Scottish Whisky Association

Scotland’s Makar (National Poet) has performed a specially-written poem to launch the centenary celebrations of The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) at a reading in Edinburgh.

According to the SWA’s release, her poem, “For the Centenary of The Scotch Whisky Association”, draws on Robert Burns’s famous declaration that “Freedom an Whisky gang thegither” and celebrates the growing and maturing taste for Scotch Whisky, along with its association with poetry and friendship.

Ms Lochhead said: “I was delighted to be asked by the SWA to write a poem in a landmark year for them. It was a pleasure to trace the course of whisky-making from the rough to the smooth, and to try to evoke all aromas, the colours and flavours of this subtle drink. Writers and whisky have an even longer history than the SWA. Congratulations to the Association on its first hundred years.”

Wednesday’s event was the first in a series which culminates with the anniversary in October, followed by a major exhibition to be held at the Scottish Parliament.

Chief exec Gavin Hewitt, said: “We’ve come a long way since October 1912 when the Wine & Sprit Brand Association was founded in London, before becoming the SWA in 1942.

“Although the world has changed, our priorities remain remarkably similar. We protect, promote and represent the Scotch Whisky industry at home and abroad. We look forward to doing so for another 100 years and beyond.”