SMWS Tasting Panel Experience with Charlie MacLean - Washington, D.C.

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is very excited to welcome whisky expert, writer and Society Tasting Panel Chairman Charlie MacLean to the USA for a special event series! The Tasting Panel Experience will be hosted in Washington, D.C. for Society members only and promises to be an unforgettable afternoon shared with one of the Scotch industry’s most important luminaries! The Tasting Panel Experience offers a professional inside look at the strict process lying at the core of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society: the selection of casks meeting the Society’s quality standards; the decision on whether a Society cask is ready for bottling or should age longer; the creation of our unique bottle titles and tasting notes.

Charlie MacLean has been researching and writing about whisky since 1981, and became the Society’s first Tasting Panel chairman in 1992. His mastery of discerning a dram’s aromas and flavours makes him the perfect guide for this invaluable tasting experience! Charlie will lead attendees through the evaluation of six authentic samples of the Society’s stocks. These casks have not been bottled yet and it will be up to our members participating in the tastings across the country to taste and decide the fate of each cask. Those casks with exemplary scores will likely become exclusive casks for the USA - join us and help decide which exclusive casks our US Chapter will receive!

Considering the exceptional nature of this tasting, please note: it is open only to Society members. Promptly upon completion of each experience, we will make our way to the bar for further discussion, shared drams and stories. We look forward to hosting our participating members at The Tasting Panel Experience with Charlie MacLean!

Host or Publisher Tom Smith | Director at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society