SMWS releases — January 2024

In short · Glenfarclas (Speyside), 10 years.

“We stepped into a tropical greenhouse of palm trees, orchids, cacti and a pond with water lilies – while a hummingbird buzzed and darted among the foliage.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Highland Park (Islands), 18 years.

“Coming across a patch of muirburn, the Panellists extinguished the smouldering heather with runny honey, as ash rained down on salted caramel and lobster pots.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Auchentoshan (Lowland), 19 years.

“The nose combined a sweet serenity (honey, fudge, honeycomb bars) with an aromatic rhapsody of hothouse flowers, eucalyptus, pine needles and tobacco, plus a sharper…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Macallan (Speyside), 32 years.

“Atop sticky ginger cake, Turkish delight and Spanish rum mingle with treacle, jam and gooey apricot.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glen Moray (Speyside), 31 years.

“The subtle scent of a nutty sponge cake moistened in a light lemony syrup, topped with pastry cream, walnuts and cinnamon combined with a glass of orange muscat, wafted…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Benrinnes (Speyside), 16 years.

“We detected plenty of sweet notes, toffee, caramel, molasses, toasted almonds and rum-soaked raisins that were drying on a well-used oak whisky barrel stave.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Linkwood (Speyside), 17 years.

“We Panellists donned our aprons before cooking up a beef and red wine stew, which we served with sautéed apple slices in a pan with plenty of demerara sugar, cinnamon…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Balmenach (Speyside), 9 years.

“No hints of haggis, but warm yourself and toast Scotland's national poet with bouillon stock, freshly baked pastries, dried heather flowers and honey ice cream.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

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

“Using burnt twigs we stirred coal tar and beech wood-smoked nectarines into a medicinal potion of chamomile and syrup.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Aultmore (Speyside), 10 years.

“With pear drops, pineapple, lemon, lime and bourbon-based cocktails, the nose was a fresh and bright canvas, across which were smeared bold impasto strokes of set honey.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

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

“After five years in ex-bourbon wood this served further time in a high-security Spanish oak oloroso hoggie and got well and truly sherry-maxed.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glendullan (Speyside), 10 years.

“Nettles, grass, green fruit chews, Cointreau, Grenadine and buttered oatcakes all greeted the Panel at first nosing.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glen Elgin (Speyside), 16 years.

“We transferred this into a first fill Spanish oak oloroso hogshead to enhance its 13 years in ex-bourbon wood.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Fettercairn (Highland), 12 years.

“This sample led to a variety of connotations listed as follows.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Auchroisk (Speyside), 14 years.

“So, "oloroso", literally fragrant in Spanish, like a spiced winter sangria of red wine mixed with apples, oranges, cinnamon and cloves.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Milk & Honey Distillery (Israel), 3 years.

“High-flying esters created a cloud of ripe banana and pear aromas that combined with spiced apple chutney and honey-roasted cashews.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS