Unfiltered Whisky Magazine - The Scotch Malt Whisky Society

<h2>A NEW ERA FOR THE SOCIETY -NEW SPIRIT</h2> 25 years of pioneering single cask, single malt scotch whisky – the prequel to an amazing adventure As you will see, we’ve been busy making some changes. With the Society celebrating its 25th anniversary, it seemed an excellent opportunity to refresh and revive our presentation including our bottle, membership pack, literature and the UK website. Much has changed in the world of malt whisky over the past 25 years. When we first threw open the doors in 1983, there was nothing quite like the Society, only a limited choice of malts were available to buy and there were few readily available sources of information or entertainment to quench our thirst for knowledge. As interest in malt whisky grew, members joined the Society to experience the variety of single casks that we offered and to find out more about the world of malt whisky. The Society stood out like a huge beacon. Our mission...is to intrigue, entertain and delight with the very best single cask, single malt whisky anywhere in the world! These days, however, there’s so much choice and information available that it can be almost overwhelming and often baffling. While the Society today remains unique in the world of malt whisky, that light must be nurtured. To ensure that the Society maintains its appeal and communicates its distinctive position in the world of whisky, we have made a few changes. Rest assured that the Society remains true to its roots and our mission to intrigue, entertain and delight with the very best single cask, single malt whisky available anywhere in the world! Our starting point was to look at the Society’s iconic green bottle. In recent years, it has perhaps suffered from ‘hiding its light under a bushel’. In considering how best to replace it, we took into account members’ requests to review some of the information presented on the label (not least the need for a tasting note and cask details) and consider ways in which to make the bottle a more immediately appealing item for gifting to others who aren’t quite ‘in the know’ about the Society’s special single cask malts. Much of what was held dear in the now ‘old’ bottle remains in the new bottle but with a greater visual presence that now matches the quality of the spirit inside. Be sure to take a look at the new membership pack which is as much a pleasure to unwrap as it is to explore. You will also see that we’re referring to ourselves as ‘a very curious Society’. This reflects the fact the Society itself was born out of a spirit of curiosity and that the Society offers a unique way to explore single malts, often doing things in a curious way. We’re also expecting to have some fun with this new spirit of curiosity so watch this space! So, let your curiosity take hold as you discover and enjoy your ‘new-look’ Society. Online developments - WHISKY ON THE WEB Society members are curious and discerning creatures, which is why the temptation to discover something new is never far away. So the good news is, a new Society adventure now awaits online. At <a href="http://www.smws.co.uk">www.smws.co.uk</a> members can enjoy an animated short story of the Society’s history in Our Unique Whisky, and the wealth of articles and news past and present in Your Society Adventure, including an online version of Unfiltered. It will also ensure you don’t miss out on the latest information on Society whisky tastings around the UK and the latest from the Members’ Rooms in Edinburgh and London. The Society’s online whisky shop (<stong>www.smws.co.uk/shop</stong>) is THE page to bookmark. With only 20 new casks bottled and released every month, every one unique and limited in availability, regular visits to ensure you don’t miss the latest treasure are highly recommended. Members can also visit <a href="http://www.smws.com">www.smws.com</a> the international gateway to the Society, the world’s premier destination for the true malt lover. From there, you can click through to any of the Society’s branches around the world.