SMWS releases — December 2020

In short · Glenfarclas (Speyside), 9 years.

“This one opened with a robust and pure maltiness.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Highland Park (Islands), 12 years.

“Limited to 2 per Member A fresh sea breeze carried the smoke of a smouldering gorse bush to us as we walked along the coastline enjoying a lavender ice cream; a lovely…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Macduff (Highland), 11 years.

“Limited to 1 per member This one was all about lemons –fresh lemon sorbet, sherbet sours, lemon curd, limoncello, lemon zest cookies and warm lemon pudding cake.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Longmorn (Speyside), 16 years.

“Limited to 1 bottle per member The distinct aroma of marzipan, glace cherries and soft icing on a cherry Bakewell joined the soft fruits of mango and honeydew melon…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glen Grant (Speyside), 24 years.

“Limited to 1 bottle per member Back in 2016, we combined selected hogsheads from distillery number 9 before returning the single malt to first-fill oloroso hogsheads.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glen Grant (Speyside), 18 years.

“Limited to 1 bottle per member A wonderfully buttery nose at first, with full on butterscotch, toffee popcorn, coconut sugar and vanilla buttermilk icing.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Clynelish (Highland), 9 years.

“Bottle limited to 1 per member A fresh and sunshine drenched fragrance summoned images of flowering gorse bushes, brambles and ferns in lush woodland before a playful…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Tullibardine (Highland), 15 years.

“The nose was fresh as a scrubbed-up cherub – we were transported to a summer picnic– cut grass, lush green foliage, green apples and lemons, Vinho Verde, lilac…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Laphroaig (Islay), 25 years.

“This bottle is limited to 1 per member The nose was initially clean and vividly saline.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glen Moray (Speyside), 25 years.

“Bottle limited to 1 per member Soft leather wrapped around toasted pine nuts, almonds and praline before teasing us with dried prunes, bruised apples and a silky layer…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glen Moray (Speyside), 33 years.

“It was a dark night and in the moonlight shadows lurked hazelnuts, walnuts and burnt orange skin.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Linkwood (Speyside), 8 years.

“A summery, fruity delight; imagine sitting in a comfortable chair on a rooftop decked terrace surrounded by plenty of plants and flowers enjoying the white fluffy clouds…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Dailuaine (Speyside), 12 years.

“Like a breath of fresh air as we sat on sun-warmed grass and unwrapped our chestnut cupcakes with a chocolate coffee cream.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Tobermory (Islands), 13 years.

“Bottle limited to 1 per member Initial notes included squid ink, smoked sea salt, wet kelp, tarry rope, bitumen, charred lemons and creosote.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Craigellachie (Speyside), 16 years.

“This bottling is limited to 2 per member The nose neat was all over the place; sheep’s wool, beeswax, balsa wood, tomato plants, nettle tea and toasted almond slices.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Balmenach (Speyside), 13 years.

“We found this one to be much lighter initially than weve come to expect from this distillery.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Bladnoch (Lowland), 30 years.

“Bottle limited to 1 per member The kind of aroma that only time can wring from beautiful distillate and a gentle cask.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Caol Ila (Islay), 10 years.

“Limited to 1 per member The confected sweetness of Turkish delight and juicy fruit jellies combined with liquorice and wood ash as we reeled in a catch of smoked fish,…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Caol Ila (Islay), 9 years.

“The panel identified this as an unusually perfumed and delicately aromatic example of this great Islay make.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Royal Brackla (Highland), 14 years.

“We were baking honey and oat cookies as well as making rum and raisin fudge, while on the palate neat a fresh menthol start was followed by a ‘rough sweetness’ like…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Mannochmore (Speyside), 14 years.

“Limited to 1 per member We were instantly moved to the Cais da Ribeira in Porto on a warm, dusky night overlooking the Douro River to Vila Nova de Gaia with all the Port…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Ardmore (Highland), 13 years.

“This bottling is limited to 2 per member “There is a rosebush in full bloom on fire”, or “is someone burning incense sticks of camphor, tar or blackcurrant?” It…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Ardmore (Highland), 13 years.

“Bottle limited to 2 per member A comforting German dish, Rinderrouladen (beef olives) came to the mind of one of the panellists - thin slices of beef stuffed with a…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Blair Athol (Highland), 14 years.

“Limited to 1 per member The aroma was earthy and very old with a surprisingly fresh, fruity scent as we imagined a dunnage warehouse storing fresh strawberries, pears…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Blair Athol (Highland), 13 years.

“Botle limited to 1 per member We firstly commented on the wonderful deep colour of shiny conkers before the aroma became full of chocolate brownies, rum and raisin…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Aultmore (Speyside), 8 years.

“Limited to 2 per member The green, floral, fruity nose evokes summer days of sun-blessed leisure – hay fields and flower meadows, apple blossoms, raspberries and banana…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glen Ord (Highland), 12 years.

“Initial impressions were of bags of chocolate oranges, red grapes, malt loaf, unsmoked bacon rolls with brown sauce and things like balsamic reduction and dark cherry…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glendullan (Speyside), 12 years.

“This bottling is limited to 1 per member Heavyweight fruit plunged us into figs, dates and sticky dessert wine as hazelnut chocolate merged with soft leather and pipe…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Tomintoul (Speyside), 10 years.

“Hang on what is going on here?…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glen Scotia (Campbeltown), 8 years.

“Limited to 1 per member An exemplary aroma from Campbeltowns most underrated distillery.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Fettercairn (Highland), 13 years.

“Limited to 1 per member There was an unhurried, timeless quality about this bouquet of aromas; full of fruit (plums and blood oranges), spice (cinnamon and nutmeg), oak…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Auchroisk (Speyside), 7 years.

“Bottle limited to 1 per member Salted caramel, honey on a charred wooden spoon, sultanas, fig rolls, prunes, blackberry banana smoothie and chunky chips with brown…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Strathmill (Speyside), 9 years.

“Limited to 1 per member We prepared a fruit smoothie mixing bananas, brambles, blackberries and gooseberries as well as oats, Greek yoghurt and strong brewed green tea…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Braeval (Braes of Glenlivet) (Speyside), 8 years.

“A refreshing start delivered roses, carnations and fresh coconut as crunchy green apples, plums and pineapple merged with lemon sponge cake and orange icing.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Loch Lomond (Croftengea) (Highland), 8 years.

“A juicy burst of toasted pineapple, squished lemons and orange peel gave an uplifting zip on the nose that sweetened as pink marshmallows joined vanilla pods in banana…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Penderyn (Wales), 7 years.

“One bottle per member - duplicate orders will be refunded  An amazing young vintage port colour was followed by an intense sweet strawberry scent, when combined with…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Penderyn (Wales), 7 years.

“Bottle limited to 1 per member A wonderful golden to red-brown colour similar to a gemstone called Tiger’s eye caught our attention at first.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Chichibu (Japan), 9 years.

“This bottling is limited to 1 per member Harmonious as a barbershop quartet – the nose combined savoury (soy, nori, red bean paste) with sweet (mocha, Demerara, honey)…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Loch Lomond (Highland), 11 years.

“The Panel initially noted mothballs at the back of a sock drawer.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · High Coast Distillery (Sweden), 7 years.

“A uniquely American sweetness at first nosing.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Dumbarton (Lowland), 33 years.

“The initial comment was ‘very yummy, very rummy’ – dried figs, prunes, sultanas as well as treacle and nut oil in abundance.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · The Borders Distillery (Lowland), 1 years.

“The neat nose suggests various things – the spritzy fruitfulness of lime chews, raspberryade and dried cranberries; fudge, toffee and icing sugar sweetness and…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Hampden (Jamaica), 19 years.

“Bottle limited to 2 per member You are entering a world of pineapple!…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Worthy Park (Jamaica), 8 years.

“We loved the funk and frivolity of it; you could tell by our lip-smacking, thigh-slapping, eye-rolling expressions of pleasure.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS