DUANE SHERRILLEditor

Spreading the appreciation of whisky and helping members get in tune with their Scottish heritage is the aim of the Highland Rim Scottish Society’s Clan Dram.

Craig Watson of the Highland Rim Scottish Society, and the sub group Clan Dram, explained the whisky appreciation group has evolved on their past couple of years. Clan Dram started out as a single malt club two years ago, but its members wanted to start a subgroup within the Highland Rim Scottish Society to celebrate the heritage and to educate people on Scotch whisky itself.

“I was working at George Dickel at the time and learning the process of whisky,” Watson said, noting he met a Scot while learning about the whisky process. “He taught me a little bit about Scotland production and I became obsessed with teaching people the appreciation, education and distillation practices of making whisky.”

For two years the group was a themed single malt club but they wanted to open it up to other whiskies.

“We wanted to do Irish whisky,” Watson said. “Even though we are the Scottish Society we have Celtic undertones,” he said. “We are interested in Scottish but we have this Celtic brotherhood.”

With this in mind they switched their branding to Clan Dram. They now look at the distilleries and histories of the products while coming together to sample the various whiskies.

To join simply follow them as hrsstn.org and follow the link to join the Highland Rim Scottish Society. Those interested can also ask to be included in the Clan Dram Facebook where they publicize their events.

“Come to an event and we get you acclimated,” he said, noting you don’t have to be Scottish. “We want to drive the educational and appreciation side of whisky.”

HRSS member Shawn Bowling added the Clan Dram can help introduce people to their Scottish heritage.

“Finding out where your family came from,” Bowling said. “They may find out there’s a distillery in their backyard of their family.”

The group had Clan Dram this past week at Parkview Senior Living where they sampled five whiskys, with their hosts leading a discussion about each spirit concerning the background of the distillery and the combination of tastes in each sip. Most Tullahoma events are at 4 the Win Cigar Shop & Lounge, located in downtown Tullahoma at 110 W. Lincoln St. They also have a secondary spin off at Whisky and Sticks in Murfreesboro every other month. The Tullahoma Clan Dram events are held during even months and the Murfreesboro one in odd months. They also have meetings starting up at Shelbyville Premium Cigars.

Bowling said the HRSS holds general meetings on the odd months of the year every third Tuesday at the Celtic Cup, located at 106 N Anderson St. Those wanting to meet and perhaps join the Society are welcome to attend.