SMWS releases — November 2023

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

“We took to the seas in a freshly varnished boat, loading up our nostrils next to a slow cooker brimming with beef stifado.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Bunnahabhain (Islay), 9 years.

“We followed our noses to a large bowl of breakfast cereal, seasoned with sea salt and enveloped with a lichen-born smoke.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · BenRiach (Speyside), 34 years.

“Tied between two coconut palm trees, the hammock gently swayed in a breeze that mixed wafts of fragrant tobacco and polished tropical wood with soft leather.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · BenRiach (Speyside), 14 years.

“Transferred after 11 years from ex-bourbon wood into a first fill oloroso barrique, the nose evoked Spanish tapas bars – jamon Serrano and bread on polished wood, with…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glenturret (Highland), 9 years.

“We started by the sea, in a farmyard by the sea to be precise, crunching on smoked peanuts drizzled with chilli sauce as dried seaweed fluttered in the wind like the…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Inchgower (Speyside), 15 years.

“Golden rays of sunshine melted creamy butter over charred oak driftwood as we relaxed by dunking chocolate bourbon biscuits in espresso martinis.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Inchgower (Speyside), 15 years.

“Keep cosy with rich dried fruits, peaches, patchouli and rose, marzipan, lebkuchen, amaretti biscuits, dark chocolate, antique leather books ...…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Bruichladdich (Islay), 15 years.

“An immediately robust and distillate-forward example of this Islay make, one which gives the lie to the idea that it is a 'gentle' malt.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Clynelish (Highland), 9 years.

“The impression we had was like a fragrant perfume with the top notes being a sunny day by the beach.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Springbank (Campbeltown), 30 years.

“Like some steam-powered kitchen, puffs of funnel smoke swirled around grease-coated cogs and buckets of petrol marinade.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

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

“An aromatic and gentle profile we felt, one which exhibited aromas of hedgerow, undergrowth and other natural, organic and nicely fresh things.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Benrinnes (Speyside), 16 years.

“Intense and full on, with big notes of dark chocolate, cherries and oak – we imagined eating a slice of black forest gateau in those typical cathedral-style warehouses…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Benrinnes (Speyside), 16 years.

“St Andrew is not only the patron saint of Scotland but also of sore throats, happy marriages and fishermen.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Linkwood (Speyside), 11 years.

“The nose gave us lightly perfumed Marseille soap, laundry and shaved wood; we also found honeycomb, hay, lemon meringues, jellybeans and apricot danish pastries.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Tobermory (Islands), 17 years.

“Seductively sweet aromas of treacle oozing over the thick icing on a rich fruitcake blended into bramble liqueur before the smoke from Assam tea leaves on a bonfire…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Craigellachie (Speyside), 10 years.

“The evocative funk of Jamaican rum delivered a highly spirited mix of pineapple, coconut and lemon in a cloud of hairspray and a handful of sugar cubes for good measure.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Balmenach (Speyside), 14 years.

“Nodding off in a comfy chair, dreams began to spiral with roasted peaches rolling round and round in a charred oak fruit bowl as juniper berries and coriander seeds…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Caol Ila (Islay), 15 years.

“Boom!…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Caol Ila (Islay), 13 years.

“Sugar-coated fennel seeds mixed with heather honey and teriyaki sauce before soaking into green moss and first aid bandages.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

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

“The Panellists baked a buttered pineapple in an oak-fired pizza oven in the middle of a grassy meadow.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Aberfeldy (Highland), 10 years.

“Full of cakes, from Dundee to the Caribbean, with ginger and cherries joining malt loaf and vanilla frosting.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

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

“The Panel picked over effervescent orange juice, cherry wood dust, plumbers' putty and dates crushed under rough granite slabs.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Aultmore (Speyside), 12 years.

“We initially found grassy notes as well as melon, kiwi, bananas, lime and fresh peppermint on pistachio cannoli.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Aultmore (Speyside), 11 years.

“Wrap up on the longest night of the year with this intense dram, full of sweet notes ranging from freshly made caffè d’orzo (Italian barley coffee) sweetened with…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

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

“Wafts of smoke and chimney soot danced to the spicy and vibrant rhythm that burnt pencils drummed out on a mango set ablaze by a blowtorch.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glencadam (Highland), 12 years.

“We dipped wholegrain toast in rapeseed oil and smothered it with plum preserve and lime zest.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

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

“The nose combined nut brittle, raspberry brownie and cherry cola with salted pretzels, black tea, pine cones, leather and cigarettes trampled on wooden floorboards.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glen Scotia (Campbeltown), 9 years.

“At first nosing we detected many fresh aromas such as wet linens, rope, swimming pools and jasmine flowers.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Auchroisk (Speyside), 14 years.

“The nose suggested sweet treats – toffee apple, dried fruits, sweet sherry, bourbon, pumpkin pie and bramble jelly; plus hints of menthol, leather and spiced nuts.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Knockdhu (AnCnoc) (Speyside), 8 years.

“Re-racked at three years from a bourbon hoggie into the PX hogshead previously inhabited by 1.206; the result is unusual, to say the least – nosing of leather shoes,…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Loch Lomond (Croftengea) (Highland), 9 years.

“A fab nose full of bike chain grease, peat smoke and mechanical oils.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Balcones (Texas, USA), 3 years.

“As we toasted marshmallows on cinnamon sticks, hot chocolate raindrops began to fall from the sky and splitter-splatter on juicy red berries and luscious cherries around…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Distillerie de Warenghem (France), 8 years.

“We unwrapped a stick of cinnamon chewing gum and poured root beer into a glass, filling the room with myriad aromas such as liquorice root, nutmeg, acacia, anise, clove,…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · George Dickel (Cascade Hollow) (Tennessee, USA), 7 years.

“A warm and friendly aroma reminded us of vanilla fudge, plus a strawberry tall cake where the layers are made with a chiffon cake recipe and a dash of bitter…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glasgow Distillery Company (Lowland), 2 years.

“On the neat nose we discovered vanilla ice cream, tinned fruit cocktail and fresh spearmint, as well as hints of sawdust in a carpenter’s workshop.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Cotswolds (England), 1 years.

“After a brief mineral or petrolic note at the start, the nose developed a fresher experience, like running through a pine forest.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Worthy Park (Jamaica), 10 years.

“We imagined stepping into a Victorian sugar mill where the sugar cane was being crushed by rollers powered by steam engines.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Journeyman Distillery (Michigan, USA), 5 years.

“We fell head over heals for figs and sultanas in banana bread, topped with a thick layer of rich chocolate and shrouded in the fragrant smoke of pipe tobacco.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

“The blended malt is the rather tasty result of a combination of Speyside and Highland whiskies.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS