Scotch Malt Whisky Society announces whisky tasting World Record attempt
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) is striving to establish a Guinness World Record for hosting the largest online whisky tasting event.
In commemoration of its 40th year, and nearing the 40,000-member mark internationally, the whisky club aims to unite over 1,200 members from the UK, USA, Japan, China, and Australia for a three-part, 45-minute tasting session via Zoom on Saturday, September 30, 2023.
This endeavor to set a new record will occur during The Gathering, heralded as the premier event in the society’s anniversary year. The event will commence at 2 pm and will be broadcast live from the SMWS’ headquarters at The Vaults in Leith, in collaboration with video production firm GLO.
Established in Edinburgh in 1983 by Pip Hills, the SMWS started as a tight-knit group of whisky lovers purchasing and packaging casks for mutual enjoyment. Acquired by the Artisanal Spirits Company in 2015, it has grown to become the largest whisky club globally, boasting nearly 38,000 members across over 20 countries, with a thriving independent bottling business.
The tasting trio will be guided by SMWS master ambassador John McCheyne, senior director of SMWS USA Tom Smith, and director of SMWS Australia Matt Bailey. The selected drams include: Cask No. 55.78 What a Spread!, a 13-year-old Speyside distillery bottling; Cask No. 39.244 Tutti Frutti in a Wooden Bowl, an 11-year-old whisky with the SMWS Juicy Oak & Vanilla flavor profile; and Batch 15 Smokus Fruticosus, a blended malt consisting of drams from Islay and Orkney.
Event coordinator Madeleine Schmoll, SMWS UK’s social media and community manager, reflected, “The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has evolved significantly since Pip Hills and his cohorts began exploring the extraordinary flavors of single cask whisky in Edinburgh in the early 1980s. Now, four decades later, with nearly 40,000 members worldwide, including around 18,000 in the UK, there’s no more fitting way to celebrate than by rallying our members to attempt this world record.”
