The Single Malt & Song Society

Our Logo

Perhaps you're wondering about our logo?  If not, you might as well skip this page.

The overall design structure is based on that of an armorial achievement, which is the name of a particular sort of display of heraldry that includes more than just the coat of arms (the bit usually displayed in the shape of a shield).  If you'd like to know more about armorial achievements you can ask, or you could just Google it (Note: external link).

Anyway, in our case the shield part is a bottle of whisky.  To be more precise, it is an a'bunadh bottle.  We have replaced the a'bunadh label with one showing a G clef for our musical bent, "Estd. 2002" for SMSS' May 2002 origin, and "Special Reserve" because we think we're pretty special (although, to be fair, we're not especially reserved).

Above the bottle is where a proper armorial achievement would have some sort of helm and crest, and mantling draping out and around the sides.  In our case we have music emerging from the bottle to take the place of mantling.  The four bits of music are four of the many songs that have been sung at various SMSS gatherings.  For a crest we have the bottle's cork, which is drawn as part of a fermata (hold that bottle!).

Next we come to the two rhinos.  In heraldic terminology these are called supporters, as they support the shield (or, in this case, the bottle).  So why rhinos?  Rhinos have figured rather prominently in SMSS gatherings over the years.  OK, so we're talking about stuffed rhinos.  They're still real.

Finally, we have the scroll and motto.  The scroll proudly displays the SMSS motto, "Cante bibi aut exi", which means "sing, drink, or get out!"  Basically, if you don't want to engage in either of these activities, then why are you here?