SMWS releases — December 2022

In short · Glenfarclas (Speyside), 10 years.

“Descriptors on the nose neat came fast and furious, with heather ale, birch sap, nougat, maraschino cherries, caramelised oats and peanut butter rice pop treats.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Highland Park (Islands), 20 years.

“Deep, dark, and menacing, yet majestic aromas of embers, wood oil, roasting chestnuts and roasted duck in an orange liqueur sauce.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Highland Park (Islands), 14 years.

“This dram was calm, cool and collected, as we took a deep breath of glowing embers and sweet barbeque smoke.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Auchentoshan (Lowland), 19 years.

“We immediately noted a fresh and sweet scent coming from spearmint, vanilla sugar and chantilly cream.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Macduff (Highland), 10 years.

“The nose meandered from lemon drops and orange ice lollies to honey, vanilla, toffee chews and coffee cake, ending up in a garden shed.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glen Grant (Speyside), 13 years.

“We enjoyed the sense of balance on the neat nose with this one.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Dalmore (Highland), 13 years.

“Have you ever met a person in a cowboy’s tasselled jacket wearing a fragrance of cedarwood, leather accord and tobacco lifted by a hint of grapefruit?…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glenturret (Highland), 9 years.

“On the neat nose a very aromatic, sweet and fragrant smoke greeted the panel.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glenturret (Highland), 8 years.

“We made beef brisket with burnt ends on a smoker and threw in some crunchy thick-cut potato chips, plenty of brown sauce, added a tankard of rich and peat-smoked porter,…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glen Garioch (Highland), 19 years.

“The wood influence was immediately apparent – polished oak, sawdust, dried flowers, basketry, cashews and macadamias.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Bruichladdich (Islay), 13 years.

“Limited to 1 per member The panel agreed this one was a textbook example of this cult Islay distillery's modern era.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Clynelish (Highland), 9 years.

“A wonderfully fresh and evocative nose we thought.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Clynelish (Highland), 30 years.

“The wonderful gentle aroma reminded us of happy childhood summers, pitching a small canvas tent on the beach and spending carefree time outdoors.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Tullibardine (Highland), 9 years.

“On the nose neat, we got a slice of walnut cake with icing sugar as well as ryebread with salted butter and marmalade.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glenrothes (Speyside), 9 years.

“A complex blend of hazelnuts, walnuts and marzipan joined madeira cake and vanilla sponge while the sweet fragrance of bergamot, roses and carnations merged with new…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

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

“Our immediate impressions were of subtlety, nuance and delicate complexity.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Cragganmore (Speyside), 18 years.

“At first nosing we detected pocket-melted chocolate bars, before blackcurrant jam, fig paste, date molasses and walnut wine.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Linkwood (Speyside), 10 years.

“The nose is afternoon tea in a flower garden (Earl Grey, French fancies, Norwegian skolebrød, jammy dodgers, lemon posset and figs).…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glenlossie (Speyside), 10 years.

“A bright initial display of new leather, shoe polish, copper coins, lanolin and damp earthiness.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Balmenach (Speyside), 8 years.

“This one had a bit of everything with menthol muscle rub, banana liqueur, after-sun lotion, grapefruit juice as well as gooseberry and elderflower jam.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Bushmills (Northern Ireland), 19 years.

“A cavalcade of flambéed banana, bourbon biscuits, fudge, coffee with brown sugar, tea tree oil and menthol tobacco leaf.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

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

“First nosings suggested chocolate limes, sea salt and a roaring peat fire.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Royal Brackla (Highland), 15 years.

“An evocative nose – cheroots trampled under leather boots on floorboards; Seville orange marmalade, ripe figs, pecan pie, vanilla ice cream and root beer.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glentauchers (Speyside), 9 years.

“The initial nose was enticingly lean, clean and spicy!…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

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

“A complex amalgamation of pavlova, cherry sorbet and cocktail bitters merged with orange liqueur, dandelion and burdock, plus maple syrup on roasted chestnuts and a…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Blair Athol (Highland), 15 years.

“On the neat nose, the aroma was that of sweet pumpkin pie, toasted hazelnuts and a mug of turmeric tea made with oranges and ginger.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Miltonduff (Speyside), 9 years.

“The panel found a curious mix of vanilla ice cream drizzled with grassy olive oil, soya bean paste, cornflakes, icing sugar and lemon juice.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Aultmore (Speyside), 10 years.

“The nose led us into the kingdom of desserts – cranachan, banana split, vanilla, peach and forest fruits, with minimal herbal, floral and twiggy distractions.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Aultmore (Speyside), 10 years.

“The nose gave us a kind of mellow yellow vibe – apple pie and crème pâtissière, lemon curd, pineapple and banana, yellow fruit pastilles and poached pears.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

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

“Familiar maritime aromas of a sea breeze over a ship's decking merged with salted caramel, liquorice ice cream and crème fraîche.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Fettercairn (Highland), 13 years.

“The nose had sherry fruit trifle and peaches preserved in brandy, coconut flakes and toasted walnuts, manuka honey and maple syrup, hessian straw and beer barm.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Auchroisk (Speyside), 11 years.

“The neat nose initially brought to mind aromas of youthful fruit brandies, apple sours, mineral oils, shoe leather and camphor, plus some toffee apples, burnt orange…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Auchroisk (Speyside), 14 years.

“The nose, deep as the Mariana Trench, wafted toasted oak, toffee apples and black tea; red wine reduction (on steak) and heady aromas of a new age incense shop.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · GlenDronach (Highland), 12 years.

“One panellist imagined whistling “we’re all going on a summer holiday” while packing his sponge bag with a minty toothpaste, coconut sun lotion, a hint of talc and apple…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Strathmill (Speyside), 12 years.

“This one opened with a wonderfully aromatic and scented profile.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Allt-a-Bhainne (Speyside), 10 years.

“A delicate smoky scent like smoked honey mint chip ice cream or roasting smoked sweet potatoes made this a real pleasure nosing neat.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Braeval (Braes of Glenlivet) (Speyside), 13 years.

“On the nose, some sharp fruity notes (strawberry, gooseberry and cranberry) were appeased by softer aromas of toasted coconut and flaked almonds, mashed banana, rose…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Bruichladdich (Port Charlotte) (Islay), 13 years.

“Limited to 1 bottle per member The nose evoked sea breezes wafting over rock pools and a box of fresh langoustines – the anticipated feast also had Marie Rose sauce,…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Nantou (Taiwan), 6 years.

“We encountered a nose full of dusty pollens, sandalwood, oily rags, camphor, aged mead, white pepper, damp tobacco leaf and hints of melon liqueur, rose syrup,…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Mosgaard Whisky (Denmark), 5 years.

“Limited to 1 bottle per member And now for something completely different… Say hello to the latest distillery from The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, with the release of…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Chateau de Laubade (France).

“A glorious aroma, riddled with classic aged Armagnac characteristics in beautiful harmony.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

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

“The nose neat surrounded us with light, fruity and frothy aromas that reminded us of a pineapple and banana custard meringue as well as lemon shortbread cookies.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Hampden (Jamaica), 21 years.

“An abundance, or even better an explosion, of esters centring mainly on strawberries either dowsed in vinegar or petrol with further aromas being marker pens, pear drops…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS