Whisky lovers can now join forces for a night of sampling and socialising with the formation of a new club.

The St Albans Whisky Appreciation Society has been set up for lovers of Scottish, American, Japanese, Canadian, Irish and other world whiskies.

Gatherings will be held once a month, and started with a launch event at Mokoko in St Albans, last Thursday (3)

Founder Jamie Dimock said: “Whisky is currently enjoying a huge renaissance and surge in popularity and is attracting a wider crowd than ever.

“I have been astonished at the uptake - in just a week we had attracted 62 members in our Facebook group.”