SMWS releases — December 2024

In short · Glenfarclas (Speyside), 12 years.

“Ice axes in hand, crampons on feet, and dried fruit tropical trail mix in the bag, we began our ascent.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glenlivet (Speyside), 17 years.

“If nosing a whisky was part of our daily calorie count, this dram would have us on a diet by now: sticky toffee pudding, vanilla ice cream, plums stewed in pine resin,…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Highland Park (Islands), 11 years.

“We cured duck ham, singed rosemary, roasted chestnuts and grilled slices of sweet potato slathered with a cilantro-lime dressing nosing neat.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Highland Park (Islands), 25 years.

“Sand and seashells crunched beneath our feet as we stepped into the darkness.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Tamdhu (Speyside), 8 years.

“From the pocket of a waxed cotton jacket, the Panel pulled handfuls of buttered popcorn, warm toffees, dolly mixture and slices of sticky malt loaf.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glen Moray (Speyside), 17 years.

“An immediately pleasing and well-rounded nose, our initial notes included brown bread spread with treacle, buttered popcorn, black forest gateau, shoe polish, sultanas,…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glen Moray (Speyside), 9 years.

“This was a headlong dive into a world of intense sherry aromas.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Linkwood (Speyside), 12 years.

“As we splashed lemon juice and rose water over the morning newspaper, a tin of custard was opened alongside slices of red apple.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Linkwood (Speyside), 13 years.

“The floral notes came thick and fast – roses, lilies and geraniums next to a sappy scent of exotic wood, wet bark and musk.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

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

“We sat round a beach bonfire, with aubergines charring in the embers for some proper baba ganoush; while some of us thought there was maybe a sea battle going on in the…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Aberfeldy (Highland), 10 years.

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

“Additional time in this first fill oloroso barrique, after 12 years in a bourbon hoggie, gave the nose manuka honey, sultanas, marmalade and bourbon biscuit sweetness;…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Mortlach (Speyside), 31 years.

“Into the cider press tumbled toffee chunks, damson jam, fennel seeds, tonka beans and red wine.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glen Elgin (Speyside), 15 years.

“The aroma was all over the place, with buttered fruit loaf, mango-filled doughnuts, brandy snaps, rum and raisin ice cream and, not to forget, apple-scented shampoo.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

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

“Bellows of peat smoke wrapped around juicy watermelon and singed seaweed like ointment-soaked bandages from a farmer's first aid kit.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Loch Lomond (Inchmurrin / Inchmoan) (Highland), 19 years.

“As we strolled past bright green apples being dipped in butterscotch and honey, we supped on warm custard through brandy snap straws.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

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

“Warm-reekin, rich ...…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Penderyn (Wales), 6 years.

“The neat nose quivered with big, juicy dark things like Christmas pudding, mincemeat stewing in Cognac, orange oils, hardwood varnish, rosewater and Turkish delight.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

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

“The aroma awoke memories of the essence of a bohemian lifestyle in the 1960s and 1970s, as seen at the Woodstock Festival – a carefree vibe, flowers behind ears,…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Isle of Harris Distillery (Islands), 6 years.

“Descriptors for the aroma came fast and furious - gravadlax sauce, beech-smoked trout, black peppercorn-infused rye whisky and homemade sweet ploughman's pickle.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Domaine de Saurine (France).

“We found a bouquet of deep, sweet aromas on the neat nose with prunes, dried apricots, tobacco, golden caster sugar, glacé cherries and chocolate truffles.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

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

“A very clean and fresh nose greeted the Panel: crisp white shirts fresh out of the press, window cleaner, linseed oil, cleaned paintbrushes and a wooden easel.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · The Borders Distillery (Lowland), 4 years.

“This was an especially expressive gin, felt the Panel.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Cotswolds (England), 1 years.

“An array of aromas greeted the Panel – juniper, freshly cut pine trees, lime cordial and roses, as well as candy floss and ground almonds.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · FEW Spirits (Illinois, USA), 4 years.

“Life-affirming aromas of varnish and wood polish merged into aromatic cough lozenges stored in a freshly buffed antique brass box.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

“A 15-year-old Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits offering from Cask No.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

“The Society’s latest small-batch creation is the result of a collaboration with a Perthshire-based brewer and its experiment with a stout flavoured with locally sourced…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS