SMWS

Just Whisky Hamburg ’23 (Fair)

Impressions from the Just Whisky Hamburg '23 fair

Last weekend, on the 22nd and 23rd of September, Just Whisky Hamburg took place again in my hometown, bringing lots and lots of whisky craze to the place. Unlike the kick-off event last year, the fair’s second installment was no longer held in the district of Harburg. Instead, it was moved (more…)

Auchentoshan 18yo “5.76 – Guyana comes to Glasgow” by The SMWS (Review)

Header image of Auchentoshan 18yo Single Malt Scotch Whisky by The SMWS

I love this rum cask-finished Auchentoshan’s nickname “Guyana comes to Glasgow”. Still, I would much more like to introduce a whisky called “Peace comes to Kyiv” on my blog these days. Let’s all hope that there will soon be cause for a bottling with such a name; (more…)

The Macallan 12yo “24.148 – Effortlessly bold” by The SMWS (Review)

The Macallan 12yo by The SMWS "Effortlessly bold" (Single Malt Sherry Cask Speyside Scotch Whisky Tasting Notes BarleyMania)

In recent months, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society released a couple of bottles with the identifier 24 on the label. All of ’em got sold out within minutes, if not seconds. The reason for this: In the bottle code system of The SMWS, the number 24 stands for The Macallan (more…)

BenRiach 10yo “12.48 – Hoppy madness” by The SMWS (Review)

Benriach 10yo by The SMWS (Single Malt Scotch Whisky Speyside Craft Beer Cask Tasting Notes Blog)

I love whisky, I love craft beer. And I love it when the two intertwine. One bottling, in which this happens, is the 10-years-old BenRiach from The Scotch Malt Whisky Society called “Hoppy madness”. After an initial maturation in ex-bourbon barrels, this crisp Speysider (more…)

Glen Spey 8yo “80.17 – Dazzling and scintillating” by The SMWS (Review)

Glen Spey 8yo "80.17 - Dazzling and scintillating" by The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (Speyside SMWS Single Cask Tasting Notes BarleyMania)

At the end of each year, it becomes time for me to renew my membership to The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Here, I always pay a little extra to get a mystery bottle along with the prolonged club affiliation. I find it really exciting to wait for the package, open it and take out a surprise (more…)

Benrinnes 22yo “36.172 – Orange oil and wine corks” by SMWS (Review)

Benrinnes 22yo by The SMWS (Single Malt Scotch Whisky Speyside Festival 2020 Tasting Notes)

This year, the sought-after festival bottlings from The Scotch Malt Whisky Society sported colorful animal illustrations. One of my faves: the chilled orang-utan that peacefully dozes on the label of this bourbon cask-matured Benrinnes 22 Years Old. (more…)

“Battle axe” Islay Blended Malt by The SMWS (Review)

Battle Axe by The SMWS (Blended Malt Scotch Whisky Society Bottle Tasting Notes)

“Grandfather, tell me a story,” the little boy asked. “All right,” replied the old man, “Go and get your storybook.” The youngster shook his head: “No, no. Not one of those. A real story! Tell me about the last whisky you had!” The grandfather’s eyes lit up: “Well, then … (more…)

“Oh, sweet Scotland” Whisky Tasting by The SMWS (Tasting)

Besides their quality, the illustrious single cask releases of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society are also known for their clever names and elaborate tasting notes. The latter often include references to British sweets that drammers from the mainland might not be familiar with. (more…)