SMWS releases — July 2023

In short · Highland Park (Islands), 13 years.

“We imagined sitting on a beach late in the afternoon, roasting marshmallows on a stick and baking focaccia and ciabatta.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Macduff (Highland), 16 years.

“At first we noted runny honey, shoe polish, new leather and sweet stout beers, followed by hints of beef and vegetable stocks, American cream soda, fruit and nut…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glen Grant (Speyside), 14 years.

“A whispering scent of light, sweet, earthy aromas combined with delicate floral notes made this a very attractive proposition.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glenturret (Highland), 9 years.

“Sweet, smoky and slightly grubby, the nose suggested maple syrup pancakes, salted caramel and a burning toffee factory next door to a riding stables.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glenturret (Highland), 9 years.

“Aromas suggested a filthy rebellion that supported tar, creosote and engine grease on an old fishing trawler with cured salmon, candyfloss and burnt caramel.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Inchgower (Speyside), 15 years.

“Initial nosing drew notes of cherry bakewells, hessian, toasted pecan nuts, red apples and old leather.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

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

“Some clichés are clichés for a good reason.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Macallan (Speyside), 32 years.

“Warm slices of nougat were served on a cedar slab, dusted with cinnamon and crowned with peanut paste.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Tullibardine (Highland), 10 years.

“Bags of fruit jelly sweets brought a juicy intensity that washed over nutmeg and cassia bark while waxy textures danced beside orange oil.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glen Moray (Speyside), 10 years.

“A sweet and fruity aroma on the neat nose reminded us of lime marmalade, bakewell tarts and a peach melba sundae with vanilla ice cream, prosecco, cream and lemon juice.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Craigellachie (Speyside), 16 years.

“Cinnamon butter melting on warm croissants joined salted caramel and heather honey while Iberico ham and glazed pork were served with green melon.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

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

“We were hit by the assertive, saline, smoky scent of buttered samphire, sea purslane and salted smoked limes next to a strong whiff of peat fire-grilled citrus and herb…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

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

“Burnt orange and mulled wine spices complemented hazelnut praline, roasted chestnuts and cognac before apple crumble was served with custard and coconut.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Strathisla (Speyside), 11 years.

“Madeira cake came dipped in molten white chocolate and sprinkled with chunks of glacé cherries.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Teaninich (Highland), 12 years.

“We began with baked oranges, sitting on a pillow of new leather covered in rosemary and soft brown sugar.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Aberfeldy (Highland), 9 years.

“We noticed, at first, a fresh minty aroma which was joined by a lime sorbet and pear drops.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glentauchers (Speyside), 20 years.

“What an aroma on the neat nose: floral, tropical and exotic!…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Mannochmore (Speyside), 13 years.

“A rich combination of figs, treacle and armagnac blended with crème caramel and singed lemon meringue pie topped with toasted coconut shavings, before pine resin oozed…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Ardmore (Highland), 25 years.

“We found a wonderfully gentle and elegant nose that presented smoked honey, rock salt and gorgeous layers of delicate, herbal-tinged peat smoke.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Miltonduff (Speyside), 12 years.

“We began with salted pretzels from the winter market, dipped in caramel sauce and sprinkled with freeze-dried wild strawberries, before honeyed oats and early grey tea…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Ben Nevis (Highland), 9 years.

“We began our journey in a sooty and treacly old train carriage, with worn leather seating and corduroy curtains.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glen Spey (Speyside), 11 years.

“The neat nose was wonderfully expressive, with vivid notes of caramel sauce, vanilla latte, crème brûlée, custard made with aged dessert wines and fructose corn syrup.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glencadam (Highland), 10 years.

“The nose, fragrant and floral, made us think of freesias, rose incense, Turkish delight, crispy-shelled fruit candies, and a perfumed silk scarf in a new leather handbag.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

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

“Red grapes were squashed under an avalanche of oranges, sugared almonds and a new truck tyre.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

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

“The evocative and charismatic nose made us think of swimming pools, rock pools and whirlpools.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Fettercairn (Highland), 13 years.

“Walnuts and caramel wafers were served with vanilla ice cream and butterscotch on ripe banana, with a dash of rum and pink peppercorns in a soft leather bag.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Auchroisk (Speyside), 12 years.

“Sniffing this, every Panellist imagined flowers – yellow roses, chamomile, elderflower and flower meadows in Haute-Savoie.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

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

“A familiar profile for this famously variable distillery: mineral and mechanical oils in abundance, then camphor, putty, limoncello, lime curd and long-aged Irish pure…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Nantou (Taiwan), 5 years.

“A heady, floral perfumed aroma greeted the Panel before deeper notes of orange oil, tobacco, caramel and cocoa emerged.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · MGP (Midwest Grain Products) (Indiana, USA), 5 years.

“We were on cloud nine nosing this one neat as it reminded us of a Cloud Walker cocktail, mixing Finnish cloudberry liqueur with whisky, lime juice and lemonade.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Loch Lomond (Highland), 22 years.

“A bit of a conundrum this – curious, intriguing and brain stimulating – as the nose gave us sherbet straws, toffee and white chocolate mice, cocktails with lime,…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

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

“We found this one initially full of lemongrass, parsley, chives and other green herbs, before developing some elegant, gentle peat influences in the form of gauze, squid…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

“We’re turning up the heat with a little Society experiment that’s been 27 years in the making.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS