International Whisk(e)y Day: A Good Excuse, If One Was Needed

A date that actually means something

Today is International Whisk(e)y Day, a date that has a bit more substance behind it than most of the novelty days that clutter the calendar.

It falls on the birthday of Michael Jackson, the late whisky writer who helped shape how many people understand and talk about the spirit. Not just in terms of flavour, but in terms of place, style and character too. That influence still runs right through whisky culture today.

A drink with real range

Part of what makes International Whisk(e)y Day worth acknowledging is the sheer breadth of whisky itself.

You have the depth and tradition of Scotch, the sweeter pull of bourbon, the easy charm of Irish whiskey, and the precision that has made Japanese whisky so admired. Then beyond that, there are world whiskies continuing to prove that good whisky is not confined to one place or one tradition.

If today puts you in the mood to explore, the Summerton Whisky Journal has more than enough to keep you occupied. A piece like Spoilt for choice? Navigating the whisky world is a good place to start, and if you fancy getting out and about there is also the excellent UK Whisky Bars guide for a bit of inspiration.

Take it beyond the glass

International Whisk(e)y Day does not need to mean doing anything elaborate.

It can be as simple as pouring something you already enjoy and actually taking your time over it. Equally, it is a decent excuse to try something different, whether that means a new style, a bottle you have been meaning to open, or a cocktail that lets whisky show a slightly different side of itself.

If that sounds more like it, a couple of easy places to start are this Old Fashioned recipe and this Whisky Sour recipe.

And if you are looking for a bottle to mark the occasion, there are some strong options in the shop at the moment. Small Batch 01, a Swedish single malt, is one of the more distinctive Club selections, while Single Cask 01, a 10 Year Old English single malt, has a bit more of that special-occasion feel to it. Small Batch 03, an English single malt, is another good shout if you want to keep things closer to home.

Why it still resonates

The appeal of International Whisk(e)y Day is that it keeps things simple.

It is not really about ceremony, and it is certainly not about showing off. It is just a reminder that whisky is worth slowing down for. A good dram, a little time, and perhaps a bit of curiosity about what is in the glass. That is usually enough.

From us at Summerton

This year, the timing also happens to line up rather nicely with something happening inside the Club.

Dan is marking his birthday with a run of half price whisky deals every Thursday in April, available to members only. More importantly, the idea behind it is not just to offer a few brilliant bargains. It is also tied to a longer term plan to invest in younger Scotch casks now, so the Club can keep building well-aged future bottlings of its own over the years ahead.

So if you are already a member, keep an eye on the Thursday releases. If you are not, this is not a bad time to get involved.

A simple next step

You can browse the full current range here: Shop all whiskies.

Or, if you would rather keep exploring first, head over to the Whisky Journal and settle into a bit of reading with your dram.

Either way, International Whisk(e)y Day feels like a very decent reason to pour something good tonight.