CELEBRATING THE MEMBER EXPERIENCE We hear from a selection of our members about their favourite single cask experience this year, what they look for in a dram, and where they found their start with the world’s largest and most unique whisky club...
SCOTT BRICKHILL
Member since 2018
WHISKY HAS ALWAYS BEEN ON THE SHELF IN OUR FAMILY HOME. My grandfather would sit on the front steps of his house at the end of the day and enjoy 100 Pipers whilst watching the world go past. For him, simple pleasures were about enjoying a whisky with family and friends. And that’s what the Society is all about for me. Living in North Queensland makes it pretty difficult to get to Society events, but this year I joined in on two virtual tastings. This was a great way for the far-flung members to get together and talk all things whisky and learn a thing or two about what we were sampling. The tasting in June was from The Vaults, and it was so easy and enjoyable that I then linked into the September session, ‘The Gathering’, hosted by Matt and Andrew. All of the whiskies were fantastic, but it was the coming together, the questions, answers and member discussions that made it really fun.
My Society whisky journey took me this year to finally visit ‘Whisky and Alement’ in Melbourne. Walking in and seeing the green bottles standing proudly on the bar had me wanting to pull up a stool and start from left to right. The staff were so welcoming and knowledgeable that two nights later I returned and ventured upstairs to the Melbourne Whisky Room. Well my jaw just hit the floor. My wife and I spent the next few hours window-side sharing a cheese board whilst I geeked out over the massive SMWS selection on hand.
No flavour profile is a favourite, but Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits, thanks to 68.18 Triple berry lamington cake could be close. I may also have an affinity to the deep red stripe due to a lightbulb release, 35.190 Hot apple and cinnamon sponge. 52.23 Ice cream and gorse by the sea. This is quite easily my whisky of the year. It is so good I want all my friends to try it, but at the same time I want to selfishly horde what’s remaining for myself. Ahhh the double-edged sword of the single cask.”
Oh, a whisky highlight?
73.69 Dark side eclipsed by sweet joys. This year the Society has helped educate me more about whisky and its nuances. Each month I scour the pages of the Outturn, looking for a distillery that has been taken in a different direction, something that offers up a truly a unique expression.
Scott Brickhill 13