Autumn has fallen

Winter begins — and whilst May was a busy month for the Australian Branch (and the entire whisky world for that matter), June is shaping up to be just as busy. We have a jam-packed Outturn releasing this Friday and some incredible events coming up. But, until then, we have June Unfiltered to tide you over and deliver new insights, news and knowledge from a roster of experts. Whether you’re relaxing at home, midway through your daily commute or need a coffee companion, Unfiltered is ready for you. There’s a lot going on in The Society, there has been a lot to celebrate over the last month both near and abroad with much more celebration to come. On a global scale, we welcomed Mexico and South Africa to our fold of branches (the former of which saw a Cinco de Mayo celebration at The Vaults in its honour). Locally we had two stellar whisky bars join our portfolio of Partner Bars — Beneath Driver Lane in Melbourne and The Captain’s Balcony in Sydney. One article that particularly interests me in this issue is the column by Kami Newton — The Spirit of Sharing; do we enjoy foods or whisky more when they’re had in a social setting? Whilst it’s easy to say on the surface that this is true, some interesting insights come out in this article that make it well worth a read. In the mood for a bit of whisky history? The origin of the hip flask — an item I’m sure we’ve all utilised at one point or another — makes a feature on the very next page (tell you what, I’ll never look at the term hipster the same ever again). Speaking of hipsters, have you found yourself following the latest tech trends lately? Dabbled in the world of NFTs? Regular Tom Bruce-Gardyne explores the digital side of the whisky world and how these virtual and digital-only technologies are already being utilised in the industry. Bringing it back to the tangible, our own branch has struck a growing partnership with luxury fashion retailer Harrolds — you can read about our first masterclass with some of their guests in the pages of this issue. From the world’s first vertical Scotch Malt distillery to a dissection of the Young & Spritely flavour profile, there’s so much more to read in June Unfiltered. I hope you have a delicious dram in hand because now the fun part begins — whatever device you’re reading on, enjoy this latest issue of Unfiltered. Cheers,