While it would be both awesome and amazing if these whisky events did just magically happen there are in fact people working behind the scenes to ensure the events (and the whisky) run smoothly.
The committee for the academic year 2023-2024:
Zoë Jackson – President
My appreciation for whisky grew first out of a taste for bourbon, then Irish whiskey, and now Scotch (excepting the peatiest Islay variations). I started attending CUWAS tastings to try new and diverse whiskies, and to meet others who shared an enthusiasm for this spirit. I have thoroughly enjoyed every event, both as general attendee and now as a committee member. As President this year, I am hoping our schedule of tastings has something to offer – from the whisky aficionados to those tasting the spirit for the first time. Outside of the society, I am an aspiring historian, so I also love learning about the story of each distillery – and try to make sure some of those stories make it into each tasting!
Elliott Levi -Vice President
I discovered my love of whisky while I was at university in Scotland. It’s hard to avoid it, and I found myself a member of the whisky society in St Andrews. I knew that when I moved to Cambridge, CUWAS would be a great way to meet people and to continue to explore the spirit. Over 7 years later I’ve managed to be president, secretary and now vice president! I love that society gives me a chance to try so many different and varied whiskies, and gives me the opportunity to share them with you all.
Daniel Brooks – Secretary
For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated with the world of alcohol and spirits. I have been collecting books on the production and cultural significance of booze since my mid-teens, and this quickly transitioned into a love for tasting once I began to drink. As of March 2023 (largely thanks to a family friend who works as a spirits importer) I have tasted over 300 individual bottles ranging from prohibition-era absinthe to Sri Lankan arrack, but whisky has always been my go-to drink. CUWAS gives me the perfect opportunity to access new and unusual whiskies in a relaxed and social setting, and I am hugely excited to be a part of the committee.
Juho Äijälä – Webmaster
The local Whisky society was the only society I frequented during my undergrad at the University of Aberdeen. While Cambridge doesn’t offer similarly convenient access to tens of distilleries around the Scottish Highlands, it does offer an equally amazing group of people committed to providing Cambridgeshire with easy access to quality whiskies and great company in an unpretentious atmosphere, and thus CUWAS has become the only society I frequent here at Cambridge to get some relief from that PhD stress.
Elre Oldewage
My first experience with whisky was fresh out of high school, at a music festival, where I had the unfortunate luck to be handed a plastic party cup, half water and half Vat 69 Scotch. Though I have only vague recollections of the rest of the night, I distinctly recall thinking “This stuff is awful. Who in their right mind would drink this willingly!?” Fortunately, that was not my final encounter with whisky and it turns out that I actually love it. Being part of CUWAS has been a great opportunity to expand my palette and experience whiskies that I might otherwise never have encountered. Tastings are also good fun: our members are a lively bunch and always up for a chat, especially after the first few drams.
Hein Oldewage – General Committee Member
My brother in-law introduced me to whiskey, and luckily for me he has good taste. I am not very knowledgeable in the field, but I am always excited to learn more about the origins of the whiskeys and the process by which they are made.