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01 January 2000
Swissky
By Richard Gordon

Six years ago, husband and wife team of Brad Richards, a peripatetic American computer programmer and Ina Kraan, a Dutch/Swiss computer researcher, were on the move again.

They were leaving Leith where they had temporarily made their home . though most of the time was spent in the Members' Room, and moving to Switzerland, where there was no Society. Faced with such a bleak prospect, Brad and Ina took the only sensible course and asked if they could establish an overseas branch of the Society. A plan, a few drams, plenty of discussions and the Swiss child of the Society was born.

With barely a stumble, the Swiss branch has grown, introducing many new members to the pleasures of single cask whiskies. This was particularly challenging in the early days, when Switzerland had an import ban on any spirits above 55%abv, making importing cask strength whiskies rather difficult.

Although many Swiss members have made the pilgrimage to the Members. Room in Leith, and now London, their own meetings have been restricted to hotels and restaurants around the country, with no place to call their own. With the Society in Switzerland going from hobby to full time occupation, a place was needed to house these increasing activities whilst also providing facilities for members. (Nor should I forget the arrival of the youngest Swiss members . Aiden and Tynan . who placed additional pressure on space!)

A house was found in Schoenenwerd, a small town on the Aare river, equidistant from Basel and Zurich. In the best traditions of interesting houses, this one has a history. Its name is Rothenhof but is known in the town as Villa Streuli. It was built in the 1930s by the chairman of the Bally Shoe Company. Here Mr and Mrs Streuli (a trained gardener) lived until their mid 90s. They lavished considerable attention on the house and the garden. Although faded now, most of this can still be seen today.

This fine house is now home to the Swiss branch, and house and grounds are being restored to life. Here you will find a warm welcome with traditional touches. There is a fine, irreplaceable oak and walnut floor, oak panelling, and a warming stove behind a tiled wall to keep the members room warm. This room is long, panelled and looks out to the garden. The top of the members. room turns a corner and where there is a small, private area reserved for cigar smokers. At the other end is, of course, the bar with as fine a selection of Society malts and Scottish beers as you would expect. You can even book the room for business meetings.

Arrangements are being made with local hotels for accommodation and, if you are staying over, make a point of requesting a tour of the Bally shoe museum. Behind a characteristically discrete Swiss facade lies a most extraordinary, and probably priceless, collection of shoes dating from the time of the Pharaohs. Also noteworthy are the drinking shoes, used as gestures of love amongst courting couples. Perhaps The Society should re-introduce this tradition?

A trip to Schoenenwerd will be a rewarding experience. Take one of the many reliable trains to the town, wander up the hill from the station, through the rickety gate and into the garden. Settle into one of the old leather armchairs with a Society glass in hand. After all, where else can you sip Society whiskies, wander outside into the garden, meet like-minded people, have a light snack or just sit and contemplate the vagaries of life-apart from home that is?

The Society in Austria 'The Swiss Society' is beginning full services to Austria. Austrian members will have the opportunity to receive all Society publications in German, to order Society whiskies and, in the near future, to attend local Society tastings. Initially, Austrian members will be administered through the Swiss branch. For further information, please refer to the Austrian web-site at: www.smws.at

We recommend that members presently living in Austria transfer their memberships to the Austrian branch. This way, you will receive information on available Austrian bottlings and on events and tastings in Austria. Transferred member-ships will retain their current expiry date and thereafter will be renewed with the Austrian branch. Please note that other Society branches will not be able to send whisky into Austria.

To transfer your membership, contact the Society at: Entfelderstrasse 7, CH-5012 Schoenenwerd. Telephone: +43 1 512 4000 Fax: +43 1 512 4001 e-mail smws@smws.at"

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