A TOAST: GLASGOW'S WHISKY CLUB

Well, we made it. Almost two years after a small gathering of like-minded souls had the idea for Glasgow’s first – and only – whisky club, last night we formally launched Glasgow’s Whisky Club. The venue was the Pot Still, spiritual home for many of us, and the site of a number of fascinating tastings in the year ahead.
A score of folk turned out for one of the best-attended meetings in our short life. Alex Robertson, the man behind the club, said he was heartened by the response and welcomed well-kent faces as well as new blood.
He added: “When we started in 2004 with a handful of people, our intention was to dispel the mystery surrounding whisky and remove the stuffiness of formal tastings. We wanted an informal club and we’ve come a long way towards that goal.”
Alex paid tribute to our sponsors and supporters – Glengoyne who supplied the 10-year-old in our welcome packs – and the Edrington Group for its Highland Park 18 miniature. He also thanked Ken Storrie at the Pot Still for his encouragement. On club nights Ken has offered a discount on everything from the gantry and taps on production of membership cards.
As part of our ongoing association with Glengoyne, the distillery is offering generous discounts on its products when ordered through the club. We’ll work out the details about taking orders in the very near future.
Edrington is offering good deals on distillery visits, and again we’ll sit down and work out the details.
Alex will send out e-mails and/or letters to members who may want to get involved in our committee. At the moment we have four people doing the organising – Alex, Bill Mackintosh, Ken Seaton and Andy Clark. All four are happy to continue, but if others want to join in, please let Alex or Bill know.
We are currently talking with one of the Glasgow-based newspapers about running a monthly tasting column, and we’ll need a tasting panel to meet on a fairly regular basis to get that up and running. More details will follow.
Our first tasting is booked for March 1, when Gerry Tosh, Highland Park Brand Ambassador, will take us through a selection of expressions. Numbers will be limited, so please book your place as soon as possible.
Subsequent tastings include Bill Lumsden, Master Distiller at Glenmorangie, and Andy Forrester of Jon Mark and Robbo’s Easy Drinking Whisky Company. Expect ‘an off-the-wall’ evening for that one!
We’re keen to get out and about and there is a provisional Islay trip early in May. That’s still being finalised, but the price looks attractive. More details as and when…
Arran has also been mentioned as a possibility and that probably would be do-able on a day trip.
Our website is currently under construction at www.glasgowswhiskyclub.com, but our online newsletter www.glasgowswhiskyclub.blogspot.com will be updated regularly.
Please flood us with ideas, requests, demands: it’s YOUR whisky club and we want us all to enjoy the year ahead.
Slainte Mhath!
Bill Mackintosh