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Whisky Talk

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society

Welcome to Whisky Talk! Hosted by Richard Goslan, editor of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s members magazine Unfiltered, we'll be introducing you to some of the people who make whisky, the places it comes from and the characters who bring it to life.

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  • 20 episodes
  • Avg 43 min
  • English

Episodes 20

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  • August 5 · 43 min

    Massive Speyside stills & the perfect introduction to peat | August Outturn Podcast

    Tune in to the August Outturn podcast as Calum and Duncan uncover some of the best gems being released this month. After sampling a dram produced from abnormally large stills, the pair discover the perfect introduction to peat and unveil the ultimate flight from our new Creators Collection, The Elgin Marvels - two icons from Speyside.

  • July 1 · 44 min

    Getting knee deep in peat & custom distillations | July Outturn Podcast

    This month Calum and Duncan are on the road filming for an exciting new documentary. Tune in to find out more about that, see the guys enjoy some of the most intriguing bottles from the July Outturn, catch up with Richard as he stops by for a cameo and indulge in one of their favourite whisky snacks.

  • June 22 · 39 min

    Society’s whisky director Kai Ivalo on retirement, his whisky journey & the growth of the SMWS

    The Scotch Malt Whisky Society wishes its whisky director Kai Ivalo a long and healthy retirement, after 22 years of overseeing our stocks of whisky – along with various other roles with the world’s leading whisky club. Before he heads off, Richard Goslan caught up with Kai to reflect on his time with the Society, the changes he’s seen and been part of over the past two decades and what he’s planning to do with his newfound spare time.

  • April 29 · 53 min

    Festival seasons & the regionality question | May Outturn Podcast

    This month Calum and Duncan dive in to festival season with five spectacular drams each representing one of the five whisky regions. Tune in to hear the pair discuss whether the regions still have a place in the modern whisky world, unveil some exciting summer bottlings, and get their fill on some scintillating surprises in this months Outturn.

  • April 16 · 36 min

    A revival from ruin & the magic of a single cask | Annandale distillery

    Tune into this episode of the Whisky Talk Podcast as Richard Goslan visits Annandale distillery to meet co-founder Professor David Thomson. Richard finds out about the incredible story of resurrection, renovation and the revival of whisky-making at the site near Dumfries after almost a century.

  • March 4 · 51 min

    Peated lowlands & new wave distilleries | March Outturn Podcast

    This month Calum and Duncan are joined by Anna Grahn where the trio uncover our latest Creators Collection, uncork a brand new 'Heresy' release, and get stuck into the Society's third year of partnership with the OurWhisky Foundation.

  • February 26 · 42 min

    Women in whisky & The OurWhisky Foundation | Becky Paskin

    OurWhisky Foundation is a non-profit organisation that seeks to recognise, support and empower women working in the whisky industry. The Society’s Julie Roberts has been both a mentee and mentor for OurWhisky Foundation. She sat down for a catch up at The Vaults with founder Becky Paskin, where the pair sampled our latest release of special bottlings for International Women’s Day in support of the programme.

  • January 28 · 55 min

    Traumatising first drams & debunking tasting myths | Brendan McCarron

    In this episode we're joined by whisky expert and master distiller Brendan McCarron. Having spent time with Diageo, Distell, and Glenmorangie, Brendan has worked with some of the biggest names in Scotch whisky, and is no stranger to us here at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Listen in as he recounts his horrific first dram, offers up a whisky masterclass, and analyses today's industry.

  • January 7 · 44 min

    Industry secrets & custom made casks | January Outturn Podcast

    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 our two new 'Heresy' bottlings, get a taste for life down under with our latest Creators Collection, Fortified, and get stuck into some custom casks from a peculiar distillery.

  • Nov 28, 2025 · 39 min

    Solera systems & unique distilling techniques | December Outturn Podcast

    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 December Outturn. In this Christmas special we embrace the festivities, uncover some unsung heroes, and taste the first bottling to come from the Society's very own solera system.

  • Nov 18, 2025 · 32 min

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

    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 market for single malts was still miniscule. After bringing The Macallan to the world stage, Willie went on to become chairman of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, collecting plenty of stories along the way.

  • Oct 24, 2025 · 19 min

    The founder of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society | Pip Hills

    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, and didn't rekindle his relationship with the SMWS until Richard tracked him down in 2018. Here the pair reflect on Pip's return to the Society, his health at the age of 85 and how the Society became a force for good with more than 40,000 members across the world.

  • Oct 7, 2025 · 35 min

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

    Global Malts Ambassador for Brown-Forman, Stewart Buchanan stepped into Queen Street earlier this year to talk about his whisky adventures with Mads Schmoll. From his early days on the island of Mull to travelling the world to talk all about all things BenRiach today, he’s worked in nearly every part of the industry. Tune in to hear more and watch as Stewart and Mads try The Vaults Collection, Cask No. 12.80: Heaven in a leather hammock.

Showing 1–20 of 20 episodes