The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
- The Scottish Malt Whiskey Society is a private club that is also open to guests (fees apply) and serves drinks alongside a selection of dishes. They also have whiskey tasting sessions and offer corporate and fine dining facilities. Catering for private parties of up to 16 guests is available upon request.
- Bars
- 87 Giles Street
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- EH6 6BZ
- 01315 543451
| Groups: |
|---|
| Yes |
| Dress code: |
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| Dressy |
| Private parties: |
|---|
| Yes |
| Cloak room: |
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| Yes |
| Happy hour: |
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| No |
| Parking: |
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| Private car park |
| Outdoor seating: |
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| No |
| Good for people: |
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| Friends |
| Price range: |
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| ££££ |
| Credit cards accepted: |
|---|
| Yes |
| TV: |
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| None |
- 2 Hill Street
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- EH2 3JZ
- 01316 106110
30 October 2010
We received invitations to attend a whisky tasting here in Reading at the ECMWF where our son works....
We were not sure what to expect but the committee made us very welcome and after a warm introduction, over 50 people of many nationalities who had come, began tasting six whiskys in turn..
We started at 6.30pm and spent a glorious three and a half hours tasting and chatting. chatting and tasting. There were cheese and biscuits and lovely oat cakes to help to absorb the powerful liquids. and of course bottled water to dilute the high alcoholcontent.
We had been given a four-page booklet which related how we should test and appreciate each sample (which was a nice BIG sample) and suggested what we might taste and smell..... Dogs Hair, peaches, ginger snaps, vanilla, figs, leather gloves, apple sausages, cinder toffee, cherry Tunes, honey, Stollen cake were just a few of the experiences for which we should be looking.
The booklet also told us in depth about each whisky and where they originated and how old they were.
At the end, the whisky left over was raffled off and to crown a very good evening my wife won second prize and I won sixth prize.
The prize bottles were almost half full and once we were home I looked it all up on my computer. Together we won more than a total of £60 of beautiful Malt Whisky which we will be happy to drink over the coming cold months !
Our thanks to the Reading Branch of the SMWS for a very entertaining and rewarding evening.
I slept in until 11AM the day after, but did not have a headache !!!
Oh by the way we left the car and got a taxi home !!
13 October 2010
I love this place. I had my wedding here and we are also members. The food is fantastic and both the venues have a lovely friendly atmosphere.
Worth the membership fee.
12 November 2009
Absolutely my favourite place.
Joining is simple, just pay up and get your entry card posted out. They have 2 venues in Edinburgh and 1 in London and you can go to any of them and sign in up to 3 guests. I've personally never liked their newer Edinburgh venue in Queens Street, which somehow always feels like an upmarket Italian dentist's waiting room but the Vaults venue is sheer heaven.
I've been a member for years, even though I don't like whiskey, just cos I love the place. It's like a warm safe cosy nest where you can snuggle into a big leather sofa by a gorgeous fire with a glass of wine and a bunch of friends and chill out.
There's no loud music, just the sounds of people, you are encouraged to take or make mobile calls outside, meetings with laptops are banned, there is never any trouble and staff will call a taxi to the door and come and get you from the bar when it arrives.
So if you actually want to relax and chat to people this is the place.
And because it's so lux and has such awesome and unique whisky it's also a truly great place to bring visitors.
The only problem is, once you've taken people there, you have a hard time persuading them to go anywhere else...
11 March 2009
Members only whisky tasting hall (althought members can sign in 3 non-menbers) and very swish to boot. For folks serious about their whiskies, this place stocks only cask-strength single malts from Scotland, Ireland and Japan (and bourbons from US) many of which exclusive to the Society.
Anyone can book the adjacent restaurant and special tasting menus are available with suggested wines and whiskies to accompany.
27 February 2009
Lovely venue, fantastic whisky.
The tasting events are usually open to non-members & definitely worth a look.
It’s fair to say the bar prices have gone up in the last few years, but still worth it for whisky you wouldn’t get elsewhere.
7 December 2008
Just back from a lovely lunch at the Whiskey Society in Leith. We are not members but have a few friends who are so went with a group. It’s in a lovely building just off the Shore in Leith and this time of year is great time to go - the Christmas Tree is up and is huge and covered in sliver baubles and twinkling lights.
The food was perfect hangover cure - I had cream of mushroom soup and then roast chicken dinner - you get half a chicken perfectly cooked and served up with gravy and roast spuds.
The obviously have a huge range of whiskeys but I wasn’t really in fit state to drink today so stuck to soft drinks - they do really good range of Feltmans fizzy drinks - I had the lemonade and they also do ginger beer and cola.
This is a great venue - 2 log fires, big comfy leather sofas, plush surroundings and feels quite exclusive without being stuffy at all. You have to join or go with a member - membership is £100 for first year and think it £50 a year after that. Not sure we will join but will get our other friends to arrange more visits here in the near future.
25 August 2008
The Vaults are, to the best of my knowledge, the original home of the SMWS, and are still the prettiest of their tasting rooms. A large dark wood room, with dark red walls and a ceiling cartooned with a history of the society, it’s an excellent place to have a sit down in at pretty much any time of day.
They do rather good food, moving from sandwiches and cakes through to full dinners, but all without too much pretentiousness, as well as a good range of beer and wine, with tea and coffee on the side.
Oh yes, they also have one of the finest range of single barrel malt whiskies you will ever find - every one an individual that you will most probably never find the like of again.
It is a members only club, but with two locations in Edinburgh (The Vaults also having some flats rentable my members for rather reasonable rates) and one in London, as well as a rather decent whisky mail ordering service it can be worth the money to join.
Results of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society in Edinburgh
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