Whisky & Spirits Blog | Compare Buy Enjoy
Rum in an old tea chest
Cask No: 72.100
Spicy & Sweet Qty left: 6
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ABV: 59.2% Qty left: Only 2!
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Lightly Peated Distillery: Glen Moray Qty left: Only 2!
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ABV: 59.8% Qty left: Only 2!
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ABV: 59.07% Qty left: Only 4!
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The SMWS Advent Calendar 2022!
 SMWS Advent Calendar 2022 Qty left: 523
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 Sugar-coated oak tree Cask No: 28.87 Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel Distillery: Tullibardine Origin: Scotland £57.00 Qty left: 78
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 Salting and pickling Cask No: 44.150 Cask Type: 2nd fill ex-bourbon hogshead Distillery: Craigellachie Origin: Scotland £88.20 Qty left: 79
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 Pâtisserie au jardin Cask No: 73.147 Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel Distillery: Aultmore Origin: Scotland £61.20 Qty left: 80
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 Emergency whisky! Cask No: 35.326 Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel Distillery: Glen Moray Origin: Scotland £57.00 Qty left: 81
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 Citrus tang on meringue Cask No: 5.110 Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel Distillery: Auchentoshan Origin: Scotland £106.20 Qty left: 81
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 Leave the bottle … Cask No: 94.27 Cask Type: 2nd fill ex-bourbon barrel Distillery: Fettercairn Origin: Scotland £72.60 Qty left: 81
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 Smoked haddock soufflé and vanilla honey cupcakes Cask No: 4.326 Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel Distillery: Highland Park Origin: Scotland £69.40 Qty left: 82
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 Sweeties in the forest Cask No: 46.126 Cask Type: 2nd fill ex-bourbon barrel Distillery: Glenlossie Origin: Scotland £57.10 Qty left: 82
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 Mysterious and magical Cask No: 68.89 Cask Type: 1st fill ex-oloroso hogshead Distillery: Blair Athol Origin: Scotland £63.90 Qty left: 90
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 Hogsheads from space! Cask No: 64.132 Cask Type: 1st fill Hybrid American & European oak hogsheads Distillery: Mannochmore Origin: Scotland £65.90 Qty left: 94
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 Quietly delicious Cask No: 28.83 Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel Distillery: Tullibardine Origin: Scotland £57.00 Qty left: 112
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 Mental menthol turning mild-mannered Cask No: 112.106 Cask Type: 2nd fill ex-bourbon barrel Distillery: Inchmurrin (Loch Lomond Distillery) Origin: Scotland £59.70 Qty left: 123
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 Christmas Selection Box Qty left: 203
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 Frazzle dazzle Cask No: Batch 19 Cask Type: 1st fill tempest smoked barley wine hogshead Qty left: 343
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 Marmalade overdrive Cask No: Batch 18 Cask Type: 2nd fill bourbon & shiraz barrels & hogsheads Qty left: 971
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Septembers Fabulous Five!
On the last evening of September I had the pleasure in taking part in the latest online ‘Gathering’ of The SMWS!
Hosting for the event was ably carried out by Brand Ambassador John McCheyne and Society Ambassador Dean Marinello and they were also joined by Ambassadors Jutta Unterguggenberger from Austria, Klaus Bitschnau from Sweden and Monique Tenkortenaar from Benelux.
They guideed us through five special drams, bottled exclusively for The Gathering and selected by Society members.
Sadly, the UK allocation of these drams has now gone (they were used to make-up the Tasting Kits!)
But The SMWS ‘Gathering’ Tasting Packs Are Still Available Priced At £35.00!
For full bottles you will have to try their EU site – be quick though!.
Cask No. 18.46 – Bandyportflj
Cask No. 39.251 – A sweet tongue twister
Cask No. 68.95 – A Negroni riff
Cask No. 73.144 – Un coin(g) de nature
Cask No. 112.109 – Das rennende Schaf am Strand
So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …
Cask Type: 1st. fill ex-bourbon barrel
11 years old
62.5% ABV
Distillery: Aultmore
 Nose: Sugar cane sweetness with a little tropical fruit with a predominant pineapple. I also picked up caramel and toffee. Palate: Creamy, sugar cane sweetness, very fresh and fruity! Finish: Very punchy spice with some dryness at the end but the toffee has a long reach! |
| Sadly, Not available to buy – But – You Can See All That The SMWS Has To Offer! |
Cask Type: 2nd. fill ex-bourbon barrel
11 years old
59% ABV
Distillery: Linkwood
 Nose: Creamy vanilla and quite woody with additional orchard fruits and a little toffee. Palate: Deep sugary sweetness with bursting fruits, liquorice and caramel. Finish: Oaky and dry with very warming peppery spice to complete the experience! |
| Sadly, Not available to buy – But – You Can See All That The SMWS Has To Offer! |
Cask Type: 1st. fill ex-oloroso hogshead
13 years old
58.6% ABV
Distillery: Inchgower
 Nose: Sherried and porty with vanilla and apple toffee – very inviting indeed! Palate: Sweet dried fruits with lovely sherry flavours, shades of Christmas flavours including toffee and chocolate. Finish: Very smooth with a little warming glow coming through. Perfect to cosy up by the fire with! |
| Sadly, Not available to buy – But – You Can See All That The SMWS Has To Offer! |
Cask Type: 1st. fill ex-oloroso hogshead
13 years old
58.1% ABV
Distillery: Blair Athol
 Nose: Rich portiness with toffee and hints of apples toffee and fudge. Palate: Very creamy, luscious mouthfeel bursting with apples, toffee, dried fruits and port. Finish: Nice n’ spicy and the the rich fruits are very compelling to the taste buds – a gorgeous whisky! |
| Sadly, Not available to buy – But – You Can See All That The SMWS Has To Offer! |
Cask Type: Refill ex-bourbon hogshead
15 years old
51.5% ABV
Distillery: Inchmurrin (Loch Lomond Distillery)
 Nose: Liquid smoke and fruity peat – very savoury – a fantastic nose! Some caramel comes along a while later … Palate: Sugary sweet, smokey and peaty all in equal measures! Finish: All of the above with growing antiseptic flavours with warming spice accompanying for good measure. An excellent starter if you are new to peat drams and ably showing that there’s nothing to be scared of in a peat whisky! |
| Sadly, Not available to buy – But – You Can See All That The SMWS Has To Offer! |
On the night I most enjoyed “18.46 – Bandyportflj” & “68.95 – A Negroni riff” : It’s always SO hard to choose between SMWS drams as they are exceptional but these really stood out. Deep, rich, fruity and spicy flavours which are perfect for Autumn and the coming Christmas season!
Many thanks to SMWS (@SMWSUK) for such an enjoyable evening and for sending the samples!
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is a club unlike any other.
As well as being a place to connect with other like-minded whisky lovers, they are also internationally renowned for their mission: “to provide our members with an adventurous and fun journey of discovery of the world’s widest collection of single cask whiskies.”
Conceptualised in the late 70’s and established in 1983, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, now 35 years old, has branches and partners bars in 19 countries globally. The Society has a selection of over 500 casks every year, each cask yielding a few hundred or less whisky bottles which are unique to that cask.
Rather than name their Whiskies after the distillery, the Society has a coding system. The Society also creates fantastic tasting notes summaries for their Whiskies and other bottles. The whiskies are straight from the cask single malt, undiluted, without chill-filtration or colouring at cask strength.
More recently the Society has been named Independent Bottler of the Year in Whisky Magazine’s prestigious Independent Bottlers’ Challenge (IBC) competition.
An evening of chat …. and whisky!
Friday 30 September, 8pm
Just a few days now before The Gathering commences – have you got your Tasting Pack yet?!
Don’t forget, the SMWS is all about community – the coming together with other Society members and enjoying each others company. So for those of you who can’t make an in-person event, why not join them in sharing a dram online?!
Brand Ambassador John McCheyne and Society Ambassador Dean Marinello will host an evening of knowledge, chat and whisky as they share Society memories and stories.
They’ll be joined by Ambassadors Jutta Unterguggenberger from Austria, Klaus Bitschnau from Sweden, Monique Tenkortenaar from Benelux and a few other Society friends to guide you through five special drams, bottled exclusively for The Gathering, and selected by you, the Society members.
So, look forward to an evening of chat …. and whisky! As they share experiences and stories about the Society!
Find them Live on the SMWS UK Facebook page or on SMWSSilverscreen, their YouTube channel.
Cask No. 18.46 – Bandyportfölj
Cask No. 39.251 – A sweet tongue twister
Cask No. 68.95 – A Negroni riff
Cask No. 73.144 – Un coin(g) de nature
Cask No. 112.109 – Das rennende Schaf am Strand
Five special drams, bottled exclusively for The Gathering, and selected by you, the Society members!
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is a club unlike any other.
As well as being a place to connect with other like-minded whisky lovers, they are also internationally renowned for their mission: “to provide our members with an adventurous and fun journey of discovery of the world’s widest collection of single cask whiskies.”
Conceptualised in the late 70’s and established in 1983, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, now 35 years old, has branches and partners bars in 19 countries globally. The Society has a selection of over 500 casks every year, each cask yielding a few hundred or less whisky bottles which are unique to that cask.
Rather than name their Whiskies after the distillery, the Society has a coding system. The Society also creates fantastic tasting notes summaries for their Whiskies and other bottles. The whiskies are straight from the cask single malt, undiluted, without chill-filtration or colouring at cask strength.
More recently the Society has been named Independent Bottler of the Year in Whisky Magazine’s prestigious Independent Bottlers’ Challenge (IBC) competition.
Get ready for ‘The Gathering’ with the SMWS – And don’t forget your Tasting Pack!
Friday 30 September, 8pm
The Gathering is all about community – the coming together with other Society members and enjoying each others company. So for those of you who can’t make an in-person event, why not join them in sharing a dram online?!
The event will be held by a Society host will also be joined by Society ambassadors from across Europe to guide you through five special drams, bottled exclusively for The Gathering, and selected by you, the Society members.
It will be an evening of chat …. and whisky! As they share experiences and stories about the Society!
Find them Live on the SMWS UK Facebook page or on SMWSSilverscreen, their YouTube channel.
Cask No. 18.46 – Bandyportfölj
Cask No. 39.251 – A sweet tongue twister
Cask No. 68.95 – A Negroni riff
Cask No. 73.144 – Un coin(g) de nature
Cask No. 112.109 – Das rennende Schaf am Strand
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is a club unlike any other.
As well as being a place to connect with other like-minded whisky lovers, they are also internationally renowned for their mission: “to provide our members with an adventurous and fun journey of discovery of the world’s widest collection of single cask whiskies.”
Conceptualised in the late 70’s and established in 1983, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, now 35 years old, has branches and partners bars in 19 countries globally. The Society has a selection of over 500 casks every year, each cask yielding a few hundred or less whisky bottles which are unique to that cask.
Rather than name their Whiskies after the distillery, the Society has a coding system. The Society also creates fantastic tasting notes summaries for their Whiskies and other bottles. The whiskies are straight from the cask single malt, undiluted, without chill-filtration or colouring at cask strength.
More recently the Society has been named Independent Bottler of the Year in Whisky Magazine’s prestigious Independent Bottlers’ Challenge (IBC) competition.
“Flamenco dancer spilled his sherry”
Cask No: 48.149
 “Flamenco dancer spilled his sherry” Cask No: 48.149 Cask Type: 1st fill ex-px hogshead Distillery: Balmenach Origin: Scotland £59.70 Qty left: 91
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 “Petals on a fruitcake” Cask No: 100.36 Cask Type: 1st ex-px hogshead Distillery: Strathmill Origin: Scotland £71.70 Qty left: 88
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 “Toffee coffee” Cask No: 64.129 Cask Type: 1st fill custom toasted European and American oak hogshead Distillery: Mannochmore Origin: Scotland £65.90 Qty left: 88
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 “Hibiscus tea beneath a mango tree” Cask No: 38.35 Cask Type: 2nd fill ex-bourbon barrel Distillery: Caperdonich Origin: Scotland £280.50 Qty left: 89
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 “Stone fruit tartlets” Cask No: 55.73 Cask Type: 1st fill ex-px hogshead Distillery: Royal Brackla Origin: Scotland £76.50 Qty left: 91
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 “Ale and tea” Cask No: 100.37 Cask Type: 2nd fill charred red wine barrique Distillery: Strathmill Origin: Scotland £61.70 Qty left: 91
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“Flamenco dancer spilled his sherry” Cask No: 48.149 Cask Type: 1st fill ex-px hogshead Distillery: Balmenach Origin: Scotland £59.70 Qty left: 91
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 “Iodine marmalade” Cask No: 16.65 Cask Type: refill re-charred hogshead Distillery: Glenturret Origin: Scotland £54.00 Qty left: 92
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 “From bright dawn to dry dusk” Cask No: 1.267 Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel Distillery: Glenfarclas Origin: Scotland £61.20 Qty left: 92
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 “Chamoy from Mexico” Cask No: 100.33 Cask Type: 2nd fill ex-bourbon barrel Distillery: Strathmill Origin: Scotland £63.90 Qty left: 97
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 “A blaze of yellow” Cask No: 39.245 Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel Distillery: Linkwood Origin: Scotland £57.00 Qty left: 99
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 “Succumb to smoke” Cask No: 16.66 Cask Type: refill re-charred hogshead Distillery: Glenturret Origin: Scotland £54.00 Qty left: 100
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 “Chalky charmer” Cask No: 4.323 Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel Distillery: Highland Park Origin: Scotland £69.30 Qty left: 102
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 “In case of apocalypse break seal” Cask No: 135.46 Cask Type: 2nd fill ex-bourbon barrel Distillery: Inchmoan (Loch Lomond Distillery) Origin: Scotland £49.00 Qty left: 102
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 “A Neanderthals knapsack” Cask No: 66.220 Cask Type: 1st fill ex-px hogshead Distillery: Ardmore Origin: Scotland £83.80 Qty left: 102
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 “Salting and pickling” Cask No: 44.150 Cask Type: 2nd fill ex-bourbon hogshead Distillery: Craigellachie Origin: Scotland £88.20 Qty left: 102
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 “Cinnamon snickerdoodles and sanded pine” Cask No: 9.236 Cask Type: 2nd fill ex-bourbon barrel Distillery: Glen Grant Origin: Scotland £65.00 Qty left: 105
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 “The naked truth puzzling delightful” Cask No: 53.409 Cask Type: refill ex-bourbon hogshead Distillery: Caol Ila Origin: Scotland £70.30 Qty left: 108
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 “Gooey, nutty and buttery” Cask No: 68.87 Cask Type: 1st fill ex-px hogshead Distillery: Blair Athol Origin: Scotland £71.70 Qty left: 111
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 “Playful and teasing” Cask No: 1.268 Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel Distillery: Glenfarclas Origin: Scotland £61.20 Qty left: 114
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Distillery 19 Highland Rare Release: Hazelnut Bubble Gum!
Last Tuesday I had the pleasure of attending The SMWS May Virtual Tasting on Facebook!
Host Madeleine Schmoll was joined by Society favourites: Master Brand Ambassador, John McCheyne & SMWS Benelux Country Manager, Bob Wenting to guide us through five rare distillery drams!
The drams tasted on the night were:-
■ Distillery 5 Lowland Rare Release: Lime and Thyme
■ Distillery 19 Highland Rare Release: Hazelnut Bubble Gum
■ Distillery 36 Speyside Rare Release: A reward for patience
■ Distillery 93 Campbeltown Rare Release: Change faster than a chameleon
■ Distillery 53 Islay Rare Release: Throw the cork away!
So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …
Cask Type: 1st.fill ex-bourbon barrels
18 years old
55.8% ABV
Distillery: Auchentoshan
 Nose: Apples, citrus and tropical fruits with some additional toffee thrown in. Palate: Cane sweetness, fruity toffee and coconut chocolate coupled with a full bodied savouriness. Finish: A dry finish with a fair bit of spice coming through and white woodiness. |
| Sadly, Not available to buy – But – See All That The SMWS Has To Offer! |
Cask Type: 1st.fill ex-bourbon barrels
18 years old
55.6% ABV
Distillery: Glen Garioch
 Nose: Crisp green apples, dried mango slices, vanilla custard with sweet biscuit & there’s hints of woodiness in there as well – WoW! Palate: Creamy with an oily mouthfeel. Palate of banana and custard cream biscuits. Finish: Very smooth finish with a building hint of spice to counteract what is a pretty sweet dram! |
| Sadly, Not available to buy – But – See All That The SMWS Has To Offer! |
Cask Type: 2nd. fill oloroso & bourbon barrels
10 years old
57.6% ABV
Distillery: Benrinnes
 Nose: Sweet mashed banana big time! Tropical fruits follow along rather sheepishly. Porty red wine and ginger spice come along later. Palate: Banana with porty red wine, ginger and sweet, dark chocolate. Finish: Sweet, astringent finish. |
| Sadly, Not available to buy – But – See All That The SMWS Has To Offer! |
Cask Type: 1st.fill ex-bourbon barrels
8 years old
59.7% ABV
Distillery: Glen Scotia
 Nose: A subtler nose for me but I eventually get lemon, citrus and oatmeal. Palate: The palate is completely different from the nose! Slightly oily and creamy, throat lozenges, toffee and salt. Finish: Gloriously creamy, sweet finish with some peppery spiciness. |
| Sadly, Not available to buy – But – See All That The SMWS Has To Offer! |
Cask Type: 1st. fill ex-oloroso hogsheads
8 years old
58.4% ABV
Distillery: Caol Ila
 Nose: Gorgeous savoury smokehouse! Sweet peat, liquid oily smoke, burning embers and a rush to the kitchen for snacks! Palate: Tasty smoke, peat and I especially love the way the peaty brine combines with such treacly sweetness! Finish: Basically the palate continues with an additional salty, antiseptic and tar finish. |
| Sadly, Not available to buy – But – See All That The SMWS Has To Offer! |
On the night I most enjoyed “Distillery 53 Islay Rare Release: Throw the cork away” – just gotta’ Love the peat!
Many thanks to SMWS (@SMWSUK) for such an enjoyable evening and for sending the samples!
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is a club unlike any other.
As well as being a place to connect with other like-minded whisky lovers, they are also internationally renowned for their mission: “to provide our members with an adventurous and fun journey of discovery of the world’s widest collection of single cask whiskies.”
Conceptualised in the late 70’s and established in 1983, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, now 35 years old, has branches and partners bars in 19 countries globally. The Society has a selection of over 500 casks every year, each cask yielding a few hundred or less whisky bottles which are unique to that cask.
Rather than name their Whiskies after the distillery, the Society has a coding system. The Society also creates fantastic tasting notes summaries for their Whiskies and other bottles. The whiskies are straight from the cask single malt, undiluted, without chill-filtration or colouring at cask strength.
More recently the Society has been named Independent Bottler of the Year in Whisky Magazine’s prestigious Independent Bottlers’ Challenge (IBC) competition.
Distillery 53 Islay Rare Release: Throw the cork away!
Tuesday 31 May, 8pm
Join the Flavour Hunters Festival at home with a virtual tasting pack – tasting and exploring five festival bottles from this year’s Rare Releases.
It’s going Live on the SMWS UK Facebook page or on SMWSSilverscreen, their YouTube channel on May 31st!
Distillery 36 Speyside Rare Release: A reward for patience
Distillery 5 Lowland Rare Release: Lime and Thyme
Distillery 19 Highland Rare Release: Hazelnut Bubble Gum
Distillery 93 Campbeltown Rare Release: Change faster than a chameleon
Distillery 53 Islay Rare Release: Throw the cork away!
Watch the event Live on the SMWS UK Facebook page or on SMWSSilverscreen, their YouTube channel!
Shop Whiskies from The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is a club unlike any other.
As well as being a place to connect with other like-minded whisky lovers, they are also internationally renowned for their mission: “to provide our members with an adventurous and fun journey of discovery of the world’s widest collection of single cask whiskies.”
Conceptualised in the late 70’s and established in 1983, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, now 35 years old, has branches and partners bars in 19 countries globally. The Society has a selection of over 500 casks every year, each cask yielding a few hundred or less whisky bottles which are unique to that cask.
Rather than name their Whiskies after the distillery, the Society has a coding system. The Society also creates fantastic tasting notes summaries for their Whiskies and other bottles. The whiskies are straight from the cask single malt, undiluted, without chill-filtration or colouring at cask strength.
More recently the Society has been named Independent Bottler of the Year in Whisky Magazine’s prestigious Independent Bottlers’ Challenge (IBC) competition.
SMWS Festival Tasting Pack 2022!
Tuesday 31 May, 8pm
Join the Flavour Hunters Festival at home with a virtual tasting pack – tasting and exploring five festival bottles from this year’s Rare Releases.
It’s going Live on the SMWS UK Facebook page or on SMWSSilverscreen, their YouTube channel on May 31st!
Watch the event Live on the SMWS UK Facebook page or on SMWSSilverscreen, their YouTube channel!
Distillery 36 Speyside Rare Release: A reward for patience
Distillery 5 Lowland Rare Release: Lime and Thyme
Distillery 19 Highland Rare Release: Hazelnut Bubble Gum
Distillery 93 Campbeltown Rare Release: Change faster than a chameleon
Distillery 53 Islay Rare Release: Throw the cork away!
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is a club unlike any other.
As well as being a place to connect with other like-minded whisky lovers, they are also internationally renowned for their mission: “to provide our members with an adventurous and fun journey of discovery of the world’s widest collection of single cask whiskies.”
Conceptualised in the late 70’s and established in 1983, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, now 35 years old, has branches and partners bars in 19 countries globally. The Society has a selection of over 500 casks every year, each cask yielding a few hundred or less whisky bottles which are unique to that cask.
Rather than name their Whiskies after the distillery, the Society has a coding system. The Society also creates fantastic tasting notes summaries for their Whiskies and other bottles. The whiskies are straight from the cask single malt, undiluted, without chill-filtration or colouring at cask strength.
More recently the Society has been named Independent Bottler of the Year in Whisky Magazine’s prestigious Independent Bottlers’ Challenge (IBC) competition.
FESTIVAL SMWS TASTING PACK 2022!
 “Bright, breezy botanical beast” Cask No: 1.255 Cask Type: 2nd fill ex-bourbon barrel Distillery: Glenfarclas Origin: Scotland £55.00
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 “Curiously crazy!” Cask No: 44.153 Cask Type: 1st fill ex-px hogshead Distillery: Craigellachie Origin: Scotland £76.20
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 “Lime and thyme” Cask No: SM0.16 Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrels
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 “That floated our boat!” Cask No: 36.188 Cask Type: 1st fill ex-oloroso hogshead Distillery: Benrinnes Origin: Scotland £70.30
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 “Comfort and joy” Cask No: 26.196 Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel Distillery: Clynelish Origin: Scotland £57.50
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“Cinnamon snickerdoodles and sanded pine” Cask No: 9.236 Cask Type: 2nd fill ex-bourbon barrel Distillery: Glen Grant Origin: Scotland £65.00
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 “Beach hut bonkers” Cask No: 135.34 Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel Distillery: Inchmoan (Loch Lomond Distillery) Origin: Scotland £86.00
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 “Hazelnut bubble gum” Cask No: SM0.23 Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrels
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 “Changes faster than a chameleon” Cask No: SM0.19 Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrels
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 “Fruity time travel” Cask No: SM0.20 Cask Type: 2nd fill ex-bourbon hogsheads
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 “Festival SMWS Tasting Pack 2022”
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 “Throw the cork away!” Cask No: SM0.21 Cask Type: 1st fill American oak ex-oloroso sherry hogsheads (formerly in bourbon hogsheads)
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