: Malts & Music with Doug Johnstone

Episode  |  7 September 2022  |  1 hr 10 mins

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

Writer Doug Johnstone shares four SMWS drams with DJ Vic Galloway in the latest episode of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music, with reflections on how his love of whisky inspired his novel Smokeheads and how these Society drams pair perfectly with music from Little Simz to Biffy Clyro.

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 44: Stuart MacPherson Master of Wood

Episode  |  30 August 2022  |  42 mins 54 secs

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

Depending on who you speak to, the cask that you put your whisky into to mature can contribute anything from 50 to more than 70 per cent of its final flavour. Whatever figure you land on, it plays a crucial role. One person who knows more about the impact of various forms of oak on whisky – and especially from sherry influenced casks – is Stuart MacPherson, until very recently Macallan’s Master of Wood. Stuart has now retired from the role, but Whisky Talk caught up with him to find out all about his life’s work in the world of wood – which goes all the way back to his schooldays in the late 1970s.

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.