Whisky Talk

Peated lowlands & new wave distilleries | March Outturn Podcast

04 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This month Calum and Duncan are joined by Anna Grahn where the trio uncover our latest Creators Collection, uncork a brand new 'Heresy' releas...

Women in whisky & The OurWhisky Foundation | Becky Paskin

26 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

OurWhisky Foundation is a non-profit organisation that seeks to recognise, support and empower women working in the whisky industry. The Society’s J...

Traumatising first drams & debunking tasting myths | Brendan McCarron

28 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we're joined by whisky expert and master distiller Brendan McCarron. Having spent time with Diageo, Distell, and Glenmorangie, Bre...

Unconventional drams & insanely long fermentation times | February Outturn Podcast

26 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This month love is in the air as Calum and Duncan unpack some of the Society's most scintillating Valentine's Day bottlings. With plenty of ch...

Industry secrets & custom made casks | January Outturn Podcast

07 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This month Calum and Duncan welcome in the new year by covering a great range of Society offerings. They uncloak a lesser-known industry secret with o...

Solera systems & unique distilling techniques | December Outturn Podcast

28 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This month Duncan and Calum are joined by the Society's head of whisky creation Euan Campbell where the trio get stuck into all the best drams in the ...

The man who brought The Macallan to the world stage | Willie Phillips

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As managing director of The Macallan in the 1970s, Willie Phillips helped to build its reputation at a time when the industry was in the doldrums and ...

The biggest Outturn of the year & Edinburgh whisky festival | November Outturn Podcast

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This month Calum and Duncan head out to Edinburgh Whisky Festival where they get stuck in to the biggest Outturn of the year. Tune in to hear them cha...

The founder of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society | Pip Hills

24 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Richard Goslan sits down with Pip Hills, the founder of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Pip lost contact with the Society in the 1990s...

Sleeping in the maltings & whisky goosebumps | Stewart Buchanan Benriach distillery

07 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Global Malts Ambassador for Brown-Forman, Stewart Buchanan stepped into Queen Street earlier this year to talk about his whisky adventures with Mads S...

Eight new flavour profiles & local whisky heroes | October Outturn Podcast

02 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This month Calum and Duncan are joined by Mads Schmoll to uncover the Society's eight new flavour profiles. Working their way through each of the new ...

The perfect pairing & whisky that makes you go mad | September Outturn Podcast

03 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Taiwanese whisky & worm tub condensers | August Outturn Podcast

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This month Calum and Duncan tuck into some unusual cask types, taste whisky from Taiwan and find the perfect introduction to peat. Our latest Creators...

Episode 77: Brutal Islay weather, direct fired stills & peated Lowland whisky | July Outturn Podcast

02 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This month Duncan and Calum are joined by Society brand ambassador and member services executive, Francesco Ramella. While finding out what's on offer...

Episode 76: Logan Shaw and SMWS June Outturn

04 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This month Calum and Duncan are joined by Logan Shaw, the assistant venue manager at our Queen Street Members’ Room. With hip flasks in hand, the th...

Episode 75: Anthony Delcros and SMWS April Outturn

02 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This month Calum and Richard are joined by The Scotch Malt Whisky Society's Anthony Delcros as the trio prepare for this year’s whisky festivals. An...

Episode 74: Lucy Connor and SMWS March Outturn

05 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This month Calum and Richard get zen as they’re guided through a ‘dramaste’ styled tasting by Lucy Connor. Lucy took a day out from her time beh...

Episode 73: Matt Bailey and SMWS February Outturn

04 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Richard and Calum catch up with Matt Bailey, who recently joined The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s European team as managing director. The trio discu...

Episode 72: Olaf Meier

15 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Scotch Malt Whisky Society ambassador and Tasting Panel chairperson Olaf Meier is a fountain of knowledge, driven by a limitless number of whisky stor...

Episode 71: Scotch & Sherry

02 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we’re going on a special journey across Spain, to tell the story of whisky and sherry and the wonderful synergy between the two worl...

Episode 70: Paul John

17 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Regular listeners will know that we are fortunate at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society to welcome representatives from distilleries, who visit us in our ...

Episode 69: Flavour Journey with Kami Newton

03 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we’re taking a deep dive into the flavour journey that takes place every time we uncork a bottle of whisky and then nose and taste ...

Episode 68: Blair Athol

28 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We were fortunate to have a visit from two of the team from Blair Athol distillery to The Vaults in February, for a special tasting of four expression...

Episode 67: Springbank

31 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In February, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society paid host to Melanie Stanger from Springbank distillery in Campbeltown, who visited our Members’ Room at...

Episode 66: Pip's Prague Adventure

04 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The vintage Lagonda belonging to Society founder Pip Hills played an instrumental part in our whisky club’s foundation, carrying the first precious ...

Episode 65: Matugga Rum

30 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A taste of rum at a family gathering led husband-and-wife team Jacine and Paul Rutasikwa on the path to setting up their own distillery in the town of...

Episode 64: Val McDermid

25 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Crime writer and whisky enthusiast Val has been a fan of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society since its early days, after receiving an educational journey a...

Episode 63: Maverick - The Founder's Tale with Pip Hills

02 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is marking its 40th anniversary with an updated and revised edition of Pip Hills' memoir, "Maverick – The Founder’s...

Episode 62: The sound of Glen Scotia

31 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How do you capture the sense of sound in a distillery and its location – and then incorporate that into a song? That’s what the team at Glen Scoti...

Episode 61: Denis Lesgourgues

31 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Whisky Talk the Society strays from the familiarity of Scotland's malt whisky to the south of France for an insight into the world ...

Episode 60: Kythe Distillery

19 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

With so many new distilleries coming online across Scotland, it’s sometimes hard to keep track. But when Angus MacRaild dropped the news at the star...

Episode 59: Craig Johnstone

05 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

From East Lothian to Tasmania and back to Scotland, Craig Johnstone has worked across the whisky industry for the past 20 years. Today he works for Ed...

Episode 58: Falkirk Distillery

05 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Stray just a few moments from the M9 motorway between Glasgow and Edinburgh and you will discover Falkirk Distillery, a grand whitewashed building, co...

Episode 57: Richard Paterson

22 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our guest on this edition needs little in the way of introduction to any whisky fan. Richard Paterson has been working in the whisky industry for the ...

Episode 56: SMWS Women

01 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Women have been instrumental in making the Society what it is today. The three As of Anne Dana, Anne Griffiths and Annabel Meikle came from different ...

Episode 55: Port of Leith

24 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Port of Leith is Scotland's first vertical distillery, founded by Ian Stirling and Paddy Fletcher. Standing nine storeys tall, it’s just next door t...

Episode 54: Malts & Music with Sam Heughan

01 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Outlander star and whisky fanatic Sam Heughan joins Vic Galloway in our latest episode of Whisky Talk Malts & Music. Sam discusses his passion for whi...

Episode 53: Pip Hills and his whisky epiphany

03 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The origin of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society can be traced back to the founder, Pip Hills, visiting his friends at a farmhouse in deepest rural Aberde...

Episode 52: Iain McAlister

26 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Glen Scotia distillery is a favourite of Society members, and we were delighted in early December to welcome distillery manager and master distiller I...

Episode 51: Brendan McCarron

26 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

At The Vaults recently, we welcomed Brendan McCarron, master distiller at Distell’s Bunnahabhain, Deanston and Tobermory distilleries. We recorded B...

Episode 50: Malts & Music with Karine Polwart

10 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Karine Polwart is one of Scotland’s most respected singer-songwriters. She sat down at The Vaults with Vic Galloway for our latest episode of Whisky...

Episode 49: Dr Bill Lumsden Part 2

27 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The name Dr Bill Lumsden doesn’t need much of an introduction in the whisky world – the head of distilling and whisky creation at Glenmorangie and...

Episode 48: Dr Bill Lumsden Part 1

27 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The name Dr Bill Lumsden doesn’t need much of an introduction in the whisky world – the head of distilling and whisky creation at Glenmorangie and...

Episode 47: Malts & Music with The Whisky Sisters

18 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Vic Galloway catches up with the Whisky Sisters – Inka Larissa and Jennifer Rose – in the latest episode of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music, to find ou...

Episode 46: Malts & Music with Doug Johnstone

07 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Writer Doug Johnstone shares four SMWS drams with DJ Vic Galloway in the latest episode of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music, with reflections on how his lov...

Episode 45: Dave Broom and A Sense of Place

31 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Whisky writer Dave Broom has an endless curiosity and fascination for whisky, and in his latest book he has set out to explore the story of Scotland’...

Episode 44: Stuart MacPherson Master of Wood

30 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Depending on who you speak to, the cask that you put your whisky into to mature can contribute anything from 50 to more than 70 per cent of its final ...

Episode 43: Malts & Music with James Yorkston

11 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Musician, writer and whisky fan James Yorkston shares four SMWS drams with DJ Vic Galloway in the latest episode of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music, with a...

Episode 42: Jake King and Whisky Place-Names

02 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wondered about the origin of a whisky's place-name? Jake King, a Gaelic researcher from the Sabhal Mòr Ostaig campus of the University of the Is...

Episode 41: Malts & Music with Gemma Cairney

15 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Broadcaster Gemma Cairney sits down at The Vaults with DJ and writer Vic Galloway in the new episode of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music, to chat about her ...

Episode 40: The Islay Festival

30 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The SMWS returned to Islay for the first in-person festival since 2019, with an Open Day at Islay House to share drams, the Society's festival Rare R...

Episode 39: Malts & Music with Olaf Furniss

20 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

DJ and writer Vic Galloway is back with a new series of Malts & Music, where he invites guests from across Scotland’s creative landscape to share Sc...

Episode 38: Whisky Storytellers

22 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we dig into the rich tradition of whisky storytelling, with contributions from two Scottish musicians, storytellers and whisky lovers....

Episode 37: SMWS member Pete Begg

25 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

From studying engineering, Pete Begg found himself drawn to the world of cooking, working in various restaurants before becoming friends and subsequen...

Episode 36: Lochlea with John Campbell

24 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This farm distillery in Ayrshire has quietly started producing whisky and lured John Campbell away from Laphroaig in Islay in the process. Whisky Talk...

Episode 35: Malts & Music with Val McDermid

10 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Writer Val McDermid joins BBC Scotland DJ and writer Vic Galloway for Episode 6 of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music, brought to you by The Scotch Malt Whisk...

Episode 34: Malts & Music with Nicola Meighan

10 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Music and arts broadcaster and writer Nicola Meighan joins BBC Scotland DJ and writer Vic Galloway for Episode 5 of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music, brough...

Episode 33: Malts & Music with Justin Currie

13 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Justin Currie, founder and frontman of Del Amitri, joins BBC Scotland DJ and writer Vic Galloway for Episode 4 of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music, brought ...

Episode 32: Malts & Music with Stina Tweeddale

09 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Episode 3 of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music, brought to you by The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, finds BBC Scotland DJ and writer Vic Galloway deep into con...

Episode 31: Charlie MacLean MBE

22 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Charlie MacLean is one of the whisky world’s leading writers and experts, and this year saw him honoured as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of ...

Episode 30: Malts & Music with Norman Blake from Teenage Fanclub

10 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In Episode 2 of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music, BBC Scotland DJ and writer Vic Galloway sits down with Norman Blake, co-founder of Scottish indie rock leg...

Episode 29: Malts & Music with Ian Rankin

06 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

BBC Scotland DJ and writer Vic Galloway presents the first in our special series of Whisky Talk: Malts & Music podcasts, for a whisky-fuelled chat wit...

Episode 28: Glenturret Distillery

21 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

With a new owner, a new look – and even a new date of birth – Glenturret distillery is emerging from the shadows to take its place in the single m...

Episode 27: Dennis Malcolm and Glen Grant Distillery

27 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dennis Malcolm started out at Glen Grant distillery in Speyside as a 15-year-old apprentice cooper. He worked his way up through different roles in th...

Episode 26: Ardnamurchan distillery

01 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Ardnamurchan distillery is tucked away at the end of Scotland’s most westerly peninsula, where the natural environment is playing a major role in bo...

Episode 25: Whisky and perfume

02 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Imogen Russon-Taylor started out working in whisky before her nose led her to explore the possibility of creating her own perfumes, and after a period...

Episode 24: Irvine Welsh

11 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

His ground-breaking 1993 novel Trainspotting centered on a bunch of heroin addicts in Leith, but these days whisky is more likely to be a plot point i...

Episode 23: Pip Hills and The Vaults

02 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Pip Hills, the founder of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, tells Whisky Talk the remarkable and unlikely story of how The Vaults in Leith became the So...

Episode 22: Meet the whisky podcasters

04 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

With thousands of whisky podcasts to choose from, we put out a call to our members and the SMWS team to ask them for their top picks. The Society's Ma...

Episode 21: The English Whisky Company with Andrew Nelstrop

04 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The first of England's new distilleries to set up was at St George's in Norfolk, where Andrew Nelstrop helped his father realise a long-held dream of ...

Episode 20: Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery with David Thompson

15 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Traceability is at the heart of Spirit of Yorkshire distillery's operations, which started distilling in 2016, explains co-founder and crop scientist ...

Episode 19: Lakes Distillery with Dhavall Gandhi

14 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The Lakes Distillery started operations in December 2014 and recruited Dhavall Gandhi in 2016. Since then he has brought a whole world of inspiration ...

Episode 18: Bimber Distillery

24 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Bimber Distillery was founded in London in 2015 and laid down its first casks in May 2016. In this episode of Whisky Talk, we talk to the distillery's...

Episode 17: Cotswolds distillery with Daniel Szor

16 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Daniel Szor, founder of the Cotswolds distillery, tells Whisky Talk about how he turned his passion for single malt whisky into a radical career chang...

Episode 16: Lagg Distillery on Arran

18 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The SMWS paid a visit in early 2019 to the Isle of Arran to check on the progress of the new Lagg distillery on the south of the island, which will be...

Episode 15: Ardmore distillery

05 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Ardmore distillery is nestled in a remote corner of Aberdeenshire, and isn't usually open to visitors. Thankfully, distillery manager George Forsyth a...

Episode 14: Raasay distillery and island tour

28 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Making whisky on the Isle of Raasay is a modern success story that is down to determination and hard work, but it's also bringing new life to an islan...

Episode 13: From filling casks to fighting coronavirus

15 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

With demand for hand-sanitiser outstripping supply, distilleries big and small have been playing a key role in providing frontline care workers with e...

Episode 12: The birth of Leith's Bonnington Distillery

08 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Its construction has been delayed because of archeological finds and it finally started distilling as the coronavirus pandemic took hold in the UK. Bu...

Episode 11: Charlie MacLean's SMWS whisky masterclass

18 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Charlie MacLean is not only a leading authority on all things whisky, he's also a long-standing member of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society's Tasting Pan...

Episode 10: Masataka and Rita Taketsuru, A Whisky Love Story

06 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It's 100 years since Rita Cowan fell in love with her family's Japanese lodger, Masataka Taketsuru, when he stayed with her family while studying Orga...

Episode 9: Sam Heughan

07 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Whisky Talk travels to Glencoe to catch up with Scottish actor Sam Heughan, otherwise known as Jamie Fraser in the historical time travel series Outla...

Episode 8: Jerez

01 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Join us on a journey to Jerez, to immerse ourselves in Spain’s Sherry Triangle and explore the synergy between the worlds of whisky and sherry. We v...

Episode 7: Leith's whisky history, Tomatin and Tamdhu

31 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Join us to find out more about Leith's whisky history with a walking tour of the area, with the Society's Vaults members' room at the heart of it. The...

Episode 6: From Glen Scotia to Jura and Islay's Ardnahoe

20 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society travels from Glen Scotia in Campbeltown, where Iain McAlister explains why there's a new buzz around the distillery, to...

Episode 5: Whisky pilgrims at the Islay Festival

29 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Scotch Malt Whisky Society in the splendid surroundings of Islay House, where members and whisky pilgrims have gathered for the Islay Whisky ...

Episode 4: Tobermory, The Golden Dram and the Northern Pole of Inaccessibility

18 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we catch up with Tobermory distillery’s master blender Kirstie McCallum, find out about the documentary Scotch – The Golden Dram ...

Episode 3: Sandy Hyslop

29 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Sandy Hyslop, director of blending at Chivas Brothers talks to our Spirits Manager, Euan Campbell from his sample room in Dumbarton near Glasgow. Hysl...

Episode 2: Pip Hills & The Flavour Revolution - Pt 2

18 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Episode 1: Pip Hills & The Flavour Revolution - Pt 1

18 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the first ever podcast of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Hosted by Unfiltered editor Richard Goslan, we'll be introducing you to some of t...