Glass half full

The first dram I remember ordering – it was in a bar in Leith, but not yet at The Vaults – came with an unusual question. “Water on the side or a wet glass?” the bartender asked.

In that moment, as a thoroughly inexperienced whisky drinker, the novelty of the latter was irresistible. I may not have understood that much about the influence even a few drops of water can have on a whisky, but I embraced the “wet glass” serve, almost as a secret handshake – my nod to the professionals that I might just know what I was doing. I didn’t, yet, but I was learning.

Now, here at the Society we know the difference a little water can make, and I’ve come to understand there’s so much more to whisky than its enjoyment in damp glassware in the nearly two decades since. One thing has remained consistent throughout: I still find myself drawn to novelty. Not for its own sake but because every different whisky experience I’ve had – be that a distillery visit, a tasting, or the first dram from a new bottle – only serves to highlight the potential breadth out there, untasted and unknown.

My first distillery visit was to Blair Athol in Pitlochry, around 2011. My partner had introduced me to the whisky, and that visit was the first time I properly experienced the connection between the process and the product and where all that room for variety comes from. I had no idea what to expect and was utterly unprepared to ask any questions.

Tough luck, the two of us were the only ones on our tour, so I had to give it a bash. I couldn’t tell you now what my novice brain came up with, but I remember it earned me an extra dram in the post tour tasting. I’ll chalk that up to beginner’s luck rather than any grand insight on my part, but it taught me whisky only ever rewards the inquisitive. With that in mind, we hit the distillery shop and came away with three new bottles with which to take up our inquiries.

I’m not a collector in the traditional sense; I buy whisky to enjoy it – and count the experiences it brings, and the people you share it with, as the things most worth collecting. I know the quest to ‘complete’ whisky is an impossible one. That doesn’t make it any less enjoyable to keep collecting ‘firsts’, be they bottles, single drams or experiences. I have favourites I come back to time and time again, of course, but the notion that for the rest of time, without ever leaving the whisky world, you could go out and try something never to be repeated is one I can’t leave unexplored.

For a whisky lover always looking to try something new there really could be no better home than The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Like many of you, I first joined thanks to membership bought as a gift. Popping open the first bottle the day it arrived, my partner and I carefully poured precise single measures, already knowing we would want to make it last.

After what I think was a very restrained four bottles purchased in year one – one of which remains my favourite whisky to this day – and many a visit to The Vaults, I was pretty much committed for life and renewal was guaranteed.

How fortunate then that after six years as a member the opportunity arose to turn that passion into my day job. As marketing director for the SMWS I get to find out the answers to all the burning questions I had as a member. Not only that, I have the enviable opportunity to know and work with the many expert teams here to help decide – all the good stuff we’re giving members access to long before it finds its way into your glass.

Getting to look behind the curtain has been equal parts daunting and thrilling. What untold treasure is there to mine and share? Will knowing how the magic happens spoil it? I’m glad to say the magic is still very much intact. If anything, I think I’m more impressed at how all the tricks are done.

It’s safe to say there’s no shortage of that novelty I seek on the inside. No lack of new things to do, say and share with members this year and beyond. There’s no better time to get into the good stuff, however you like to drink it.

Emily Puddephatt is marketing director at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society