🥃 Opening Dram
By May, spring has found its footing. The hesitations of early weather give way to something more assured. Windows stay open longer. Conversations linger. Even our preferences begin to speak more clearly.
Whisky has its own version of this confidence. Some drams announce themselves immediately. Others take their time, revealing character not through volume, but through balance and restraint.
These are often the whiskies we return to—not because they demand attention, but because they reward it.
If this Society is about anything beyond the glass, it is about making room for those quieter moments. Good whisky. Good company. No rush to conclusions.
🏴 Featured Whisky
Whisky of the Month: Clynelish 14 Year Old
Northern Highlands · Single Malt · 46% ABV
Clynelish is a whisky that rarely shouts, yet it is unmistakable once you learn its voice. Known for its distinctive waxy texture and subtle coastal influence, it occupies a space all its own—neither overtly peated nor conventionally sweet.
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Citrus oil, sea air, faint florals
- Palate: Waxy malt, lemon peel, gentle spice
- Finish: Long, clean, quietly complex
Clynelish 14 is a study in confidence through balance. It doesn’t rely on extremes to make its case. Instead, it rewards patience and repeat visits—qualities that mirror the kind of appreciation we hope to cultivate within the Society itself.
Mention Clynelish to the good folks at Spirits and Things and receive 10% off your purchase with your Omaha Scotch Whisky Society Membership. (Sale items excluded).
🌎 Beyond Scotland
Beyond Scotland this month we travel to Taiwan, where Kavalan Distillery has quietly reshaped the whisky world. Taiwan’s warm climate accelerates maturation, producing single malts rich with tropical fruit, honey, and spice. Kavalan Classic offers Scotch drinkers a familiar malt backbone with an exotic character.
On Returning to Familiar Bottles
As palates develop, many drinkers find themselves revisiting whiskies they once overlooked. A dram dismissed as “subtle” early on can reveal surprising depth when tasted later, with patience and context.
Clynelish is one such whisky. If it hasn’t quite clicked for you before, May might be the right moment to try again.
📝 Society Notes
- President Trump cancels tariffs on Scotch and Irish whiskies.
- May Gathering: Details forthcoming. Date, location, and format will be announced shortly.
- Guests Welcome: Our gatherings remain informal and welcoming. Curiosity is always sufficient reason to attend.
- Our New Website: We are proud to announce our new website is available omahawhisky.org. It has music, references, a modest whisky database, and features Tales from Loch Awe, an exclusive and original set of stories on myths and legends of Scotland.
A Society grows best when it grows thoughtfully.
✒ Closing Thought
Confidence does not require volume.
It requires clarity.
Until next month—Slàinte.
Dr. Alan Jackson
Scotchologist
Omaha Scotch Whisky Society
Interim-President
briefing@omahawhisky.org