Whisky Scholar® is a writing, research, and education brand devoted to whisky as a living craft and a cultural artefact that connects people.
We explore how whisky is shaped—the science, the land, the material choices, the technical decisions, the time, the patience, and the human hands.
We’re into how flavour is built, how traditions form, and how the culture gathered around a spirit adds texture to the experience and makes each glass feel more alive.
But most all, we’re nerds and scholars. And we’re looking for a fantastic tipple to sip as we work.
The founder
Whisky Scholar® was founded by Dr. Shelly Lorts, a writer and cultural historian whose work explores how the art of whisky making creates culture and meaning. She’s a former teacher who transitioned into copywriting and brand storytelling for global whisky brands before realising that she missed academic writing and instruction.
Alongside the research and writing that anchor the brand, Shelly’s a 2026 Master of Scotch™ candidate, and her journey to become a Master of Whisky™ informs Whisky Scholar® content. She holds a diploma in single malt whisky from the Edinburgh Whisky Academy.
Shelly is the Chairman of the long-running King George V Malt Whisky Society, and she established the Canterbury Whisky Society in 2025. She’s currently writing a book about Scotch whisky.
Outside of the whisky world, Shelly is the founder and CEO of Scholar & Story—a creative studio for human-generated research and writing.
We do human work
Whisky Scholar® stays far away from generative AI. All research, graphics, and written content on this site are 100% human generated. We combine thorough, doctoral-level research with industry experience to bring you content that is rigorous and complete. Here’s why:
- Much whisky information you’ll find online is incorrect or incomplete; as such, a lot of what AI will pull and then compile into written content is also incorrect or incomplete.
- We believe in the craft of writing and the in-depth pursuit of knowledge: we’re genuinely here to learn, and you can’t do that if the robots do the work for you.
- We also believe in artistic expression, intellectual property, and academic integrity.
So here’s our workflow disclosure:
- Shelly comes up with concepts for research, writing, and education.
- Shelly researches and writes content; information is drawn only from published work, including scientific articles and trad-pub books.
- Vic Cameron (industry veteran with 30+ years of distillation experience) checks Shelly’s work against his knowledge and experience.
- With proper licensing where needed, our graphic designer (or Shelly) creates images and/or pictures.
Whisky is something that only humans can make. At Whisky Scholar®, we believe that research, storytelling, and education are the same.