SMWS Celebrates International Women’s Day With Donation
SMWS has released five whiskies selected by an all-women tasting panel to celebrate International Women’s Day 2024. The SMWS intends to donate 5% of the profits from the sales to the OurWhisky Foundation. The non-profit organization seeks to empower and support women in the whiskey industry.
An all-female tasting panel was held at the society’s Leith headquarters to mark International Women’s Day 2023. Each member of the panel had been recommended by a current member and passed the sensory evaluation test.
There are five whiskies in the collection. “A Toffee-Coated Hay Bale” and “Hebridean Hamper” are international releases, while “Liquid Riches” and “A Humble Mountain Feast” are UK and EU releases.
OurWhisky Reacts to SMWS International Women’s Day Donation
OurWhisky founder and CEO Becky Paskin said: “As a non-profit, we rely on support from the whisky industry to help us achieve our objectives of recognizing, supporting, and empowering women in whisky. It’s so important that whisky organizations invest in women working in whisky, and this project is a perfect example of that.
“Hosting an all-women tasting panel is a great way to facilitate conversation and challenge the outdated and gendered image of the whisky industry that remains prevalent today. Anyone who tries these exceptional whiskies will be left in no doubt about the importance of highlighting women in whisky.”
The OurWhisky Foundation and Whisky Auctioneer are partnering to launch the Demeter Collection, which will go under the hammer from 29 March-8 April. OurWhisky Foundation will receive funds raised from this inaugural auction, including Whisky Auctioneer’s buyer fees, to support its initiatives and projects that promote women in the whisky industry.
A total of 18 lots will be included in the auction, such as a 32-year-old from House of Hazelwood; The Loch Lomond Sonata Collection; a 44-year-old Dalmore; a 20-year-old Ardbeg and an inaugural cask release from Cooper King distillery.