SMWS releases — November 2025

In short · Glenfarclas (Speyside), 13 years.

“The Winter Series returns this year capturing the magic of the season in four single malt bottlings.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glenlivet (Speyside), 17 years.

“Initial nosing revealed toffee, condensed milk, banoffee pie, tobacco leaf, kumquat and watermelon.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Bowmore (Islay), 20 years.

“We all agreed this was yet another totally stunning example of this famous Islay distillery.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Highland Park (Islands), 19 years.

“From the bridge of a coal-fired tugboat, we followed the perfume of freshly pressed apple juice to the shore, finding cider, fried doughnuts and a fruit salad.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Highland Park (Islands), 15 years.

“Aromas of purple heather and lavender invited us in, followed by hints of melon, crushed beach shells and crisp green apples.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Macduff (Highland), 13 years.

“A gentle, sweet aroma with delicate hints of char and the faint glow of wood smoke made this an enticing offering.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glen Grant (Speyside), 21 years.

“A long-forgotten, dust-encrusted book emerged into the light of day to bake in the sun and to perfume the library's bookworms.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Bunnahabhain (Islay), 11 years.

“Nothing could prepare us for the explosion of smoke which awaited us nosing this dram neat.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Inchgower (Speyside), 14 years.

“A variety of images came to the fore nosing neat.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Macallan (Speyside), 16 years.

“International Sherry Week celebrates all things sherry.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Tullibardine (Highland), 10 years.

“Having filled a warm leather satchel with vanilla pods and banana candy, we walked past an oak tree wrapped in filo pastry and drizzled with runny honey.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Laphroaig (Islay), 27 years.

“The aroma ticked all the boxes to make your heart content with smoked kabanos sausages, smoky sweet pickles with strawberries, balsamic-brown butter sauce, shoe polish,…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glenrothes (Speyside), 33 years.

“This had an enticing medley of aromas ranging from Indian sandalwood, Chinese five spice over a rhubarb crumble, toasted French brioche and Italian panettone to stovetop…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glen Moray (Speyside), 12 years.

“A fresh, fruity note of sweet green grapes, apple slices and lime sorbet was met by deeper aromas of a madeira loaf, pecan ice cream, marshmallows covered in powdered…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glenlossie (Speyside), 12 years.

“The neat nose bristled with resinous hardwoods, pine cones and spiky notes of caramelised oatmeal, camphor and varnished hardwood furniture.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Balmenach (Speyside), 10 years.

“Giving time for our old leather jackets to soak up conditioner, we inhaled the scents of linen dunked in custard, chamomile tea and grilled pineapple sauce.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

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

“The neat nose veritably bristled with sweet, natural tar extracts, then pure creosote, salted Dutch liquorice and the sweetest, richest of peat smokes.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Strathisla (Speyside), 15 years.

“As a long-time fan of Pedro Ximénez sherry, PX-matured whiskies are by far my favourites.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Teaninich (Highland), 14 years.

“Cornflakes swam in milky iced chai, sweetened with pine resin and birch sap.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Aberfeldy (Highland), 11 years.

“The initial impression was of a highly fragrant and aromatically complex dram.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Mannochmore (Speyside), 13 years.

“A vibrant and playful whisky, the nose struck a fiery first chord with habanero spice, underripe mango and dried apricots.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Blair Athol (Highland), 13 years.

“We sat on a hardwood table laden with plenty of goodies – rum and raisin truffles, lava cake, crème brûlée and molasses cookies.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glencadam (Highland), 13 years.

“The starting point for this small batch was two bourbon barrels of single malt Scotch whisky.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

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

“The slightly industrial note we once expected from this make has receded.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Fettercairn (Highland), 14 years.

“On the nose, the oak barged in like a ringmaster, cracking their whip and introducing a troop of fruity acrobats, jugglers juggling loaves of bread and a couple of…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Auchroisk (Speyside), 13 years.

“From these 50L Octave casks comes a rare and tiny batch.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Strathmill (Speyside), 14 years.

“Lathering up the shaving soap, we enjoyed the aromas of a spoonful of sticky marmalade and a chunk of honeycomb.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

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

“We found ourselves in a walled garden with a perennial meadow, rose garden, potager full of fruit and vegetables, and an apple orchard.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Braeval (Braes of Glenlivet) (Speyside), 16 years.

“Juicy peaches and nectarines jigged on a sticky dancefloor of bramble jam, pirouetting around pine needles and pears before tumbling into clove and cinnamon honey.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Knockdhu (AnCnoc) (Speyside), 10 years.

“Massaged with birch sap, the treacle sponge could hardly smell sweeter, until it was served to our noses in a sauna with lashings of apricot jam.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

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

“We all loved the nose neat.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Nantou (Taiwan), 5 years.

“A light sea breeze fanned the charcoals to a bright orange glow, while apple and pork sausages merrily sizzled in the rising heat.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Ardnamurchan (Highland), 9 years.

“A superb initial aroma of Iberico ham, flambéed banana with dark chocolate, glazed pecans and boiled ham greeted us.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Penderyn (double distilled) (Wales), 10 years.

“At first, the Panel noted fruity red ales, spiced brown bread, shilling beers, camphor, putty, resinous hardwoods, pine cones and herbal liqueurs.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Wolfburn (peated) (Highland), 8 years.

“We imagined smoke-roasted pears with mascarpone next to truffles dipped in dark chocolate and finished off with a sprinkling of salted pistachios.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

“This ‘Heresy’ small batch blended malt is the first Society release of an Islay whisky matured in casks previously used for smoky, fruity mezcal.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

“There’s a wonderful feeling of getting away from it all as industry fades to the sweet and aromatic with just a hint of harbourside jaunts in the morning.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

“A hypnotic melody of smoky earthiness meets with a chord of oily sweet smoke before the final chorus bursts forth rousingly with tar, creosote and the richest of peat…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS