Whisky Talk

By The Scotch Malt Whisky SocietySociety & Culture Arts Places & Travel Food

Whisky Talk episodes

November 10, 2022 Episode 50: Malts & Music with Karine Polwart
Karine Polwart is one of Scotland’s most respected singer-songwriters. She sat down at The Vaults with Vic Galloway for our latest episode of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music, to find out about her passion for whisky and what songs our selection of Society drams conjured up in her mind.
SMWS whiskies tasted and Karine Polwart’s tunes were:
G10.25: Whisky in a rum glass / Everything is Floating by Laurie Anderson
77.68: Curtain-twitchers teatime / Sarah by Declan O’Rourke
6.56: Tea tree tobacco leaves / Salt by Mugison
135.37: Pickle me timbers! / Apogeuma Sto Dendro by Alkinoos Ioannidis
You can watch a video of the conversation on the SMWS YouTube channel here
Spotify link can be found here
1 hr 3 min
October 27, 2022 Episode 49: Dr Bill Lumsden Part 2
The name Dr Bill Lumsden doesn’t need much of an introduction in the whisky world – the head of distilling and whisky creation at Glenmorangie and Ardbeg has been a constant force of innovation and flavour development over the past 30 years or so.
Members of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society were fortunate to attend a tasting conducted by Dr Bill at The Vaults in October, to taste some fantastic whiskies from Glenmorangie, Ardbeg and of course the Society….and also to hear his thoughts on everything in the whisky world from additional maturation, to non-aged statements, the use of sherry casks and a whole lot more in between. Here's part 2 of Dr Bill's presentation to SMWS members.
52 min
October 27, 2022 Episode 48: Dr Bill Lumsden Part 1
The name Dr Bill Lumsden doesn’t need much of an introduction in the whisky world – the head of distilling and whisky creation at Glenmorangie and Ardbeg has been a constant force of innovation and flavour development over the past 30 years or so.
Members of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society were fortunate to attend a tasting conducted by Dr Bill at The Vaults in October, to taste some fantastic whiskies from Glenmorangie, Ardbeg and of course the Society….and also to hear his thoughts on everything in the whisky world from additional maturation, to non-aged statements, the use of sherry casks and a whole lot more in between.
The Society’s spirits educator Dr Andy Forrester caught up with Bill for a quick chat before the pair of them hosted the tasting together in our Members’ Room.
1 hr 33 min
October 18, 2022 Episode 47: Malts & Music with The Whisky Sisters
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.
SMWS whiskies tasted and the Whisky Sisters’ tunes were:
Cask No. 41.46: Deep and dynamic / Jen: Mötley Crüe – Doctor Feelgood / Inka: George Michael –Freedom
Cask No. 150.3: Conversation lubrication / Inka; Leonard Cohen – Dance Me to the End of Love / Jen: Led Zeppelin – Immigrant Song
Cask No. 108.49: A particular kind of beauty / Inka: Bon Jovi – Bad Medicine / Jen: The Highwaymen – Highwayman
Cask No. 113.60: Sweet Petrichor / Inka: Greta Van Fleet – Heat Above / Jen: Kate Bush – Hounds of Love
You can watch a video of the conversation on the SMWS YouTube channel here
Spotify link can be found here
1 hr 9 min
September 07, 2022 Episode 46: Malts & Music with Doug Johnstone
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.
Whiskies tasted and Doug’s tunes were:
Cask No. 12.48: Hoppy madness / The Avalanches, Since I Left You
Cask No. 38.31: The magic is so strong / Little Simz, Point And Kill featuring Obongjayar
Cask No. 44.154: Terra Firma / Spoon, Held
Cask No. 138.12: Spice wreck / Biffy Clyro, Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies
You can watch a video of the conversation on the SMWS YouTube channel here
Spotify link can be found here
1 hr 11 min
August 31, 2022 Episode 45: Dave Broom and A Sense of Place
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.
34 min
August 30, 2022 Episode 44: Stuart MacPherson Master of Wood
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.
43 min
August 11, 2022 Episode 43: Malts & Music with James Yorkston
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.
Whiskies tasted and James's tunes were:
74.73.128: Flowers crushed by a falling oak tree + Ted Lucas / It’s so easy (when you know what you’re doing)
68.49: A day at the funfair + Elizabeth Cronin / The little pack of tailors
39.242: A curious concatenation + Philip Tabane / Dithabeng
16.50: Tar in the night + Susan Bear / M6
You can watch a video of the conversation on the SMWS YouTube channel here
Spotify link can be found here
1 hr 14 min
August 02, 2022 Episode 42: Jake King and Whisky Place-Names
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.
29 min
June 15, 2022 Episode 41: Malts & Music with Gemma Cairney
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
You can watch a video of the conversation on the SMWS YouTube channel here
Spotify link can be found here
1 hr 11 min

About Whisky Talk

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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…