The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) is exploring the influence of sherry on whisky in a new documentary film, Scotch and Sherry: A Flavour Odyssey.
The 40-minute feature film follows the club's head of whisky creation, Euan Campbell, as he travels across Spain to explore the journey of a sherry cask — from the forests of Galicia in the north, to the cooperages and bogedas in Andalucía's southerly 'sherry triangle'. Along the way, he speaks with people who work to create the casks and the sherry that fills them.
Campbell said: “It was an incredible experience to travel across Spain and trace the journey of sherry casks and meet the people who are involved in each step of the process. From the forests and sawmills to the cooperages and bodegas, our film gives viewers a deep insight into the level of attention, craftsmanship and care that goes into each step of the process to create sherry casks and the flavour that goes on to have a massive influence on Scotch whisky.”
The society, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2023, will be supporting the launch of the film with a series of screenings and special events at its UK venues that celebrate the links between Scotch and sherry.
The film will be screened on every Saturday in May at the SMWS' Bath Street members' room in Glasgow, and will be shown at its Queen Street venue in Edinburgh on 16 and 23 May. It will also be shown at the Machrie Hotel on Islay during Fèis Ìle, on 29 and 30 May.
SMWS venues will also be hosting a series of Scotch and sherry tasting events throughout May, with cocktail flights, tapas, and special sherry cask-matured whiskies. More information on these events can be found at smws.com/events. The society is also releasing a tasting pack of three sherry cask-matured whiskies and a commemorative 76-page magazine focused on sherry and sherried whisky.
Scotch and Sherry: A Flavour Odyssey is available to watch on the SMWS' YouTube channel.
