The best of times

It’s no secret that whisky is best enjoyed with a close friend. From celebrating special occasions and belated catchups, to toasting a loved one’s passing, whisky is a quiet bystander to many of life’s highest and lowest moments. Most members will understand there’s more to it than what’s inside the glass – pouring a dram can signpost our most meaningful memories. For Jonathan Payne, the Society represents some of life’s best times, and surrendering his senses to a measure of cask strength whisky is the perfect chance to reminisce.

Jonathan found his passion for whisky in the early 1980s when his new pal, Shaun Springer, suggested he tried a single malt. It was an instant hit, and the pair went on to share over 30 years of whisky adventures together. “Shaun and I became friends as soon as we first met to be honest” Jonathan says. “He was as close, sometimes closer than a brother and we always had things to talk about.”  

Taking the first steps in his whisky journey, it wasn’t long before Jonathan heard of a newly formed whisky club making some noise in Scotland. He explains: “In the Summer of 1983 I went for a holiday with my new wife, Eunice, in Salcombe, Devon. After dinner one night I walked up to the bar to order a whisky and got talking to a guy who told me about this Society that had just opened in Scotland. I took the details and signed up as soon as we got home. Then I contacted Shaun, and he signed up soon after.”

Jonathan and Shaun didn’t look back after joining and soon got involved in the Society’s early London tastings. He adds: “The early tastings were amazing, usually held in the Crypt, they were run by Pip Hills and a lovely lady by the name of Anne Cooper, now Anne Griffiths.” Anne, who was instrumental in the Society’s early success, played a significant role in bringing more tastings to London and eventually helped open our Members’ Room on Greville Street. She remembers the pair well: “They came to most, if not all our London tastings. Without the support of these members and our resulting increase in new members, we could never have opened our London Members’ Room in 1999. They were always together and kept me on my toes! Two lovely cheeky chappies who were always great fun and loved their whisky!”

And cheeky chappies they were, as Jonathan confirms: “We were always first in and last out and we didn’t miss a tasting! There were always five whiskies to taste, and you were only supposed to have one of each. We would look at each other and say ‘that was nice, let’s try that one again.’ The young lady would say ‘haven’t I just served you?’ We’d reply ‘no, somebody looks very much like us’, it worked every time! The atmosphere was always good, the whisky was special and the staff were great. When the Members’ Room opened we would stop off on the way home at least twice a week, they were very special times.”

The pair continued their mischievous Society adventures until 2013 when Shaun tragically passed away at just 58, making Jonathan’s connection to the Society even more poignant. He continues: “My two best drinking buddies are sadly no longer with us. Shaun passed away in 2013 and there was another dear friend, Robin, again sadly no longer with us. Whisky isn’t everyone’s favourite drink but to share it with friends is special, especially Society drams. They were very special times, and I still miss him so much.”

In Shaun’s absence, Jonathan has continued his Society journey and always keeps a close eye out for any bottlings from his favourite distillery, distillery 59. Jonathan adds: “Shaun’s favourite was distillery 59, so naturally that’s always the first number I look for. In December 2021 Cask No. 59.66: Look deep into the light came up. That year Shaun would have been 66 so I ordered a few. The Tasting Notes were amazing: ‘A wonderful, rather old school highland malt. Structured, intricate, elegant and full of malty complexity and subtle, varied fruitiness.’ Maybe Shaun was not always very subtle or elegant, but the rest is him to a tee.”  

Earlier this year Jonathan returned to his old stomping grounds at Greville Street with another old pal and Society member, Ian Tinsley. Together, the pair enjoyed a few drams and reminisced over old times. He continues: “Going back to Greville Street was amazing and actually quite emotional. I hadn’t been there since Shaun passed away in 2013. It’s changed a bit, but the staff were amazing. They made me and Ian feel very special.” As they left, venue manager Simone gifted Jonathan a bottle, Cask No. 59.98: Walk past a tapas bar. Jonathan adds: “I could have cried. After all these years and all the memories, it was very special. I have no bad memories of being a Society member, only good stories to pass on.”