This May, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is putting ancient rivalries aside with the launch of Clans & Drams – a month-long celebration of ‘whisky clans’ that takes place during Homecoming Scotland 2014’s Whisky Month.
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society believes that the pleasure of exquisite whisky supersedes any family feud or clan dispute. So instead of battling over bloodlines, everyone (Scot or not) is invited into the Society’s members’ rooms in Edinburgh, Leith and London during May to ally themselves to a whisky clan.
The Society, which bottles single cask single malt whiskies from a huge range of distilleries, has created 12 special whisky clans based on flavour profiles. Every traditional family clan has a reputation that defines them, attributes such as bravery, honesty or dexterity. The Society have taken real clan mottos and personalities and attributed these to their flavour clans. Whether you’re the fiery ‘Spicy and Sweet’, or the majestic ‘Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits’, there is a whisky clan for everyone.
Mark van der Vijver at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society said: ‘We encourage everyone to focus on the flavours within each whisky so they don’t miss out on discovering something they may not usually try. Clans & Drams embodies this concept by taking a playful approach to traditional clans and creating our own flavour-based whisky clans.’
As well as opening its doors to non-members throughout May and pairing its latest release of whiskies to the 12 flavour clans, The Society is hosting a number of events – from ‘Clan Whisky Feasts’ featuring unique kinships of delicious whisky and food pairings, to The Bon Vivant’s Stuart McCluskey hosting ‘Clan Cocktails’ in the Society’s secret Bothy.
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