A group of members from across Benelux paid a visit the Society’s Members’ Rooms and bonded warehouse in June, on a trip organised by Bob Wenting, SMWS Brand Ambassador and Country Manager for the Netherlands.
Giusi Condurso, manager at our Utrecht partner bar The Malt Vault, and Jurgen van Dijk, a journalist for Whisky Passion, joined the 13 members on the tour. First stop was an inside look at operations at the Society’s recently opened warehouse, Masterton Bond, for a tour and to see the origins of every Society cask bottling.
The group also held a mini-tasting before heading to Clydeside distillery for an arranged lunch, tasting and tour. To wrap up day one, the group visited the Society’s Members’ Room in the heart of Glasgow at 40 Bath Street, where they enjoyed a three-dram tasting with dinner.
On the way home, a bottle of Clydeside distillery's finest was handed around the bus on the way back to the hotel in Edinburgh.
Day two started with a Leith Whisky Trail, led by Kask Whisky’s Justine Hazlehurst, before the anticipated visit to The Vaults. The group was warmly welcomed by Sonia and Dean and had a tour of the Society’s spiritual home, followed by a lunch and a lively four-dram tasting - the highlight of the trip for many.
The Vaults captured the magic which many members were expecting, but 28 Queen Street was also calling for a final dinner in the Pip Hills Room, looking out across the Firth of Forth.
From this trip, one thing was certain: the group left Edinburgh with memories to last a lifetime, and a craving to return for more.