{"title":"SMWS","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"macallan-12-year-old-1996-smws-single-cask-24-107-gorgeous-toffee-speyside-single-malt-scotch-whisky-2009-70cl","title":"Macallan 12 Year Old 1996 SMWS Single Cask 24.107 Gorgeous Toffee Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2009) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eMacallan 12 Year Old 1996 SMWS Single Cask 24.107 Gorgeous Toffee Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2009) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 826 bottles back at release.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMacallan no longer sell casks to independent bottlers. We are in these times seeing the last of the drops coming from the early 2000s.\u003cbr\u003eWhat is better than a Macallan release at 43%? An even better single cask at natural high cask strength. There is no denying that for the last 200 years, spectacular whisky has been made out of the casks they buy from Jerez.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Rolls Royce of Whisky and producers of some of the most expensive whisky and it is in high demand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the first distilleries in Scotland to legally hold a licence was The Macallan. Now they have built a world-wide reputation as one of the world’s leading single malt whiskies distillers. The Macallan whilst using traditional craftsmanship methods and combining the natural raw materials from North America, Spain and Scotland have managed to retain these traditional influences.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce SMWS stock is gone its gone. the profile of this is dried fruits and sherry. Delicious is an understatement. A truly rare beast in the midst of all the whisky around us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Macallan\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMacallan is an excellent example of the significance of size on whisky character. It is a large producer certainly, but its spirit stills are small (3,900 litres). This is a major contributing factor to the rich and oily nature of its new make.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEven with an extremely tight (ie small) cut there is little time for copper to do its lightening job on spirit vapour in tiny stills the lyne arms of which are so acutely angled. The opposite applies to maturation, however, where the balance between large and small is more fully revealed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat heavy new make then goes into large, predominantly 500-litre ex-Sherry casks (made of both European and American oak). A large surface-to-volume ratio means that maturation will take longer – Macallan, it is widely agreed, hits its stride fully in its mid-teens. A heavy new make will also require longer in cask to lose any vestigial sulphurous notes. The nature of the extractives in the European oak (higher levels of tannin, powerful clove and resinous aromas) also needs a heavy spirit to achieve balance. American oak, on the other hand, adds and enhances sweetness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo colour adjustment takes place at Macallan, meaning that each vatting needs to not only replicate the previous one in terms of aroma and taste, but must hit the same hue, despite every cask having a different tint. It is this understanding of the way in which colour is an indication of character which was behind whisky-maker Bob Dalgarno’s creation of the ‘1824 Range’ in 2013.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the original farm distilleries of Speyside, Macallan became legal in 1824 when Alexander Reid obtained (or was persuaded to obtain) one of the new licences issued after the passing of the 1823 Excise Act. In 1868, James Stuart took the lease and rebuilt the plant. His ownership ended in 1892, when he sold Macallan to one of the giants of Victorian distilling, Roderick Kemp, who had previously owned Talisker. Kemp’s descendants – in particular the Shiach family – retained ownership until the 1996 takeover by Highland Distillers (now Edrington).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe plant has continually been expanded from its original wooden shed with two stills. It was increased to five stills (two wash, three spirit) in 1954 and then more significantly in 1965 when a new stillhouse with seven stills was built. This process continued throughout the 1970s with the total number of stills reaching 21 by 1975.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a distillery which has become synonymous with the growth of single malt, it is worth remembering that Macallan has always been an important malt for blending. It wasn’t until the early 1980s, faced with a downturn in the market for fillings, that Macallan decided to focus more strongly on the then new single malt category.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe management team of Allan Shiach, Frank Newlands, Hugh Mitcalfe and Willie Phillips oversaw a campaign which both positioned the malt as a 'first-growth whisky' it called 'the Cognac of whisky', while always retaining a somewhat bohemian and irreverent approach to advertising and promotion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA firm belief in the fusion of the oily, heavy, new make style and ex-Sherry casks saw Macallan, under Edrington’s governance, become the first distillery to create so-called ‘bespoke’ casks: selecting specific trees (predominantly in northern Spain, though some American oak is specified), and then with Jerez-based cooper Tevasa specifying the length and nature of drying, type of coopering, the liquid used for seasoning (oloroso) and the duration of that process. Investment in wood has increased significantly in recent years, with a complex of massive warehouses being built on the estate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn recent years, a greater emphasis has been placed on the nascent luxury whisky market with bottlings of 50- and 60-year-old Macallan in Lalique decanters, the creation of the Fine \u0026amp; Rare vintage range dating back to 1926, and the Masters of Photography series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis has not been without controversy. Its growing status as a collectable malt saw Macallan become the victim of fakers in the late 1990s. The subsequent investigation has, however, helped establish a methodology to check the authenticity of suspicious bottlings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn a whisky-making front, 2004 saw the introduction of Fine Oak, where American oak ex-Sherry casks and some ex-Bourbon casks were used in a mirror range to the ‘classic’ 100% ex-Sherry range. Though old Macallan lovers protested, the lighter, sweeter, flavour profile brought in new drinkers, mostly in new markets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 1824 Range, a four-strong series not carrying age statements which replaced some of the younger expressions in the portfolio, followed in 2013, using whisky colour as a communication and branding device.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe second stillhouse was brought back on stream in 2008, and in 2013 it was announced that a completely new, £100m distillery was to be built.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe new distillery – a distinctive subterranean design – was commissioned on 9 November 2017 and opened officially in May 2018, at a final cost of £140m.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e58.6% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Macallan","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54523925004613,"sku":"000442","price":599.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4716299792.jpg?v=1746551044"},{"product_id":"macduff-17-year-old-single-cask-smws-6-72-2006-fruit-mellifluosity-70cl","title":"Macduff 17 Year Old Single Cask SMWS 6.72 2006 Fruit Mellifluosity 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eMacduff 17 Year Old SMWS 6.72 2006 Fruit Mellifluosity 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eThis whisky is a 17 year old from Macduff Distillery located in Banff, this whisky has been bottles by The Scotch Malt Whisky Society.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTasting Notes \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003carticle\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe starting note for this small batch was two bourbon hogsheads of single malt Scotch whisky. At 13 years of age one cask was transferred to a first fill Spanish oak oloroso hogshead, and the other to a first fill American oak PX hogshead. The casks were then married together before bottling. The nose majored on an array of fruits (banana, glacé cherries, sultanas, orange peel, lemon bonbons) bound together with the mellifluous sweetness of fudge, honeycomb and butterscotch. The palate also had fruits and sweets (toffee, peach cobbler, strawberries, plums, rhubarb), with some earthier notes punching through – candied almonds, sea salt dark chocolate, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout Macduff \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"banner wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"banner-container\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"banner-content\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"banner-content-inner\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"introduction\"\u003eA seaside distillery, Macduff is located in the fishing port of the same name, on the banks of the River Deveron, next to the Moray Firth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"pagenav js-fixed\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMacduff distillery has a classic, clean and functional Delme-Evans design, with the stillhouse being the most intriguing part of the engineering.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn here are five stills – two wash and three spirit – all of which have upward-tilting lyne arms that have a right angled kink in them. The spirit stills also have horizontal shell and tube condensers. The character is nutty (slightly sulphury at new make stage), with quick mashing, short fermentation and cold condensers. It is this last technique which adds weight to the spirit. It could well be that the kink in the lyne arm helps create just enough reflux to contribute a balancing fruitiness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA modern distillery, Macduff (whose whisky is bottled by its owner as either Glen Deveron or The Deveron; Macduff is only used by independent bottlers) was built in 1960 to tap into the post-war whisky boom. The group of Glasgow brokers who were the original owners included Brodie Hepburn [see Tullibardine, Deanston] and it was through them, one imagines, that William Delme-Evans was chosen as architect. Brokers Block, Grey \u0026amp; Block were in charge between 1966 and 1972 when it became part of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/scotchwhisky.com\/whiskypedia\/2554\/william-lawson-s\/\"\u003eWilliam Lawson\u003c\/a\u003e, the whisky arm of Martini \u0026amp; Rossi.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe distillery had been slowly expanding in terms of production throughout its life and its Italian owner upped the number of stills to five in 1990. By then a range of single malts had been released, all under the name Glen Deveron.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn keeping with the Italian market’s love of young fresh malts, a five- and eight-year-old were early members of the range. Two years later, Martini merged with Bacardi and in 1995 Macduff became part of the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/scotchwhisky.com\/whiskypedia\/2600\/john-dewar-sons\/\"\u003eDewar’s\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003estable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn recent years, the William Lawson blend has become a huge seller in Russia, but that hasn’t stopped Dewar’s plans to relaunch the single malt as Deveron. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e56.9% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/article\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Macduff","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54523941224773,"sku":"00099","price":110.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4121185909_65bc433a-f0b2-458b-8584-78e5f4996f67.jpg?v=1746551356"},{"product_id":"mackmyra-8-year-old-2013-smws-single-1st-fill-bourbon-cask-151-2-farmyard-haddock-swedish-single-malt-whisky-2022-70cl","title":"Mackmyra 8 Year Old 2013 SMWS Single 1st Fill Bourbon Cask 151.2 Farmyard Haddock Swedsh Single Malt Whisky (2022) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eMackmyra 8 Year Old 2013 SMWS Single 1st Fill Bourbon Cask 151.2 Farmyard Haddock Swedsh Single Malt Whisky (2022) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 288 Bottles from the Swedish Whisky producer, Mackmyra.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eScotch Malt Whisky Society\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewas founded in Edinburgh in 1983 by Phillip 'Pip' Hills who, while travelling around Scotland in the 1970s, fell in love with whiskies drawn straight from the cask. After he expanded his syndicate the Society was purchased by Glenmorangie PLC in 2004. In 2015, the Society was sold back to private investors. In June 2021, the private owners floated the holding company The Artisanal Spirits Company plc on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt has a unique code system where the first number refers to the distillery and the second refers to the cask from which the bottle comes. SMWS also offers the largest range of distilleries of any independent bottler. These curiously named drams really do have something for every whisky lover!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe SMWS are one of the Britain's most revered independent bottlers with a worldwide network of partner bars with one mission of getting as much whisky at natural cask strength without water to different nations including USA, Canada, Switzerland, UK, Austria, Germany and many others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecently, the distillery was saved from bankruptcy due to how good the whisky is. This is the second cask that SMWS purchased and bottled. If you love Caol Ila or Highland Park then this is up your street.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe initial nose suggested caraway seeds, cumin schnapps, muddled mint, vapour rubs and smoked meats. Also bashed crab claws and scallops charring on a BBQ. Reduction brought a more agricultural aspect, neeps and tatties picked from wet soil, caramelised carrots and then peppered mackerel. The neat palate was full of boiled shellfish, creosote, waxy textures, herbal smoke, petrol, menthol vapour rubs and wasabi. With water it became sweeter and the herbal aspects more elevated. Lots of syrupy medicines, charcoal, farmyard touches, spiced cured meats, smoked fish pie with capers and charred rosemary branches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout Mackmyra \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMackmyra is Sweden's pioneering single malt whisky distillery\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e founded in 1999 and known for its innovative, gravity-fed Gravity Distillery. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003edesigned for energy efficiency. The distillery produces whisky using locally sourced ingredients, including Swedish oak for maturation, and offers both peaty and unpeated styles. After a period of bankruptcy in 2024, the company was purchased and continues to be a key player in the Swedish whisky scene.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\" data-wiz-rootname=\"ohfaMd\"\u003e\u003cspan data-animation-atomic=\"\" class=\"vKEkVd\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\" data-wiz-rootname=\"ohfaMd\"\u003e\u003cspan data-animation-atomic=\"\" class=\"vKEkVd\"\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\" data-wiz-rootname=\"ohfaMd\"\u003e\u003cspan data-animation-atomic=\"\" class=\"vKEkVd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e57.7% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mackmyra","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54523941454149,"sku":"MACK8SMWS151.2","price":179.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4659626938_13ca2d5c-e774-4a97-abac-5a333ac41a1b.jpg?v=1746551366"},{"product_id":"mannochmore-13-year-old-2009-smws-single-hybrid-oak-cask-64-137-jamaican-rum-balls-2023-70cl","title":"Mannochmore 13 Year Old 2009 SMWS Single Hybrid Oak Cask 64.137 Jamaican Rum Balls Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2023) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eMannochmore 13 Year Old 2009 SMWS Single Hybrid Oak Cask 64.137 Jamaican Rum Balls Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2023) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 264 bottles produced\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMannochmore is one of those lesser known Speyside whiskies but a great distillery for those who do know about it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis was distilled on 12th May 2009 in an ex-bourbon Hogshead and then finished in a 1st Fill Hybrid Oak Hogshead giving it the dark fruit \u0026amp; red berry \/ ginger and rum taste. It is a little dry and a lot delicious!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eTasting Notes \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003carticle\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis felt like a basket full of enticing aromas: juicy ripe red berries, marzipan fruits, cinder toffee and rumkugeln (German rum balls) made with rich melted chocolate and sweet Spanish-style rum. The taste followed suit with cinnamon custard, fruit salad, hibiscus-mint iced tea and chutney, as well as a fruity rye bread of hazelnuts, cherries, raisins and pumpkin seeds. Following reduction we enjoyed a peach cobbler, milk chocolate teacakes and a cup of earl grey tea. On the palate, we had cardamom-roasted oranges, Jamaica ginger cake and strawberries served with a chocolate sauce. After nine years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, we transferred this whisky into a first fill custom-toasted American (70 per cent) and European (30 per cent) oak hogshead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout Mannochmore \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMannochmore was built in 1971 by DCL (now Diageo) on the site of its sister distillery, Glenlossie, to assist with the increasing demand for blended Scotch in the international market. Its output remains blend focussed to this day, and as such is more commonly bottled as a single malt by independent labels. Occasional official releases have appeared over the years though, in the Flora \u0026amp; Fauna and Rare Malts Selection series, and as the infamous “black whisky,” Loch Dhu.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/article\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e58.6% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mannochmore","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54523944730949,"sku":"MAN13SMWS64.137","price":115.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4678560900_22184011-0419-4433-99cd-fbe163858a7c.jpg?v=1746551443"},{"product_id":"mars-tsunuki-5-year-old-2017-smws-single-sherry-cask-160-1-mango-in-the-dojo-japanese-single-malt-whisky-2024-70cl","title":"Mars Tsunuki 5 Year Old 2017 SMWS Single Sherry Cask 160.1 Mango In The Dojo Japanese Single Malt Whisky (2024) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eMars Tsunuki 5 Year Old 2017 SMWS Single Sherry Cask 160.1 Mango In The Dojo Japanese Single Malt Whisky (2024) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 277 bottles produced\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the first time that Mars Whisky are collaborating with the SMWS. A historic bottle for sure. And not only that but in a 1st Fill Sherry Hogshead too!!!!! What a wonderful entrance into an independent bottler. This is the same as Homelander crashing onto the stage whilst on fire. maximum effect at the start and originally sold out in one minute of it becoming available.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTasting Notes \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith a well-trodden floor of pine and birch, the dojo had an aroma reminiscent of saunas. Toffee apples limbered up, preparing to go head-to-head against fennel seeds in brown sugar, flambaed bananas, and mangoes in caramel sauce. Fresh notes of mint leaves entered through the sliding doors, merging with the rich character of cream sherry in traditional Japanese teacups. A dash of water brought our attention to a large bowl of fruit, packed with green apples, conference pears, peaches and juicy red berries. Meanwhile in the corner, malt loaf and a tarte tatin practised their karate techniques on punch bags filled with butterscotch popcorn and tobacco.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eAbout Mars Whisky \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eMars Whisky is a Japanese brand by\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=Hombo+Shuzo\u0026amp;oq=about+mars+whisky\u0026amp;gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRifBTIHCAQQIRifBTIHCAUQIRifBTIHCAYQIRifBTIHCAcQIRiPAjIHCAgQIRiPAtIBCDM4NDhqMGo3qAIAsAIA\u0026amp;sourceid=chrome\u0026amp;ie=UTF-8\u0026amp;mstk=AUtExfDt8bzJ1XGTPv7GaO75JU_nz9iauMSAm_DIB-oWw1RL2KYOj64mL9Tr3VAXydPevVwwIL0ja1F9CY1qW4otLmd8HZ6KkuFNx7EdmtJxc4-a_KuRyz1wB_-aJwLL-RRrsKgABpxtq-PBHS-5P7mAw9f8lrj69hpOiW9g6NVIJmVHiGilLddC4MFJLRfNBTaJY-2SEkWYOMuJ6fUAS-wC9JrzsTO0P-dkTf2LzvNeWrFHcVZwO1lNYD_zWJWoacUrs6e0U9tm81LX8jpo0g54XQfA\u0026amp;csui=3\u0026amp;ved=2ahUKEwjSl-uo3sGPAxUvU0EAHQ_COyUQgK4QegQIAhAB\" data-hveid=\"CAIQAQ\" data-ved=\"2ahUKEwjSl-uo3sGPAxUvU0EAHQ_COyUQgK4QegQIAhAB\" class=\"GI370e\" data-wiz-rootname=\"sQeGi\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eHombo Shuzo\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, known for its distinct distilleries and diverse whisky profiles. The brand operates the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=Komagatake+Distillery\u0026amp;oq=about+mars+whisky\u0026amp;gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRifBTIHCAQQIRifBTIHCAUQIRifBTIHCAYQIRifBTIHCAcQIRiPAjIHCAgQIRiPAtIBCDM4NDhqMGo3qAIAsAIA\u0026amp;sourceid=chrome\u0026amp;ie=UTF-8\u0026amp;mstk=AUtExfDt8bzJ1XGTPv7GaO75JU_nz9iauMSAm_DIB-oWw1RL2KYOj64mL9Tr3VAXydPevVwwIL0ja1F9CY1qW4otLmd8HZ6KkuFNx7EdmtJxc4-a_KuRyz1wB_-aJwLL-RRrsKgABpxtq-PBHS-5P7mAw9f8lrj69hpOiW9g6NVIJmVHiGilLddC4MFJLRfNBTaJY-2SEkWYOMuJ6fUAS-wC9JrzsTO0P-dkTf2LzvNeWrFHcVZwO1lNYD_zWJWoacUrs6e0U9tm81LX8jpo0g54XQfA\u0026amp;csui=3\u0026amp;ved=2ahUKEwjSl-uo3sGPAxUvU0EAHQ_COyUQgK4QegQIAhAC\" data-hveid=\"CAIQAg\" data-ved=\"2ahUKEwjSl-uo3sGPAxUvU0EAHQ_COyUQgK4QegQIAhAC\" class=\"GI370e\" data-wiz-rootname=\"sQeGi\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eKomagatake Distillery\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e in the high-altitude Japanese Alps, producing delicate whiskies, and the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=Tsunuki+Distillery\u0026amp;oq=about+mars+whisky\u0026amp;gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRifBTIHCAQQIRifBTIHCAUQIRifBTIHCAYQIRifBTIHCAcQIRiPAjIHCAgQIRiPAtIBCDM4NDhqMGo3qAIAsAIA\u0026amp;sourceid=chrome\u0026amp;ie=UTF-8\u0026amp;mstk=AUtExfDt8bzJ1XGTPv7GaO75JU_nz9iauMSAm_DIB-oWw1RL2KYOj64mL9Tr3VAXydPevVwwIL0ja1F9CY1qW4otLmd8HZ6KkuFNx7EdmtJxc4-a_KuRyz1wB_-aJwLL-RRrsKgABpxtq-PBHS-5P7mAw9f8lrj69hpOiW9g6NVIJmVHiGilLddC4MFJLRfNBTaJY-2SEkWYOMuJ6fUAS-wC9JrzsTO0P-dkTf2LzvNeWrFHcVZwO1lNYD_zWJWoacUrs6e0U9tm81LX8jpo0g54XQfA\u0026amp;csui=3\u0026amp;ved=2ahUKEwjSl-uo3sGPAxUvU0EAHQ_COyUQgK4QegQIAhAD\" data-hveid=\"CAIQAw\" data-ved=\"2ahUKEwjSl-uo3sGPAxUvU0EAHQ_COyUQgK4QegQIAhAD\" class=\"GI370e\" data-wiz-rootname=\"sQeGi\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eTsunuki Distillery\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e in the subtropical south of Kyushu, which crafts more robust, smoky spirits. Their whisky is often characterized by pure water sources, unique climates, and innovative techniques, resulting in smooth, balanced whiskies with notes of fruit, spice, and oak.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\" data-wiz-rootname=\"ohfaMd\"\u003e\u003cspan data-animation-atomic=\"\" class=\"vKEkVd\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e57.7% ABV\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54523949089093,"sku":"000486","price":339.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4754022927_f0e24fb5-759f-4cb7-a869-e828e36c5432.jpg?v=1746551544"},{"product_id":"mgp-midwest-grain-products-4-year-old-2016-smws-single-1st-dfill-4-char-barrel-b7-14-gleatissimo-indiana-bourbon-whiskey-2021-70cl","title":"MGP (Midwest Grain Products) 4 Year Old 2016 SMWS Single 1st Dfill #4 Char Barrel B7.14 Gleatissimo Indiana Bourbon Whiskey (2021) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eMGP (Midwest Grain Products) 4 Year Old 2016 SMWS Single 1st Dfill #4 Char Barrel B7.14 Gleatissimo Indiana Bourbon Whiskey (2021) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 207 bottles produced\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis MGP bourbon was distilled on 19th December 2016 and aged for 4 years in a first-fill #4 char barrel..\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eTASTING NOTES\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003carticle\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlenty of sweet aromas greeted the Panel, marzipan, whipped vanilla cream and brown sugar but at the same time a wisp of wood smoke and sweet tobacco tickled our fancy. That was followed by a floral, fruity and spicy flavour of orange oil, white pepper, cinnamon and a touch of black liquorice. After the addition of water, the scent of gorse, coconut, mango and toasted almonds appeared while the taste was delightful, sweet cream chocolate chip ice cream or as the Italians call it “gelato stracciatella” – Bellissimo! The mash bill for this bourbon consists of 51% corn, 45% wheat and 4% malted barley, matured in a #4 char new oak barrel with #2 char heads.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/article\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout MGP\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe history of MGP distillery has its roots in the emid-19th century, however it is best known for its association to Seagram, who purchased it at the close of Prohibition in 1933. Located in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, the distillery provided whiskey and grain neutral spirits for many of the Canadian distilling giants products for the rest of the 20th century. When an ill-advised move into the entertainment industry saw Seagram collapse in the early 2000s, much of their assets, including the Lawrenceburg distillery were bought up by Pernod-Ricard. They announced in 2006 that they intended to close it, however ended up selling it instead to a holding company in Trinidad called CL Financial. They renamed it LDI (Lawrenceburg Distillers Indiana). It was not long however before the new owners would go bust as well, and the distillery was again sold, this time to MGP Ingredients, who renamed it in the process. The company produced and markets some of its own brands, but its main line of business is a huge contract-distilling operation. Among these are a number of well-regarded grain recipes, and several bourbons. Among its biggest customers are Diageo, and former owners, Pernod-Ricard, alongside a extensive list of independent boutique brands. Ask any bourbon enthusiast, and they’ll probably roll their eyes, scoff, or worse, get angry at any mention of MGP bourbon. You might even hear them passionately exclaim that it’s not “real” bourbon. MGP bourbon stands for Midwest Grain Products, an industry term used to describe mass-produced bourbon in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. This distillery produces spirits for private labels to sell. It is said that the location distills most of the bourbon and rye whiskey available on the US market. These mass-produced bourbons are then bottled and sold as the brands’ own. About 50 different “craft” distilleries and bottling companies source their spirits from the Indiana-based distillery, with Diageo being its biggest customer today. MGP-style bourbon distilleries weren’t in play until the United States had a means of transportation effective enough to deliver the batches of spirits. Back when MGPs were virtually unheard of, the spirits in the country came directly from the person who distilled them. In the case of retailers, they got the supply in bulk from the distilleries themselves. The MGP distillery in Indiana was established in 1847 and was bought by Seagram in 1933. If you see the words “Distilled in Indiana” printed on the label of a bourbon bottle, this is a clear indication that the spirit had been sourced from MGP, even though the brand did not specifically disclose it. MGP can provide the yeast, grain, and barrels to make the spirit, or the client can bring their own. The distillery will then ship the barrels to the customer to age, dump and ship the juice itself, or dump and blend the juices.  \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2016-06-30\/unique-whiskey-blends-that-flaunt-tradition\" rel=\"noopener nofollow noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" data-wahfont=\"18\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003eMGP carries various mash bills (more than a dozen) to cater to what the brand is looking for. Do you want a robust mash bill made from 60 percent corn, 36 percent rye, and 4 percent malted barley? How about a smoother mash bill made from 75 percent corn, 21 percent rye, and 4 percent malted barley? The distillery’s most popular mash bill is the rye-heavy formula, with a whopping 95 percent. It is said that Bulleit Bourbon uses this mash bill.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDistilleries that use MGP\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDiageo\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBardstown\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBull Run\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBarrel Craft\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLitchfield\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnderdog\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCadee\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGeorge Dickel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProhibition Spirits\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJames E. Pepper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTemperance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrother's Bond\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e57.3% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"MGP","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54523980382533,"sku":"000604","price":139.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4806742170_676df415-d019-4917-b963-e0182aeef5ed.jpg?v=1746551588"},{"product_id":"mgp-midwest-grain-products-6-year-old-2015-smws-single-1st-fill-4-char-barrel-b7-9-coconuts-indiana-bourbon-whiskey-2021-70cl","title":"MGP (Midwest Grain Products) 6 Year Old 2015 SMWS Single 1st Fill #4 Char Barrel B7.9 Coco'Nuts! Indiana Bourbon Whiskey (2021) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eMGP (Midwest Grain Products) 6 Year Old 2015 SMWS Single 1st Fill #4 Char Barrel B7.9 Coco'Nuts! Indiana Bourbon Whiskey (2021) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 214 bottles from a single #4 Char New Oak Barrel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eTasting Notes \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003carticle\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlenty of coconut on the nose neat, desiccated, cream, chocolate and flowering gorse with its distinctive smell of coconut and vanilla. To taste, salted chocolate and hazelnut brownies with stem ginger as well as Moroccan spiced honey. After reduction we poured Grand Marnier of Stracciatella ice cream, made caramel popcorn and an orange pound cake. Takes water extremely well on the palate, creamy and sweet with a hint of spicy bitterness like a homemade root beer barbeque sauce using sarsaparilla and liquorice roots, vanilla beans and molasses. The mash bill for this bourbon consists of 60% corn, 36% rye and 4% malted barley, matured in a #4 char new oak barrel with #2 char heads.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout MGP\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAsk any bourbon enthusiast, and they’ll probably roll their eyes, scoff, or worse, get angry at any mention of MGP bourbon. You might even hear them passionately exclaim that it’s not “real” bourbon. MGP bourbon stands for Midwest Grain Products, an industry term used to describe mass-produced bourbon in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. This distillery produces spirits for private labels to sell. It is said that the location distills most of the bourbon and rye whiskey available on the US market. These mass-produced bourbons are then bottled and sold as the brands’ own. About 50 different “craft” distilleries and bottling companies source their spirits from the Indiana-based distillery, with Diageo being its biggest customer today. MGP-style bourbon distilleries weren’t in play until the United States had a means of transportation effective enough to deliver the batches of spirits. Back when MGPs were virtually unheard of, the spirits in the country came directly from the person who distilled them. In the case of retailers, they got the supply in bulk from the distilleries themselves. The MGP distillery in Indiana was established in 1847 and was bought by Seagram in 1933. If you see the words “Distilled in Indiana” printed on the label of a bourbon bottle, this is a clear indication that the spirit had been sourced from MGP, even though the brand did not specifically disclose it. MGP can provide the yeast, grain, and barrels to make the spirit, or the client can bring their own. The distillery will then ship the barrels to the customer to age, dump and ship the juice itself, or dump and blend the juices. \u003ca data-wahfont=\"18\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"noopener nofollow noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2016-06-30\/unique-whiskey-blends-that-flaunt-tradition\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003eMGP carries various mash bills (more than a dozen) to cater to what the brand is looking for. Do you want a robust mash bill made from 60 percent corn, 36 percent rye, and 4 percent malted barley? How about a smoother mash bill made from 75 percent corn, 21 percent rye, and 4 percent malted barley? The distillery’s most popular mash bill is the rye-heavy formula, with a whopping 95 percent. It is said that Bulleit Bourbon uses this mash bill.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDistilleries that use MGP\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDiageo\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBardstown\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBull Run\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBarrel Craft\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLitchfield\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnderdog\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCadee\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGeorge Dickel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProhibition Spirits\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJames E. Pepper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTemperance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrother's Bond\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eScotch Malt Whisky Society\u003c\/em\u003e was founded in Edinburgh in 1983 by Phillip 'Pip' Hills who, while travelling around Scotland in the 1970s, fell in love with whiskies drawn straight from the cask. After he expanded his syndicate the Society was purchased by Glenmorangie PLC in 2004. In 2015, the Society was sold back to private investors. In June 2021, the private owners floated the holding company The Artisanal Spirits Company plc on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt has a unique code system where the first number refers to the distillery and the second refers to the cask from which the bottle comes. SMWS also offers the largest range of distilleries of any independent bottler. These curiously named drams really do have something for every whisky lover!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe SMWS are one of the Britain's most revered independent bottlers with a worldwide network of partner bars with one mission of getting as much whisky at natural cask strength without water to different nations including USA, Canada, Switzerland, UK, Austria, Germany and many others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese older labels from the first runs are mostly with distillation methods that include direct heat which was replaced with steam for many distilleries for environmental reasons changing the taste of whisky forever. It'll get real interesting when nuclear fusion is used to distil whisky. We might glow green for a few weeks after we drink the stuff. Who knows.... but all we know is that the old stuff has a musky taste that is VERY welcomed by people nowadays trying to time travel through whisky's past.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/article\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e56.6% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"MGP","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54523999846725,"sku":"000725","price":169.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4842313243_2be34b50-33b1-4e90-9469-777a1e5ace52.jpg?v=1746551592"},{"product_id":"milk-honey-3-year-old-2019-smws-single-ex-oloroso-cask-155-6-rumbustious-rumifications-2023-70cl","title":"Milk \u0026 Honey 3 Year Old 2019 SMWS Single Ex-Oloroso Cask 155.6 Rumbustious Rumifications Israeli Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2023) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eMilk \u0026amp; Honey 3 Year Old 2019 SMWS Single Ex-Oloroso Cask 155.6 Rumbustious Rumifications Israeli Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2023) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 264 Bottles produced\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDistilled in 2019 and bottled in 2023. Milk and Honey from Israel brings a powerful punching whisky due to the Angel's share and evaporation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTASTING NOTES\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003carticle\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHigh-flying esters created a cloud of ripe banana and pear aromas that combined with spiced apple chutney and honey-roasted cashews. The palate, however, was rich and sticky. Peat and oloroso sherry intertwined around complex cocktails of minty mojitos and super cuba libres with an enthusiastic serving of rum. Water accentuated the rum components, but now with polished leather, hickory smoke and charred pine trees. The flavours had taken a tropical turn, welcoming an influx of soft nectarine, mango and toasted pineapple. Sherry notes cut through the fruit before upfront peat and smoke cascaded on to mulled cherry liqueur with a garnish of mint.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eAbout Milk \u0026amp; Honey\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIsrael’s first whisky distillery – M\u0026amp;H.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the beginning, the M\u0026amp;H Distillery was founded with a commitment to the highest international standards of quality, and respect for the centuries-old traditions of whisky making. For that reason, the world-renowned Dr. Jim Swan, a leading expert in hot-climate maturation and new world whisky, was brought on- board as our main consultant and first master distiller.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe pursue perfection in every aspect, from our custom-made traditional copper pot stills to quality control throughout the process. And of course, we built an outstanding team of enthusiastic people who make everything possible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToday the award-winning M\u0026amp;H whiskies are available in over 40 countries worldwide, telling our bold story with unrelenting innovation in every bottle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere in Israel, we enjoy 300 days of sun a year, this hot climate contributes to an expedited aging process, leading to a deep and complex whisky even after a short-term maturation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOf course, the same climate also takes its toll with our average yearly angels’-share getting to as high as 12%(!). The challenge and adventure of making whisky in this untypical climate inspired the late Dr. Jim Swan, our first master distiller and one of the greatest whisky innovators of the last decades, to join us in founding the very first whisky distillery in Israel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur distillery was founded by a group of enthusiast whisky lovers and entrepreneurs, who dreamt of building the first, artisan distillery in Israel and creating innovation in the traditional world of whisky making. We’re all about working hard, having fun, and supporting each other. We’re bringing good vibes to everything we do. Together, we strive to bring the world the story of our new world whisky, a story of a vision that comes to life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is who we are.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/article\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e64.3% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Milk \u0026 Honey","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54524176859461,"sku":"M\u0026H3SMWS155.6","price":135.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4666769899_95ca02ea-4832-46ac-9740-b532e9cabbec.jpg?v=1746551632"},{"product_id":"miltonduff-29-year-old-1983-smws-single-bourbon-cask-72-25-a-welcome-home-dram-smws-30th-anniversary-speyside-single-malt-scotch-whisky-2013-75cl","title":"Miltonduff 29 Year Old 1983 SMWS Single Bourbon Cask 72.25 A Welcome Home Dram SMWS 30th Anniversary Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2013) 75cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eMiltonduff 29 Year Old 1983 SMWS Single Bourbon Cask 72.25 A Welcome Home Dram SMWS 30th Anniversary Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2013) 75cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 174 bottles to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society established in 1983\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis was only released in USA so a little more whisky at 75cl instead of 70cl.\u003cbr\u003eIt is such a delight to see some of the really early editions of the SMWS single cask bottlings. Even better to drink them!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eTasting Notes \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEarly aromas of polish, varnish and glue faded, replaced by homey, welcoming smells of pastry tarts, shortbread and brioche, with abundant sweetness (ice-cream, marzipan, Caramac, spun sugar, honeycomb) – long maturation declaring itself through burlap, pepper, sauna wood, liquorice and humbugs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe palate was fruity, sweet and spicy (fruit cake, buttery Peshawari naan, rhubarb crumble, vanilla, poached pears, clove, Brazil nuts). The reduced nose found lemon sponge, stem ginger in syrup and gardens after rain. The palate became more delicate – lemon and camomile tea and cherry Bakewell with the light bitterness of apricot stones and willow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eAbout Miltonduff\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA very fresh, floral new make character shows Miltonduff to be a charming, light single malt, perfect for adding top notes to the restrained and elegant Ballantine’s blend. Its palate has a succulent texture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMiltonduff was, briefly, part of Allied Distiller’s Caledonian Malts range (alongside Laphroaig, Tormore, Scapa and Glendronach) but other than a limited edition 18-year-old cask strength bottling, no official releases have taken place under Chivas Brothers' ownership. Licensed bottlings are made under the auspices of Gordon \u0026amp; MacPhail. Some Mosstowie (see below) also occasionally surfaces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn July 2017 Miltonduff was released as a 15-year-old single malt (alongside expressions from Glentauchers and Glenburgie) under the Ballantine’s brand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne wonders what the monks would have made of it. Moonshining was commonplace in the surroundings of Pluscarden Abbey in the smuggling era of the late 18th and early 19th century. Whether any monastic distillation ever took place is unknown – the original monastery fell into ruin in the early 17th century, but was restored in 1948 and is now the only medieval monastery still inhabited by monks. Distillation certainly took place at Milton Farm where the abbey’s old meal mill once stood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMiltonduff (the suffix comes from Duff family which owned the estate) went legal in 1824 and by the end of the century was one of the largest producers in Scotland, making in excess of one million litres a year and using triple distillation (an unusual technique for Highland\/Speyside distilleries).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts next landmark came in 1936 when it was bought by Canadian distiller Hiram Walker which was beginning its Scottish expansion (Ballantine’s, Dumbarton).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1964, a pair of ‘Lomond’ stills was installed, producing a malt which was named Mosstowie. The stills operated until 1981. A significant expansion in 1974 saw capacity increased to more than 5m litres per annum with three pairs of stills now operating. In 2005 it became part of Chivas Brothers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e49.9% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e75cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Miltonduff","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54524266742085,"sku":"000704","price":679.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4838223190_718a188c-a8cf-4f38-b1ec-b1c37992e41f.jpg?v=1746551667"},{"product_id":"miltonduff-30-year-old-1982-smws-single-bourbon-cask-72-28-what-a-wonderful-world-speyside-single-malt-whisky-2013-70cl","title":"Miltonduff 30 Year Old 1982 SMWS Single Bourbon Cask 72.28 What A Wonderful World Speyside Single Malt Whisky (2013) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eMiltonduff 30 Year Old 1982 SMWS Single Bourbon Cask 72.28 What A Wonderful World Speyside Single Malt Whisky (2013) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 144 bottles made\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA bottle of Miltonduff from the SMWS, distilled on 17th November 1982 and matured for 30 years in a refill hogshead. This whisky has been given the name 'What a wonderful world'.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Afternoon tea in the American bar in the Savoy in the 1930s, expensive perfume, cucumber sandwiches and Lapsang Souchung tea. With Water, we have moved into the night, Jazz music and cigarette smoke filling the air and we enjoy a Gin \u0026amp; Tonic with a slice of cucumber\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe front of the bottle at times confuses or inspires.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eAbout Miltonduff\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA very fresh, floral new make character shows Miltonduff to be a charming, light single malt, perfect for adding top notes to the restrained and elegant Ballantine’s blend. Its palate has a succulent texture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMiltonduff was, briefly, part of Allied Distiller’s Caledonian Malts range (alongside Laphroaig, Tormore, Scapa and Glendronach) but other than a limited edition 18-year-old cask strength bottling, no official releases have taken place under Chivas Brothers' ownership. Licensed bottlings are made under the auspices of Gordon \u0026amp; MacPhail. Some Mosstowie (see below) also occasionally surfaces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn July 2017 Miltonduff was released as a 15-year-old single malt (alongside expressions from Glentauchers and Glenburgie) under the Ballantine’s brand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne wonders what the monks would have made of it. Moonshining was commonplace in the surroundings of Pluscarden Abbey in the smuggling era of the late 18th and early 19th century. Whether any monastic distillation ever took place is unknown – the original monastery fell into ruin in the early 17th century, but was restored in 1948 and is now the only medieval monastery still inhabited by monks. Distillation certainly took place at Milton Farm where the abbey’s old meal mill once stood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMiltonduff (the suffix comes from Duff family which owned the estate) went legal in 1824 and by the end of the century was one of the largest producers in Scotland, making in excess of one million litres a year and using triple distillation (an unusual technique for Highland\/Speyside distilleries).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts next landmark came in 1936 when it was bought by Canadian distiller Hiram Walker which was beginning its Scottish expansion (Ballantine’s, Dumbarton).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1964, a pair of ‘Lomond’ stills was installed, producing a malt which was named Mosstowie. The stills operated until 1981. A significant expansion in 1974 saw capacity increased to more than 5m litres per annum with three pairs of stills now operating. In 2005 it became part of Chivas Brothers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e51.2% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Miltonduff","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54524270739781,"sku":"000477","price":649.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4750930021_b225f293-0fb0-459b-b2cd-7a07589aa530.jpg?v=1746551670"},{"product_id":"rosebank-11-year-old-1992-smws-single-cask-25-31-strawberry-sherbert-lowland-single-malt-whisky-2003-70cl","title":"Rosebank 11 Year Old 1992 SMWS Single Cask 25.31 Strawberry Sherbert Lowland Single Malt Whisky (2003) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eRosebank 11 Year Old 1992 SMWS Single Cask 25.31 Strawberry Sherbert Lowland Single Malt Whisky (2003) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of the early Rosebanks prior to the cessation of production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDistilled in March 1992 and bottled in May 2003 - Bottled 22 Years ago!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRosebank is rightly regarded as one of the finest – if not \u003cem\u003ethe\u003c\/em\u003e finest – Lowland malt and yet its fame has, slightly bafflingly, never reached the same levels of hysteria as cult distilleries such as Port Ellen and Brora. Perhaps its meadow flower bouquet, gentle fruits and fresh citrus (derived through its triple distillation regime) are not in line with palates which want the big and the bold – even though Rosebank’s worm tubs lend the whisky a thick palate texture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/media.scotchwhisky.com\/images\/media\/4bbbfc07c2f563d19f0e1a971e6b7cf7.jpg\" alt=\"Image\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eAbout Rosebank\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Lowland malt with its gentle, fruity palate, commands a dedicated following.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMuch of Rosebank’s history – and fate – has been dictated by the canal upon whose banks it sits. It made sense to build a distillery beside the Forth \u0026amp; Clyde, the waterway which linked Scotland’s east and west coasts, and therefore its two main cities, Glasgow and Edinburgh. It made less sense to have a distillery there when the canal was closed and choked by detritus. It makes sense to have a distillery open again now that the canal has been reopened and tourists are coming to Falkirk to look at the Wheel which lifts boats between the Union and the Forth \u0026amp; Clyde – but is it too late?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are records of a family called Stark distilling on the wider site as early as 1798. In 1817, a distillery named Rosebank was operational for two years, while in 1827, the Stark family re-emerged to operate the Camelon distillery which sat on the opposite bank of the canal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1840, what had been Camelon’s maltings were converted by James Rankine into the new Rosebank. Under the Rankine family’s control, Rosebank prospered. In 1861, the Camelon distillery buildings were demolished and a new maltings supplying Rosebank was built, with the malt being barrowed over the canal to the distillery on a bridge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1914, Rosebank became one of the founding members of the Lowland conglomerate Scottish Malt Distillers [SMD] in 1914 which was folded into DCL in 1925.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt ran continuously, bar a brief wartime hiatus, until 1993 when it closed. The reason was not to do with quality – the malt was highly regarded – but the unwillingness of its then owner (at the time UDV) to pay an estimated £2m cost of upgrading its effluent treatment plant. Problems over road access were another contributory factor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRosebank could conceivably have been saved had it been chosen as the Lowland member of UDV’s [later Diageo’s] Classic Malts Selection which launched in 1988. After all, an 8-year-old had been part of DCL’s ‘Ascot Malt Cellar’ six years previously when the firm attempted, somewhat lackadaisically, to enter the malt market.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLegend has it that the decision to choose Glenkinchie was because Rosebank was next to a then closed, stagnant, canal and therefore not as much of a tourist destination.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe distillery site was sold in 2002 to British Waterways.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHowever in October 2017 whisky blender and bottler revealed plans to purchase the site from British Waterways, and reopen the distillery. The company also separately acquired the Rosebank trademark from Diageo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRosebank distillery is expected to be operational again by 2019 at the earliest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e59.4% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rosebank","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54524471181637,"sku":"000558","price":1250.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4789870621_a6f679c5-04b0-4305-a546-a3a5eed19b2d.jpg?v=1746552369"},{"product_id":"royal-brackla-17-year-old-single-cask-salute-the-kernel-smws-55-91-2006-70cl","title":"Royal Brackla 17 Year Old Single Cask Salute The Kernel SMWS 55.91 (2006) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eRoyal Brackla 17 Year Old Salute The Kernel SMWS 55.91 2006 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e1 of 496\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003carticle\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like what Royal Brackla make but want a tougher version of it, here is giving the people what they want. Cask strength and single cask from the 91st cask of RB from the SMWS. No longer available after the out turn has been sold and consigned to the history books.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTasting Notes \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe were transported to the countryside, strolling among pine forests, cedar trees and wild cherries, with stacks of freshly cut logs and geraniums growing here and there. Spicier images of apple chutney and tamarind paste evolved into sultanas, treacle and natural beeswax with a sprinkle of black pepper and cherries soaked in Spanish brandy. Water provided permission to open a fine bottle of oloroso sherry. Its aromas brought hazelnuts and walnut husks into the mix alongside dried orange segments and golden syrup. Spicy notes made way for nut oils and syrup before strong black tea delivered a rounded finish. At 13 years of age, we combined two casks from the same distillery into this cask for further maturation and marrying.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout Royal Brackla \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRoyal Brackla is called Royal Brackla for a reason. Captain William Fraser of Brackla House on the estate of Cawdor Castle originally founded the distillery in 1812. The distillery started distilling that same year. The distillery was the first to be granted a royal warrant by King William IV in 1835. Only few other distilleries have ever been given a royal warrant. This distinction gave the distillery leverage over the rest of the market. From this point on, the distillery was allowed to use the addition \"Royal\" in its name and was also known as \"The King's own Whisky\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1852, the distillery was taken over by Robert Fraser \u0026amp; Company. They operated the distillery until 1898, at which point the original buildings were demolished and the entire site rebuilt, and the Royal Brackla Distillery Company was founded. In 1919, the distillery changed hands again when John Mitchell and James Leict from Aberdeen acquired the site. In 1926, John Bisset \u0026amp; Company took over the entire distillery. In 1943, SMD took over the distillery when they acquired John Bisset and Company. In 1970, the number of stills was increased from 2 to 4. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe site was mothballed in 1985, and production resumed six years later in 1991. The site underwent a massive renovation in 1997, with more than 2 million Pound Sterling being spent. One year later, the brand Dewar's as well as the distillery had to be sold due to an obligations of the European watchdog. Bacardi bought the distillery and the Dewar's brand from Diageo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e56.8 % ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/article\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Royal","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54524472918341,"sku":"00100","price":119.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4121232809_ade7da9f-8769-4c0a-b4a8-1ee7ad29e4f4.jpg?v=1746552393"},{"product_id":"royal-brackla-8-year-old-2015-smws-single-refill-new-oak-brl-bourbon-htmc-chinkapin-rhubarb-fig-crumble-2024-70cl","title":"Royal Brackla 8 Year Old 2015 SMWS Single Refill \u0026 New Oak Brl Bourbon \u0026 HTMC Chinkapin Rhubarb \u0026 Fig Crumble (2024) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003eRoyal Brackla 8 Year Old 2015 SMWS Single Refill \u0026amp; New Oak Brl Bourbon \u0026amp; HTMC Chinkapin Rhubarb \u0026amp; Fig Crumble (2024) 70cl\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA special Highland Whisky Festival 2024 Release by the SMWS.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Royal Brackla is matured in a Refill Oak Barrel, Bourbon \u0026amp; HTMC Chinkapin Cask.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIn celebration of Festival Season in the Highlands 2024\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAbout High Tea in a Busy Kitchen: This impressively dark dram gets its deep colour and flavour from Chinkapin oak casks. These casks impart notes of pancakes with syrup and smoked bacon notes on the already impressively fruit-forward profile. If you're a fan of sherry maturation and want to expand your experience, you've just found your cask.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTasting Panel Note: We imagined making delicious orange and kumquat marmalade as we cooked pork loin in cider and poured ourselves a pint of heather ale. The taste was floral, with a full malt body and plenty of herbal spice, as well as cracked black pepper on tinned fruit salad. Following reduction, the fruity aroma of ripe red apples arrived ahead of the scent of toasted almond flakes, rhubarb and fig crumble before a freshly brewed cup of rosehip and cranberry tea emerged. On the palate, the tea changed to a sweet hibiscus accompanied by milk chocolate and pear mille feuille, preceding churros in the finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout Royal Brackla \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRoyal Brackla is called Royal Brackla for a reason. Captain William Fraser of Brackla House on the estate of Cawdor Castle originally founded the distillery in 1812. The distillery started distilling that same year. The distillery was the first to be granted a royal warrant by King William IV in 1835. Only few other distilleries have ever been given a royal warrant. This distinction gave the distillery leverage over the rest of the market. From this point on, the distillery was allowed to use the addition \"Royal\" in its name and was also known as \"The King's own Whisky\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1852, the distillery was taken over by Robert Fraser \u0026amp; Company. They operated the distillery until 1898, at which point the original buildings were demolished and the entire site rebuilt, and the Royal Brackla Distillery Company was founded. In 1919, the distillery changed hands again when John Mitchell and James Leict from Aberdeen acquired the site. In 1926, John Bisset \u0026amp; Company took over the entire distillery. In 1943, SMD took over the distillery when they acquired John Bisset and Company. In 1970, the number of stills was increased from 2 to 4. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe site was mothballed in 1985, and production resumed six years later in 1991. The site underwent a massive renovation in 1997, with more than 2 million Pound Sterling being spent. One year later, the brand Dewar's as well as the distillery had to be sold due to an obligations of the European watchdog. Bacardi bought the distillery and the Dewar's brand from Diageo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e58.2% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Royal Brackla","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54524473213253,"sku":"000310","price":139.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4641291063_e45b8aa3-17c2-469a-94bf-4798f3d5603e.jpg?v=1746552397"},{"product_id":"springbank-10-year-old-2000-smws-single-red-wine-barrique-27-86-campbeltown-single-malt-scotch-whisky-2010-75cl","title":"Springbank 10 Year Old 2000 SMWS Single Red Wine Barrique 27.86 Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2010) 75cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eSpringbank 10 Year Old 2000 SMWS Single Red Wine Barrique 27.86 Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2010) 75cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 316 bottles produced and mostly drunken back then in 2010. Before the Springbank craze commenced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the USA release so a little more whisky at 75cl instead of 70cl.\u003cbr\u003eIt is such a delight to see some of the really early editions of the SMWS single cask bottlings. Even better to drink them!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNose : The bottling opens with distinct fruity notes. Very fresh, with a hint of pink bubble gum. Then spicy notes, again replaced by fruit (cherry). Very unusual, but pleasant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith water, the fruit notes become more intense, but form a suitable combination with the spicy touch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePalate : Undiluted, the fresh, fruity notes of cherries, apples, and pears continue in the taste with increasing sweetness. The sweetness tends towards acacia honey. The body is medium in volume with a beautiful complexity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter adding water, the bottling becomes a touch sweeter, but the spicy note forms a suitable counterpart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFinish : The finish is medium-long with a coating in the mouth. Notes of dried apple slices with cherry jam and a hint of acacia honey, with and without water, complete the finale.\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Springbank\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpringbank is the only distillery in Scotland to malt, distil, mature and bottle on the same site. It manages to do this while operating a highly complex distillation regime, which creates three different styles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe equipment at Springbank is resolutely old-style: an old Boby mill, an open-top cast-iron mash tun, wooden washbacks made from boatskin larch; and three stills, direct fire on one of them, a worm tub on another.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe malt is handled in three ways to produce three contrasting whiskies – Springbank itself is medium-peated, Longrow is heavily peated, while Hazelburn has no peat at all. Ferments are very long – in excess of 100 hours; with low-gravities which both produces a low-strength wash and high levels of esters. This fruity base is then distilled in three different ways, depending on the style being produced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpringbank is partially triple-distilled. The wash still (which is direct fired) works as normal producing low wines, the strongest portion of which are directed to the spirit still charger. The remainder is redistilled in the intermediate still (which has a worm tub) and put into the feints receiver along with the heads and tails from the spirit still distillation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis mix makes up 80% of the final charge, with the strong portion of low wines from the wash still making up the remaining 20%.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnsurprisingly, the result is a highly complex new make that is collected at an average strength of 71-72% – lightly smoky, oily, fruity, delicately fragrant yet powerful.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLongrow is heavier and smokier – the malted barley obviously playing a significant part, but so does distillation in the direct-fired wash still and second distillation in the spirit still which has the worm tub. It is collected at 68%, lower than Springbank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHazelburn undergoes standard triple distillation and is collected at between 74-76% abv.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMaturation for all three is in a mix of casks – as well as the standard ex-Bourbon, ex-Sherry and refill, other types [wine and rum] and sizes [60 litre ‘rundlets’ and 50 litre ‘kilderkan' are used.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eContinuity is the watchword at Springbank. This distillery has been in the ownership of the Mitchell family and its ancestors since 1837. Indeed, as its founder William Reid was related to the Mitchells by marriage you could argue that they were there from the word go.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was in 1828 that Reid took out a licence, but there was a rich – and extensive – heritage of illicit distillation in the Kintyre Peninsula. Indeed, thanks to the Still Books of Campbeltown plumber and coppersmith, Robert Armour, we can accurately chart how many there were. The books show that Armour made 400 sma’ stills from 1811-1817, bringing him an income of £350 per year, and the surnames Reid and Mitchell appear in his detailed accounts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike many smugglers, Reid didn’t survive long once he joined the legitimate trade and in 1837 he sold to his in-laws John and William Mitchell. The latter brother left in 1872 to join his other two brothers at Riechlachan, at which point John’s son Alexander joined Springbank [hence the J\u0026amp;A Mitchell still on the label].\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 19th and early 20th centuries were a boom time for Campbeltown. Thanks to a fast sea crossing to Glasgow and a small coal seam at nearby Machrihanish it became Scotland’s whisky capital. At some point or other there were 35 distilleries operational. The style tended to be medium- to heavy-bodied, with some smokiness and an oily texture (though each distillery would work its own variation on this theme).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe distilling trade, however, collapsed in the 1920s. All of Scotland was affected with 50 distilleries closing, but Campbeltown was disproportionately affected, with only Springbank, Glen Scotia and Hazelburn surviving the Great Purge. By the 1960s only it and Glen Scotia were left.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat is not to say it was not immune to the vagaries of the whisky trade. Despite beginning to build a reputation as a single malt, Springbank was mothballed between 1979 to 1987. On reopening, owner Hedley Wright [John Mitchell’s great-great grandson] made the momentous decision to no longer sell to blenders, but develop single malt sales. Maltings were re-opened in 1992 and while the combination of managing limited stocks – the result of the mothballed period and somewhat over-eager sales of what was left – it has taken a number of years to get the Springbank range fully balanced, which now it is. It remains, deservedly, one of Scotland’s cult malt whiskies and a template for many new distillers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e50.7% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e75cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Springbank","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54524495233349,"sku":"000696","price":439.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4837482528_8d6005a7-a28d-49f6-813a-09bf48ccc0c8.jpg?v=1746552659"},{"product_id":"springbank-15-year-old-1998-smws-single-cask-27-104-cowboys-delight-campbeltown-single-malt-scotch-whisky-2013-70cl","title":"Springbank 15 Year Old 1998 SMWS Single Cask 27.104 Cowboy's Delight Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2013) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eSpringbank 15 Year Old 1998 SMWS Single Cask 27.104 Cowboy's Delight Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2013) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 659 bottles - Sadly most of them drunk and gone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat is the only thing better than Springbank? The answer is a single casking of Springbank with its unique character with the SMWS and their take on what they would like to bottle. This was bottled back in the days when people almost had never heard of Springbank down in Campbeltown. This is bottled at a respectable 55.6% ABV.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eTasting Notes \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWarm and welcoming. A polished leather saddle (and saddle soap), then marinated pork and a hint of dry tar and burnt buttered toast. Sweet then savoury to taste, with light salt and canvas; charred pork crackling. The latter becomes a gammon grill, when qualified with water, with singed pineapple and olive oil. An oily texture; sweet (pineapple again) then tannic, with a long, warming finish, lightly mentholated. A classic example of Campbeltown’s finest!\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Springbank\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpringbank is the only distillery in Scotland to malt, distil, mature and bottle on the same site. It manages to do this while operating a highly complex distillation regime, which creates three different styles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe equipment at Springbank is resolutely old-style: an old Boby mill, an open-top cast-iron mash tun, wooden washbacks made from boatskin larch; and three stills, direct fire on one of them, a worm tub on another.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe malt is handled in three ways to produce three contrasting whiskies – Springbank itself is medium-peated, Longrow is heavily peated, while Hazelburn has no peat at all. Ferments are very long – in excess of 100 hours; with low-gravities which both produces a low-strength wash and high levels of esters. This fruity base is then distilled in three different ways, depending on the style being produced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpringbank is partially triple-distilled. The wash still (which is direct fired) works as normal producing low wines, the strongest portion of which are directed to the spirit still charger. The remainder is redistilled in the intermediate still (which has a worm tub) and put into the feints receiver along with the heads and tails from the spirit still distillation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis mix makes up 80% of the final charge, with the strong portion of low wines from the wash still making up the remaining 20%.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnsurprisingly, the result is a highly complex new make that is collected at an average strength of 71-72% – lightly smoky, oily, fruity, delicately fragrant yet powerful.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLongrow is heavier and smokier – the malted barley obviously playing a significant part, but so does distillation in the direct-fired wash still and second distillation in the spirit still which has the worm tub. It is collected at 68%, lower than Springbank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHazelburn undergoes standard triple distillation and is collected at between 74-76% abv.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMaturation for all three is in a mix of casks – as well as the standard ex-Bourbon, ex-Sherry and refill, other types [wine and rum] and sizes [60 litre ‘rundlets’ and 50 litre ‘kilderkan' are used.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eContinuity is the watchword at Springbank. This distillery has been in the ownership of the Mitchell family and its ancestors since 1837. Indeed, as its founder William Reid was related to the Mitchells by marriage you could argue that they were there from the word go.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was in 1828 that Reid took out a licence, but there was a rich – and extensive – heritage of illicit distillation in the Kintyre Peninsula. Indeed, thanks to the Still Books of Campbeltown plumber and coppersmith, Robert Armour, we can accurately chart how many there were. The books show that Armour made 400 sma’ stills from 1811-1817, bringing him an income of £350 per year, and the surnames Reid and Mitchell appear in his detailed accounts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike many smugglers, Reid didn’t survive long once he joined the legitimate trade and in 1837 he sold to his in-laws John and William Mitchell. The latter brother left in 1872 to join his other two brothers at Riechlachan, at which point John’s son Alexander joined Springbank [hence the J\u0026amp;A Mitchell still on the label].\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 19th and early 20th centuries were a boom time for Campbeltown. Thanks to a fast sea crossing to Glasgow and a small coal seam at nearby Machrihanish it became Scotland’s whisky capital. At some point or other there were 35 distilleries operational. The style tended to be medium- to heavy-bodied, with some smokiness and an oily texture (though each distillery would work its own variation on this theme).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe distilling trade, however, collapsed in the 1920s. All of Scotland was affected with 50 distilleries closing, but Campbeltown was disproportionately affected, with only Springbank, Glen Scotia and Hazelburn surviving the Great Purge. By the 1960s only it and Glen Scotia were left.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat is not to say it was not immune to the vagaries of the whisky trade. Despite beginning to build a reputation as a single malt, Springbank was mothballed between 1979 to 1987. On reopening, owner Hedley Wright [John Mitchell’s great-great grandson] made the momentous decision to no longer sell to blenders, but develop single malt sales. Maltings were re-opened in 1992 and while the combination of managing limited stocks – the result of the mothballed period and somewhat over-eager sales of what was left – it has taken a number of years to get the Springbank range fully balanced, which now it is. It remains, deservedly, one of Scotland’s cult malt whiskies and a template for many new distillers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e55.6% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Springbank","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54524500672837,"sku":"000337","price":689.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4678498231_d4196198-734b-41f1-a2f2-1c01dedb5dbd.jpg?v=1746552710"},{"product_id":"strathclyde-15-year-old-smws-single-cask-g10-35-the-oak-has-spoke-single-grain-scotch-whisky-2015-70cl","title":"Strathclyde 15 Year Old SMWS Single Cask G10.35 The Oak Has Spoke Single Grain Scotch Whisky (2015) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eStrathclyde 15 Year Old SMWS Single Cask G10.35 The Oak Has Spoke Single Grain Scotch Whisky (2015) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 222 bottles in the out turn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTasting Notes \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe found the nose slightly closed at first, but pleasingly tart and crisp with lots of aromas of bruised apples emerging over time. Then pecan pie, carbon paper and some subtle sooty notes. Hints of glossy magazines and clotted cream. With water we got thicker notes of shoe polish, red cola, rainbow sherbet, liquorice and rice wine. The mouth was immediately more classically grainy and sweet. Notes of Madeira sponge cake, young Calvados, green acidity, cinnamon sugar and a wee tingle of chilli warmth. With water the wood goes up a few notches, more tannic, spicy, strong teas, flambeed banana, garibaldi biscuit, gingerbread and finishing with soft notes of fudge and sunflower oil. Matured for 11 years in a bourbon barrel before being transfered to a second fill heavy toast medium char hogshead.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-processed=\"true\" class=\"QzGOQd\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-processed=\"true\" class=\"PwvzCf WEeWWe\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-processed=\"true\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-preview-id=\"sv_RabKaMfCI-CC9u8P5YWM8AE_1\" data-processed=\"true\" data-ved=\"2ahUKEwiw_vb74t-PAxWTTkEAHR0DM-sQn7IPegQIARAB\" class=\"QwWKjd\" role=\"button\" id=\"ic-If08Qi3o6UfYEM\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003eAbout Strathclyde \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStrathclyde is a grain whisky distillery in Glasgow, Scotland, founded in 1927, and is the only distillery in the city still producing grain whisky today. While known for its grain spirit, used in blends like Ballantine's, Strathclyde also produces single malt Scotch whisky, most famously Kincaith,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e under its own distillery label. The distillery primarily uses wheat and employs a distillation system of interconnected sieve tray columns to produce its spirit.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-processed=\"true\" class=\"\" data-wiz-rootname=\"ohfaMd\"\u003e\u003cspan data-processed=\"true\" data-animation-atomic=\"\" class=\"vKEkVd\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e62.1% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Strathclyde","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54524510929221,"sku":"000717","price":159.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}]},{"product_id":"strathclyde-16-year-old-smws-single-cask-g10-39-trio-melon-medley-2005-70cl","title":"Strathclyde 16 Year Old SMWS Single Cask G10.39 Trio Melon Medley (2005) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eStrathclyde 16 Year Old SMWS Single Cask G10.39 Trio Melon Medley (2005) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of just 184 bottles of hard to come by Strathclyde Whisky.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOriginally built as a neutral grain spirit distillery for producing gin, Strathclyde has grown to become Glasgow's most successful grain distillery.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class=\"linebreak\"\u003eAbout Strathclyde \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGlasgow’s distilleries, until the opening of its new single malt plant, were kept as far out of the public’s ken as possible, which wasn’t an easy feat when one of them, Port Dundas, was a massive, steaming building on top of a hill. Its other – and now only – grain distillery has been more successful.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStrathclyde distillery is located in the Gorbals on the south side of the River Clyde opposite Glasgow Green and it’s nice to think that an operation so dependent on steam should be located so close to the park where James Watt was struck with inspiration for his vapour-driven engine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe distillery – on the site of an old cotton mill – was initially built by London distiller \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/scotchwhisky.com\/whiskypedia\/5994\/seager-evans\/\"\u003eSeager Evans\u003c\/a\u003e in 1927 mainly to supply neutral grain spirit for its gins. In 1936, Seager Evans moved into Scotch with the purchase of the Long John brand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1957, like many grain distilleries, Strathclyde secreted a malt plant – here called Kinclaith – inside its walls. This ran from 1957 to 1975 when it was removed to make way for a two-phase expansion of the grain\/neutral spirit side of the operation. At the same time, the firm’s blending and warehousing site next door was also demolished\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLong John Distilleries (as Seager Evans’ whisky division was named) went through a number of hands, eventually ending up within Allied Distillers, by which time Strathclyde would also have been supplying some of the grain to the Ballantine’s and Teacher’s blends. It is now part of the Chivas Brothers stable and still, amazingly, goes unnoticed by the strollers along the banks of the Clyde.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e59.2% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Strathclyde","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54524511846725,"sku":"00205","price":179.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4353615155_c89e7d4e-2d86-4626-96cd-6c154f2a07ac.jpg?v=1746552898"},{"product_id":"strathmill-12-year-old-2005-smws-single-cask-100-17-fresh-as-a-glacial-facial-speyside-single-malt-scotch-whisky-2017-70cl","title":"Strathmill 12 Year Old 2005 SMWS Single Cask 100.17 Fresh As A Glacial Facial Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2017) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eStrathmill 12 Year Old 2005 SMWS Single Cask 100.17 Fresh As A Glacial Facial Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2017) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 157 bottles produced\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eScotch Malt Whisky Society\u003c\/em\u003e was founded in Edinburgh in 1983 by Phillip 'Pip' Hills who, while travelling around Scotland in the 1970s, fell in love with whiskies drawn straight from the cask. After he expanded his syndicate the Society was purchased by Glenmorangie PLC in 2004. In 2015, the Society was sold back to private investors. In June 2021, the private owners floated the holding company The Artisanal Spirits Company plc on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt has a unique code system where the first number refers to the distillery and the second refers to the cask from which the bottle comes. SMWS also offers the largest range of distilleries of any independent bottler. These curiously named drams really do have something for every whisky lover!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe SMWS are one of the Britain's most revered independent bottlers with a worldwide network of partner bars with one mission of getting as much whisky at natural cask strength without water to different nations including USA, Canada, Switzerland, UK, Austria, Germany and many others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eTasting Notes \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe nose has pine wood and lemon, with a hint of ginger. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has lemon, cherry, and then a big hit of crystallised ginger. The finish is short - gingerbread and lemon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWater brings out thin, rapidly expanding whorling that settles quickly into brief mottling. The nose gains hints of Cedar wood and cinnamon, and loses the pine wood. The body gains cinnamon and menthol notes, and the ginger is more present. The finish gains more spice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis treads the line on my spice tolerance - the sweetness balances out the spice heat nicely. It's a post-dinner dram, to have with ice-cream.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Strathmill\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLight in character, Strathmill uses a long fermentation regime to help create fruitiness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe distillery’s main production quirk comes in the form of a purifier pipe running from the lyne arm into the body of the spirit stills.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike Glenlossie and Glen Spey, this adds a lightly oily character to the new make, here picked up almost as olive oil which mixes well with the lightly fruity\/grassy notes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThanks to the River Isla, Keith has a long history of milling, both for meal and weaving (the town still has a kilt museum). Two of those old mill sites have since been converted to distilleries, Glen Keith and Strathmill.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBuilt in 1892, it was originally called Glenisla (with -Glenlivet suffixed). Its original owners sold it in 1895 to W\u0026amp;A Gilbey which was by then building its holdings in Scotch [see Glen Spey, Knockando]. As Gilbey moved through various incarnations so Strathmill became an integral part of the J\u0026amp;B family.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts only official release is as part of the Flora \u0026amp; Fauna range.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e57.8% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Strathmill","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54524513026373,"sku":"000715","price":179.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4840266537_4ab6e002-5220-4cbb-a5ad-d5e9227fbc26.jpg?v=1746552933"},{"product_id":"tamdhu-8-year-old-2015-smws-single-ex-bourbon-barrel-8-45-pockets-like-poppins-speyside-single-malt-scotch-whisky-2024-70cl","title":"Tamdhu 8 Year Old 2015 SMWS Single Ex-Bourbon Barrel 8.45 Pockets Like Poppins Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2024) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eTamdhu 8 Year Old 2015 SMWS Single Ex-Bourbon Barrel 8.45 Pockets Like Poppins Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2024) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 120 bottles produced\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDistilled on 19\/11\/2015 and bottled in 2024\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003carticle\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the pocket of a waxed cotton jacket, the Panel pulled handfuls of buttered popcorn, warm toffees, dolly mixture and slices of sticky malt loaf. The palate differentiated from the nose by delivering bergamot, and a splash of pear and mango in coconut milk. Water gave clotted cream on the nose, with apricot and strawberry jams, brown ale, and vanilla custard wrapped in waxed paper. The palate had pink peppercorns joining the custard, jalapeño salsa with gooseberries, and lime juice squeezed into peach syrup.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eAbout Tamdhu\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA major player in blends such as The Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark, Tamdhu was also the spiritual home of the lesser seen (but high quality) Dunhill blend.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough a few official single malt bottlings appeared, including a light-bodied 10-year-old, Tamdhu could hardly be regarded as a frontline player. It has a fragrant fruitiness with notes of honey and apple but sufficient weight to cope with ageing in ex-Sherry casks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike neighbouring Knockando, this is another late 19th century railway distillery which has quietly provided fillings for blends ever since. It was built in 1897 by a group of blenders headed by William Grant who was both a director of Highland Distillers and, handily enough, on the board of the Elgin bank. The famous distillery designer Charles Doig was the architect. ‘[It is] perhaps the most efficient and designed distillery of its era,’ wrote Alfred Barnard in 1898.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHighland Distillers (now Edrington) purchased it outright in 1899, but like many sites it had a rocky time, closing from 1927 and remaining silent for two decades. Soon after its reopening, the old floor maltings were replaced with 10 Saladin boxes, each capable of holding 22 tons of malt. This would become the last site in Scotland to retain this method of malting and was one of the few distilleries in the modern era to malt all of its own requirements (the others being Springbank, Glen Ord and more recently, Roseisle). As well as its own needs, it supplied all of the malt for Glenrothes and the unpeated component of Highland Park’s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTamdhu grew substantially in the 1970s with four stills added to the original pair, while a change in wood policy in the 1990s saw it being filled exclusively into Edrington’s bespoke ex-Sherry casks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eSomewhat surprisingly, Edrington mothballed it in 2010, but two years later, Ian MacLeod stepped in. The firm has since installed new washbacks, built new warehouses, opened a visitors' centre (in the old Dalbeallie station) and released a 100% Sherried 10-year-old. Older releases are planned.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e60.8% ABV\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/article\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tamdhu","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54524534817093,"sku":"000531","price":109.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4768913549_ae79a8b2-9df5-40ac-a066-0b6646307fb9.jpg?v=1746553223"},{"product_id":"teaninich-12-year-old-single-cask-smws-59-74-for-fawkes-sake-70cl","title":"Teaninich 12 Year Old Single Cask SMWS 59.74 For Fawke's Sake Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70cl","description":"\u003ch2\u003eTeaninich 12 Year Old Single Cask SMWS 59.74 For Fawke's Sake 70cl\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you’re planning a lively soirée with friends or enjoying a quiet night under the stars, we’ve got the perfect companion to your Bonfire Night, with our cheekily named Cask No. 59.74: For Fawkes’ Sake.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eImagine raising a glass with loved ones, the crackling bonfire casting mesmerising shadows on your smiling faces, as you share stories and laughter that light up the night. This whisky is more than a libation; it’s the catalyst for creating unforgettable memories.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt’s Bonfire Night and we found a delicate hint of smoke alongside an apple orchard as we placed the windfalls from a late harvest on wet grass in a wicker basket. We found warm spice on the palate, sweet and tart like a gooseberry coconut cake ... but wait, there it was again, that wisp of teasing smoke. After the addition of water, we discovered freshly baked shortbread, honeyed sugar puffs, elderflower cordial and, yet again, aromatic smoke – this time lavender. To taste, we had cream crackers, jammy dodgers, cupcakes, ah and yes, you guessed it, lightly smoked salmon with a lemon and honey glaze.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAbout Teanininch\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBuilt in 1817, Teaninich was an early legal distillery, but as it was built by Napoleonic war hero and estate owner ‘Blind’ Captain Hugh Munro that’s no more than you would expect. He and his brother General John Munro were notable as being benign and caring landlords in a region which was brutally hit by the Highland Clearances [see Clynelish].\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnother local man, John Ross, took the lease in 1869 and ran the site until 1895 when it was transferred to Elgin-based blenders Munro \u0026amp; Cameron. It was the trustees of the late Innes Cameron who sold Teaninich to DCL in 1933.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt has undergone regular expansion – larger stills were installed in 1946, before the pair were doubled in 1962. In 1970 a new distillery, Teaninch ‘A Side’, with six stills was built. The two parts ran simultaneously until 1984, when the original site (‘B Side’) was silenced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe same thing is about to happen all over again. Teaninich’s capacity is due to double to 9m litres per annum and there are plans to build a separate 10m litres per annum distillery on the same site.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e54.7% ABV\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Teaninich","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54524536586565,"sku":"00197","price":175.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4331454392_71377890-bbc2-4295-9c23-6a68cc19124f.jpg?v=1746553268"},{"product_id":"teaninich-16-year-old-1993-smws-single-bourbon-cask-59-39-gateway-to-narnia-highland-single-malt-scotch-whisky-2010-75cl","title":"Teaninich 16 Year Old 1993 SMWS Single Bourbon Cask 59.39 Gateway To Narnia Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2010) 75cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eTeaninich 16 Year Old 1993 SMWS Single Bourbon Cask 59.39 Gateway To Narnia Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2010) 75cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 255 bottles from a single refill bourbon barrel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe oldest label format from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society which ran from 1983 until 2006.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis was only released in USA so a little more whisky at 75cl instead of 70cl.\u003cbr\u003eIt is such a delight to see some of the really early editions of the SMWS single cask bottlings. Even better to drink them!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eTasting Notes \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNose :\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003eThe first impression is of alcohol underpinned by dried biscuit dough. This is followed by fruity notes that are somewhat difficult to describe. Green nuts become noticeable further on and the nose ends with a fruity fruit salad.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaste :\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003eThe impression of biscuit dough is also present in the taste. The fruit notes have also been retained. New is the taste of old Riesling, lemon and a touch of oak. The body is light.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFinish : The note of old Riesling is retained in the finish and is complemented by a sweet note with a mineral touch. Light oak tones and a hint of retsina bring the rather short finish to a close.\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eAbout Teaninich\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn almost unique distillery in its absence of a mash tun, Teaninich is one of Diageo's giant workhorses, producing malt whisky for its range of blends.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2000 a hammer mill and mash filter – the only one operational in a Scottish malt distillery – was installed at Teaninich. The use of the technology, which removes the need for a mash tun, was to produce ultra-clear wort, giving a clue as to the Teaninich distillery character: a fragrant exotic grassiness that brings to mind Japanese green tea and coumarin-rich bison grass. Fat stills also add a distinct oiliness to the texture while not blunting any of its penetrating acidity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 12-year-old is part of Diageo’s Flora \u0026amp; Fauna series and there are occasional releases from independent bottlers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBuilt in 1817, Teaninich was an early legal distillery, but as it was built by Napoleonic war hero and estate owner ‘Blind’ Captain Hugh Munro that’s no more than you would expect. He and his brother General John Munro were notable as being benign and caring landlords in a region which was brutally hit by the Highland Clearances.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnother local man, John Ross, took the lease in 1869 and ran the site until 1895 when it was transferred to Elgin-based blenders Munro \u0026amp; Cameron. It was the trustees of the late Innes Cameron who sold Teaninich to DCL in 1933.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt has undergone regular expansion – larger stills were installed in 1946, before the pair were doubled in 1962. In 1970 a new distillery, Teaninich ‘A Side’, with six stills was built. The two parts ran simultaneously until 1984, when the original site (‘B Side’) was silenced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe same thing is about to happen all over again. Teaninich’s capacity is due to double to 9m litres per annum and there are plans to build a separate 10m litres per annum distillery on the same site.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e59.7% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e75cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Teaninich","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54524536979781,"sku":"000703","price":499.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4838182154_62ca2db4-d633-4c4b-bbd4-139427f55b93.jpg?v=1746553278"},{"product_id":"the-english-distillery-9-year-old-2013-smws-single-cask-137-18-2024-3cl-sample","title":"The English Distillery 9 Year Old 2013 SMWS Single Cask 137.18 (2024) 3cl Sample","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eThe English Distillery 9 Year Old 2013 SMWS Single Cask 137.18 (2024) 3cl Sample\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA monster of a dram at 67.3%! M\u0026amp;H territory for strength after 9 years. You can almost taste the sediment and wood from the barrel. One of the woodiest whiskies we have ever tasted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTasting Notes \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe imagined dicing fresh green apples on a bamboo chopping board in a wood-carving workshop with the aromas of pine sap, sawdust and wood glue filling the air. On the palate, plenty of vanilla and brown sugar to start before a little dry menthol bitterness appeared and, in the finish, cracked black pepper. Diluted, we discovered an exotic fragrant wood scent alongside oil paints and wax crayons before we enjoyed a slice of walnut loaf with hazelnut chocolate spread and a glass of amaro Italian herbal liqueur. Following 14 months in a new oak charred barrel, this whisky was transferred into a first fill ex-bourbon barrel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout The English Distillery \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt a time when world-class Whisky made in England was unthinkable, our father and son founders took a chance and kick-started a category. In 2006, The English Distillery became England’s first registered, operational whisky distillery for over 100 years. When our founders built the distillery at the Norfolk site, they chose a spot directly above a source of sweet, mineral-rich water; the same water that’s made our whisky every day since 2006. Norfolk’s microclimate is optimal for barrel ageing, with clean air, mild winters, and dry summers. Every drop of ‘The English’ is aged in carefully selected barrels onsite. Still family-owned and not beholden to investors, we are passionate about using traditional, slow processes to ensure every drop of whisky is made the right way, whilst continually trialling to get the best results with a varied and well-aged stock. This approachable, exceptional portfolio is designed to invite discovery so that you will find something you love. All the whiskies are loved by customers and judges worldwide, achieving the ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ in the 2024 World Whiskies Awards, a three-star award in the 2025 Great Taste Awards and Gold at The 2025 IWSC Awards. This recognition is a testament to our passion, craft and over 18 years of distilling excellence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e67.3% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3cl \/ 30ml\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The English Whisky Co","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54524543467845,"sku":"000248","price":8.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4585113436_111d9a7f-5a4e-4de4-898b-dda353df81f2.jpg?v=1746553329"},{"product_id":"tomatin-10-year-old-1989-smws-single-cask-11-17-an-islay-from-speyside-speyside-single-malt-scotch-whisky-1999-70cl","title":"Tomatin 10 Year Old 1989 SMWS Single Cask 11.17 An Islay From Speyside Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (1999) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eTomatin 10 Year Old 1989 SMWS Single Cask 11.17 An Islay From Speyside Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (1999) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 208 bottles released. Most were drunk decades ago.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe SMWS are one of the Britain's most revered independent bottlers with a worldwide network of partner bars with one mission of getting as much whisky at natural cask strength without water to different nations including USA, Canada, Switzerland, UK, Austria, Germany and many others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese older labels from the first runs are mostly with distillation methods that include direct heat which was replaced with steam for many distilleries for environmental reasons changing the taste of whisky forever. It'll get real interesting when nuclear fusion is used to distil whisky. We might glow green for a few weeks after we drink the stuff. Who knows.... but all we know is that the old stuff has a musky taste that is VERY welcomed by people nowadays trying to time travel through whisky's past.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA lot of Tomatin use virgin oak as well as refill bourbons. We have tried a Tomatin or 10 but the older we go, the more crazy we are about them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout Tomatin\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"banner wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"banner-container\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"banner-content\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"banner-content-inner\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"introduction\"\u003eAlways an intense, high-toned and fruity spirit (its oldest expressions move into the realms of tropical fruits).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"pagenav js-fixed\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"company-profile__item company-profile__profile\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is Tomatin’s much improved wood policy which has brought it to the notice of single malt lovers. A higher percentage of first-fill casks – ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry – has given more flesh and structure to the always top-notch spirit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough the first manifestation of Tomatin only ran between 1897 and 1906, its reopening under new management in 1909 saw the start of a remarkable journey which would culminate in this remote Highland outpost in between Aviemore and Inverness becoming the largest malt whisky distillery in Scotland.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts expansion (and contraction) mirrors accurately the mood of the industry: from two stills to four in 1956, four to six in ‘58, an upping to 11 in ’61 and then in 1974 the most dramatic expansion of all, with 12 stills being installed, bringing the total to 23 and overall capacity to 10m litres per annum.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt couldn’t last. Even in 1974 the first indications of a downturn in Scotch’s fortunes were being noticed. Tomatin never ran at full capacity and in 1986 went into liquidation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe site was saved however by two of its Japanese bulk customers, Takara Shuzo and Okura \u0026amp; Co [Okura’s stake was taken by Marubeni in 1998], making it the first Scotch distillery to be under Japanese control.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere has been a slow but steady recalibration ever since. The company bought blending firm J\u0026amp;W Hardie in 1997, adding the prestigious Antiquary blend to its portfolio. Eleven of the stills were taken out of commission in 2000 and today only 2m litres are produced from six wash and four spirit stills.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe other major change has been a shift in emphasis from bulk supply to single malt (as well as Antiquary) – again Tomatin is mirroring the market's continuing evolution. The single malt range has been widened in terms of age statements and introduced a peated variant, Cu Bocan. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e61.4% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tomatin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54524552806725,"sku":"TOMA10SMWS11.17","price":779.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4789870696_e3c88b6f-da3f-4fc3-8050-4d30fbe7925a.jpg?v=1746553498"},{"product_id":"tomintoul-10-year-old-smws-single-cask-89-15-pinball-wizzard-spirit-of-speyside-2021-2010-2021-70cl","title":"Tomintoul 10 Year Old SMWS Single Cask 89.15 Pinball Wizzard Spirit of Speyside 2021 (2010-2021) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eTomintoul 10 Year Old SMWS Single Cask 89.15 Pinball Wizzard Spirit of Speyside 2021 (2010-2021) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003carticle\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 315 bottles made\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA lightly peated Tomintoul which gives feelings of Springbank \/ Ledaig\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe description directly from SMWS states...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe aromas were bouncing around like mad; savoury meaty smoke, sherry vinegar, smoked wine gums, brandy snaps, olives and sea-salted smoked mackerel in sunflower oil. On the palate the magic was revealed; from Andalucía via Islay to Speyside. Sweet and spicy, hickory smoked fall-off-the-bone baby back barbequed ribs, while sweet tobacco combined with the bitter botanicals found in sherry Vermouth gave it a complex never-ending finish. Diluted we just maybe made a detour to Hawaii with melt-in-your-mouth, slow pit-roasted kalua pork. After eight years in an ex-bourbon hogshead we transferred this whisky into a second fill oloroso sherry hogshead which previously matured whisky from Society cask 29.259.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout Tomintoul \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTomintoul Distillery, established in 1964 in Scotland's\u003cspan\u003e Cairngorms National Park\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, is known for producing \"the gentle dram,\" a Speyside single malt scotch whisky\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e characterized by its smooth, mellow profile. It uses traditional techniques, pure water from the Ballantruan spring, and aging primarily in American ex-bourbon casks to create its award-winning spirits\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. The distillery emphasizes the impact of its natural, beautiful setting and the expertise of its team, led by Master Distiller Robert Fleming\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, to craft its well-balanced and exceptionally smooth whiskies\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e60.2% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/article\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Tomintoul","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54524555788613,"sku":"000095","price":169.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4471135583_055ce674-cdf1-4257-92d7-d5a2261ea735.jpg?v=1746553544"},{"product_id":"tormore-12-year-old-2011-smws-single-refill-bourbon-barrel-105-45-spice-vanilla-chai-cake-speyside-single-malt-scotch-whisky-2024-70cl","title":"Tormore 12 Year Old 2011 SMWS Single Refill Bourbon Barrel 105.45 Spice Vanilla Chai Cake Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2024) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eTormore 12 Year Old 2011 SMWS Single Refill Bourbon Barrel 105.45 Spice Vanilla Chai Cake Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2024) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 204 bottles produced from a single refill bourbon barrel\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eScotch Malt Whisky Society\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewas founded in Edinburgh in 1983 by Phillip 'Pip' Hills who, while travelling around Scotland in the 1970s, fell in love with whiskies drawn straight from the cask. After he expanded his syndicate the Society was purchased by Glenmorangie PLC in 2004. In 2015, the Society was sold back to private investors. In June 2021, the private owners floated the holding company The Artisanal Spirits Company plc on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eTasting Notes \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003carticle\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlenty of dark fruits on the nose neat – plums, blueberries, grapes and cherries – intermingled with a sweetness coming from nutmeg and cinnamon. This was extremely spicy on the palate, like a German landjäger or peitschenstecken (a small flat sausage containing highly seasoned, well-smoked meat), comparable to chorizos in Spain and Mexico. Plenty of water calmed things down, delivering the aroma of a sunny, yet cool, day enjoying a very fruity white wine sangria while, in the background, somebody fired an old-fashioned flintlock musket. The mouthfeel was now creamy, with the spicy toasted note of a spiced vanilla chai cake in the background.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eAbout Tormore\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSituated on the side of the A96 overlooking the river Spey, Tormore is unmissable. If ever there was a statement distillery this is it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwo crescents of whitewashed houses (which formerly housed the distillery workforce) sit on either side of a grand, palatial building which has been variously described as looking like a Baltic hydropathic hotel and a power station.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis was another distillery which was built to capitalise on whisky’s growth in the late 1950s and early 60s. Since its opening, the number of stills has doubled from four to eight. All have purifiers attached which helps with lightening the spirit which also has a notably firm edge to it when mature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough it began to be bottled as a single malt soon after it became part of the Chivas Brothers portfolio, it has never received significant backing, although two bottlings specifically for the French market in 2014 suggest that this may change.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConstruction began in 1959 (Tormore began to distil in 1961) to the design of Sir Albert Richardson, then president of the Royal Academy. At that time Tormore was part of Long John Distillers and its make was used mostly in the firm’s eponymous blends that were major sellers in North America. It is now one of the malts used in Ballantine’s, an association which dates back to when the Long John stable was bought by Allied Distillers in 1989. Tormore (and Ballantine’s) is now part of Chivas Brothers (Pernod Ricard).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e66.8% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/article\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tormore","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54524566831429,"sku":"000618","price":149.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4809943354_a16729ed-0f6c-4c6d-afd4-860db58bc351.jpg?v=1746553682"},{"product_id":"tullibardine-10-year-old-2005-smws-single-cask-28-26-pile-driver-punch-whisky-highland-single-malt-scotch-whisky-2015-75cl","title":"Tullibardine 10 Year Old 2005 SMWS Single Cask 28.26 Pile Driver Punch Whisky Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2015) 75cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eTullibardine 10 Year Old 2005 SMWS Single Cask 28.26 Pile Driver Punch Whisky Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2015) 75cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 192 bottles produced\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis was only released in USA so a little more whisky at 75cl instead of 70cl. It is a cask that we did not get to enjoy in the UK.\u003cbr\u003eIt is such a delight to see some of the really early editions of the SMWS single cask bottlings. Even better to drink them!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eScotch Malt Whisky Society\u003c\/em\u003e was founded in Edinburgh in 1983 by Phillip 'Pip' Hills who, while travelling around Scotland in the 1970s, fell in love with whiskies drawn straight from the cask. After he expanded his syndicate the Society was purchased by Glenmorangie PLC in 2004. In 2015, the Society was sold back to private investors. In June 2021, the private owners floated the holding company The Artisanal Spirits Company plc on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt has a unique code system where the first number refers to the distillery and the second refers to the cask from which the bottle comes. SMWS also offers the largest range of distilleries of any independent bottler. These curiously named drams really do have something for every whisky lover!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe SMWS are one of the Britain's most revered independent bottlers with a worldwide network of partner bars with one mission of getting as much whisky at natural cask strength without water to different nations including USA, Canada, Switzerland, UK, Austria, Germany and many others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese older labels from the first runs are mostly with distillation methods that include direct heat which was replaced with steam for many distilleries for environmental reasons changing the taste of whisky forever. It'll get real interesting when nuclear fusion is used to distil whisky. We might glow green for a few weeks after we drink the stuff. Who knows.... but all we know is that the old stuff has a musky taste that is VERY welcomed by people nowadays trying to time travel through whisky's past.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eTasting Notes \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe nose hinted at paint and glue – water shifted this to fresh linen and warm photocopies; we didn’t find that in the taste. The rest of the nose had herbal, grassy notes (hay, thyme, cucumber) and fruity sweetness (brandy snaps, orange zest, peach stones, golden syrup, chilli marmalade). The palate had a pile-driver punch of spirity heat (even with water) but after a couple of sips we learned to take it on the chin – nice grassy, cereal notes, including popcorn, riverbank reeds and mint, then more of that fruity sweetness (mandarin, rhubarb and pineapple, with spun sugar, vanilla and pink Chewits).\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eAbout Tullibardine\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring its Invergordon era, Tullibardine was set up to produce a light, nutty malt which was mostly used when young and aged in refill casks for buyer-own blends.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe requirements of a single malt house – which Tullibardine became – necessitated some tweaking of the spirit run (introducing more high-toned floral notes now coming to the fore, with the nuttiness being dialled down) and a more 21st century wood policy with a massive influx of fresh casks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlcohol has been produced in Blackford for over six centuries. A brewery was operational in 1488 when James IV [the King who famously asked Friar John Cor to make aqua vitae from eight bolls of malt in 1495] stopped to buy a barrel of ale after his coronation at Scone. It could lay claim to be the oldest ‘public’ brewery in the kingdom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDistilling was also tried. In 1798, William \u0026amp; Henry Bannerman opened the first Tullibardine distillery, though it only ran for a year. In 1814, Andrew Bannerman (presumably a relative) tried again. This time it operated until 1837. By the 19th century, the town had a maltings and three breweries: the original one, Gleneagles Brewery, now owned by the Sharp family, the other two by the Eadie family. Both of Eadie’s plants closed by the turn of the 20th century, leaving Gleneagles to soldier on until 1927. At this point it seemed as if this rich tradition had finally ceased, but in 1949 the famous distillery designer William Delme-Evans bought the Gleneagles Brewery site and built a new distillery there. It was the first to be built in Scotland since 1900.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1953 it was bought by blender Brodie Hepburn which increased capacity (see Glenturret) and from there via Invergordon (which bought Brodie Hepburn) into Whyte \u0026amp; Mackay (which in turn bought Invergordon) which promptly mothballed it, though retaining its extensive warehousing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTullibardine lay silent from 1994 until 2003, when a business consortium snapped it up. Their idea was to sell off some of the site as a retail park, using the money raised to get distilling up and running again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn a similar fashion to Bruchladdich, the new owners found that most of the stock had been filled into old, tired casks which though suitable for some aspects of blending were not ideal for a stand-alone single malt brand. An extensive – and expensive – re-casking operation started along with the inevitable rash of ‘finished’ whiskies. The group sold their interest in 2011 to the French wine and spirit group, Picard which owns the Highland Queen and Muirhead’s brands and was looking for capacity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe (failed) retail park venture has been bought back and a newly repackaged and reformulated range of single malts has been introduced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e61.4% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e75cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tullibardine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54524567912773,"sku":"000692","price":199.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4837355110_c0458d33-89b7-4533-a5b4-1768879f5073.jpg?v=1746553707"},{"product_id":"tullibardine-7-year-old-single-cask-smws-2013-28-61-hot-potato-70cl","title":"Tullibardine 7 Year Old 2013 SMWS Single 1st Fill Bourbon Cask 28.61 Hot Potato! Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2021) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eTullibardine 7 Year Old 2013 SMWS Single 1st Fill Bourbon Cask 28.61 Hot Potato! Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2021) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 231 bottles produced from a 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Cask\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eScotch Malt Whisky Society\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewas founded in Edinburgh in 1983 by Phillip 'Pip' Hills who, while travelling around Scotland in the 1970s, fell in love with whiskies drawn straight from the cask. After he expanded his syndicate the Society was purchased by Glenmorangie PLC in 2004. In 2015, the Society was sold back to private investors. In June 2021, the private owners floated the holding company The Artisanal Spirits Company plc on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt has a unique code system where the first number refers to the distillery and the second refers to the cask from which the bottle comes. SMWS also offers the largest range of distilleries of any independent bottler. These curiously named drams really do have something for every whisky lover!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe SMWS are one of the Britain's most revered independent bottlers with a worldwide network of partner bars with one mission of getting as much whisky at natural cask strength without water to different nations including USA, Canada, Switzerland, UK, Austria, Germany and many others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA young, punchy and immediately charismatic example of this left-field Highlander. We found the nose to be riddled with hessian cloth, lamp oil, old toolboxes, steel wool, young furniture, canvas, vapour rubs and mineral oil. Hints of young calvados and tart gooseberry. Reduction brought out baking powder, cornflour, oatmeal, sandalwood, oily rags and old workshops. Unusual notes of bison grass and potatoes roasted in goose fat. The palate was initially warming and spicy with herbal cough medicines, salt-baked vegetables, oatcakes spread with butter and dry roast peanuts. Water brought out olive oil grassiness, mustard powder, lime pith, putty, white wine vinegar and lanolin.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Tullibardine\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring its Invergordon era, Tullibardine was set up to produce a light, nutty malt which was mostly used when young and aged in refill casks for buyer-own blends.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe requirements of a single malt house – which Tullibardine became – necessitated some tweaking of the spirit run (introducing more high-toned floral notes now coming to the fore, with the nuttiness being dialled down) and a more 21st century wood policy with a massive influx of fresh casks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlcohol has been produced in Blackford for over six centuries. A brewery was operational in 1488 when James IV [the King who famously asked Friar John Cor to make aqua vitae from eight bolls of malt in 1495] stopped to buy a barrel of ale after his coronation at Scone. It could lay claim to be the oldest ‘public’ brewery in the kingdom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDistilling was also tried. In 1798, William \u0026amp; Henry Bannerman opened the first Tullibardine distillery, though it only ran for a year. In 1814, Andrew Bannerman (presumably a relative) tried again. This time it operated until 1837. By the 19th century, the town had a maltings and three breweries: the original one, Gleneagles Brewery, now owned by the Sharp family, the other two by the Eadie family. Both of Eadie’s plants closed by the turn of the 20th century, leaving Gleneagles to soldier on until 1927. At this point it seemed as if this rich tradition had finally ceased, but in 1949 the famous distillery designer William Delme-Evans bought the Gleneagles Brewery site and built a new distillery there. It was the first to be built in Scotland since 1900.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1953 it was bought by blender Brodie Hepburn which increased capacity (see Glenturret) and from there via Invergordon (which bought Brodie Hepburn) into Whyte \u0026amp; Mackay (which in turn bought Invergordon) which promptly mothballed it, though retaining its extensive warehousing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTullibardine lay silent from 1994 until 2003, when a business consortium snapped it up. Their idea was to sell off some of the site as a retail park, using the money raised to get distilling up and running again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn a similar fashion to Bruichladdich, the new owners found that most of the stock had been filled into old, tired casks which though suitable for some aspects of blending were not ideal for a stand-alone single malt brand. An extensive – and expensive – re-casking operation started along with the inevitable rash of ‘finished’ whiskies. The group sold their interest in 2011 to the French wine and spirit group, Picard which owns the Highland Queen and Muirhead’s brands and was looking for capacity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe (failed) retail park venture has been bought back and a newly repackaged and reformulated range of single malts has been introduced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e60.9% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tullibardine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54524573909317,"sku":"TUL7SMWS28.61","price":115.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4018656321_503495fd-16ba-447a-8ac5-f16608d89f45.jpg?v=1746553743"},{"product_id":"aberfeldy-10-year-old-smws-single-cask-60-33-malt-loaf-and-vinalla-frosting-2023-70cl","title":"Aberfeldy 10 Year Old SMWS Single Cask 60.33 Malt Loaf And Vanilla Frosting Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2023) 70cl","description":"\u003ch2\u003eAberfeldy 10 Year Old SMWS Single Cask 60.33 Malt Loaf And Vanilla Frosting Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2023) 70cl\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA single cask bottling of Aberfeldy at an impressive 61% ABV!\u003cbr\u003eOnce these are gone they are never to be repeated again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003carticle\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFull of cakes, from Dundee to the Caribbean, with ginger and cherries joining malt loaf and vanilla frosting. Citrus was also present on the nose, as was panettone. To the palate, we found sticky butterscotch pudding spiked with rum punch, black grapes glazed with honey and crushed hazelnuts. Water introduced tinned pineapples, oak wood shavings and aromatic bitters to the nose, while the palate retained its core malt loaf flavour and gained that honey characteristic for additional mouthfeel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/article\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"productView-descriptionWrap\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Aberfeldy\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"productView-descriptionWrap\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"banner wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"banner-container\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"banner-content\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"banner-content-inner\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"introduction\"\u003eOne of the sweetest single malts, Aberfeldy’s characteristic honeyed note is the result of very long fermentation, coupled with slow distillation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"pagenav js-fixed\"\u003eA thick, almost waxy texture (though not as overt as in DCL days) adds some weight to the mid-palate, allowing long-term maturation. The bulk of the new make is aged in ex-Bourbon casks, but the occasional Sherried release shows that this is a malt which has guts.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"pagenav js-fixed\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"pagenav js-fixed\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJohn Dewar \u0026amp; Sons was typical of many of the blending firms which were founded in the 19th century. Dewar himself, though born in humble surroundings in a croft at Shenvail, became a wine merchant in Perth and by the middle of the century had started to blend whisky. It was however his sons, John Jr and Thomas (always known as\u003cspan\u003e Tommy), \u003c\/span\u003ewho made the family firm a globally recognised name.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the 1890s, they decided to go into whisky production and built a distillery at Aberfeldy, only two miles from where their father had been born. The site had originally been a brewery and some distillation had taken place in the early part of the century. Fed by the Pitilie Burn [where gold is still panned] Aberfeldy became the malt at the heart of the firm’s blends. A private railway line linked the plant with the firm’s operational hub in Perth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDewar’s joined DCL in 1925 and in 1973 the Aberfeldy site doubled in capacity to its present size. It changed ownership in 1998, when the UK Monopolies Board forced the newly formed Diageo to offload one of its brands and attendant capacity. The\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/scotchwhisky.com\/whiskypedia\/2600\/john-dewar-sons\/\"\u003eDewar’s estate\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e[the blends, plus Aberfeldy, Aultmore, Craigellachie and Royal Brackla] were bought for £1.1bn by Bacardi-Martini.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe new owners invested heavily in a highly impressive educational facility - Dewar’s World of Whisky - which tells the story of the house of Dewar - and blending.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn more recent times, Aberfeldy has been sold in small quantities as single malt and in 2014 was repackaged. A new, permanent, five-strong range is to be created.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cfooter\u003e\n\u003csection\u003e\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c\/footer\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2nd fill ex-bourbon barrel\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e61% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aberfeldy","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54686647714117,"sku":"ABF10SMWS60.33","price":139.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4374005981.jpg?v=1746545202"},{"product_id":"aberlour-9-year-old-1985-smws-single-cask-54-3-speyside-single-malt-scotch-whisky-1995-70cl","title":"Aberlour 9 Year Old 1985 SMWS Single Cask 54.3 Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (1995) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eAberlour 9 Year Old 1985 SMWS Single Cask 54.3 Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (1995) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 289 bottles produced\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is not easy to come across ancient releases from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe SMWS are one of the Britain's most revered independent bottlers with a worldwide network of partner bars with one mission of getting as much whisky at natural cask strength without water to different nations including USA, Canada, Switzerland, UK, Austria, Germany and many others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese older labels from the first runs are mostly with distillation methods that include direct heat which was replaced with steam for many distilleries for environmental reasons changing the taste of whisky forever. It'll get real interesting when nuclear fusion is used to distil whisky. We might glow green for a few weeks after we drink the stuff. Who knows.... but all we know is that the old stuff has a musky taste that is VERY welcomed by people nowadays trying to time travel through whisky's past.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eAbout Aberlour\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA medium-weight single malt, Aberlour’s character balances malt, fruit and a distinctive blackcurrant note. It is a whisky which gains in weight and toffee-like sweetness as it matures and has sufficient depth to be able to cope with Sherry cask maturation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe range is large, with many different variations on ex-Sherry and ex-Bourbon cask matured whiskies – some mixed, some 100%, others finished. Its greatest cult following is for the small batch, 100% Sherry-matured, cask-strength variant A’Bunadh which has run since 2000. Aberlour was also one of the first distilleries to offer a ‘bottle your own’ whisky to visitors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe first distillery in the village of Aberlour was established in 1825 and ran until 1833, when the co-lessees James and John Grant left to build their own distillery, Glen Grant, in Rothes. The current distillery was the brainchild of James Fleming who built it in 1879 using water from St. Drostan’s Well, named after an early Columban monk, which is situated on the site.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eLike many Victorian distilleries, it burnt down and, in 1898, had to be rebuilt. During World War II when the distillery was on short-term working, locals used to smuggle wash up the Aberlour burn and distil illicitly under the Linn Falls.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThe distillery became part of Campbell Distillers in 1945, passing into the Pernod Ricard stable in 1974, the year after it had been expanded from two to four stills and wholly modernised internally. Its ownership has long given it a strong following in France. It is now part of Pernod’s whisky division, Chivas Brothers.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e59.1% ABV\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aberlour","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54686653251909,"sku":"000584","price":899.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4798994265.jpg?v=1746545254"},{"product_id":"allt-a-bhainne-10-year-old-smws-108-65-salami-in-a-peated-overcoat-70cl","title":"Allt-a-Bhainne 10-year-old SMWS 108.65 Salami In A Peated Overcoat Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eAllt-a-Bhainne 10-year-old SMWS 108.65\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of only 285 bottles released\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society was founded in Edinburgh in 1983 by Phillip 'Pip' Hills who, while travelling around Scotland in the 1970s, fell in love with whiskies drawn straight from the cask. After he expanded his syndicate the Society was purchased by Glenmorangie PLC in 2004.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2015, the Society was sold back to private investors. In June 2021, the private owners floated the holding company The Artisanal Spirits Company plc on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange. It has a unique code system where the first number refers to the distillery and the second refers to the cask from which the bottle comes. SMWS also offers the largest range of distilleries of any independent bottler. These curiously named drams really do have something for every whisky lover!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout Allt-A-Bhainne\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAllt-A-Bhainne distillery (Scottish Gaelic: Allt a' Bhainne [al̪ˠt̪əˈvaɲə], meaning 'milk burn') is a Scotch whisky distillery in the Speyside Region of Scotland. It is located just down the road from the well-known whisky town of Dufftown. Allt-a-bhaine is one of the newer distilleries in Scotland, having been built in 1975. It was the first distillery to be designed with modernity in mind. All the equipment is in one room and the process from start to finish can be accomplished by one person.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e64.2% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Allt-a-Bhainne","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54686656495941,"sku":"00021","price":109.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/3988850218.jpg?v=1746545301"},{"product_id":"allt-a-bhainne-13-year-old-2007-single-cask-smws-108-32-in-a-rabelo-on-the-spey-70cl","title":"Allt-A-Bhainne 13 Year Old 2007 Single Cask SMWS 108.32 In A Rabelo On The Spey 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eAllt-A-Bhainne 13 Year Old 2007 SMWS 108.32 In a rabelo on the Spey 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 274 bottles\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe imagined that after having picked the grapes in the steep sloping vineyards of the Douro valley, we poured them into a large stone tank (lagares) and then, synchronised to the rhythm of a local musician, we squashed them and squeezed the liquid out from the skin. The taste was opulent and sweet with an abundance of earthy, spicy notes and an elegant fine chewy tannin finish. Diluted we took a traditional rabelo boat down river sipping a glass of young vintage port before we stopped at a Quinta (winery) to sit on the veranda and enjoy a P\u0026amp;T. After 11 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, we transferred this whisky into a second fill charred red wine barrique.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout Allt-A-Bhainne\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAllt-A-Bhainne distillery (Scottish Gaelic: Allt a' Bhainne [al̪ˠt̪əˈvaɲə], meaning 'milk burn') is a Scotch whisky distillery in the Speyside Region of Scotland. It is located just down the road from the well-known whisky town of Dufftown. Allt-a-bhaine is one of the newer distilleries in Scotland, having been built in 1975. It was the first distillery to be designed with modernity in mind. All the equipment is in one room and the process from start to finish can be accomplished by one person.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e59.2% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Allt-A-Bhainne","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54686657052997,"sku":"00041","price":109.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4018760040.jpg?v=1746545304"},{"product_id":"allt-a-bhainne-15-year-old-2008-smws-single-cask-108-71-an-autumn-vineyard-walk-refill-cosecha-wine-barrqiue-finish-speyside-single-malt-scotch-whisky-2024-70cl","title":"Allt-a-Bhainne 15 Year Old 2008 SMWS Single Cask 108.71 An Autumn Vineyard Walk Refill Cosecha Wine Barrique Finish Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2024) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eAllt-a-Bhainne 15 Year Old 2008 SMWS Single Cask 108.71 An Autumn Vineyard Walk Refill Cosecha Wine Barrique Finish Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2024) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 300 bottles produced\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eScotch Malt Whisky Society\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewas founded in Edinburgh in 1983 by Phillip 'Pip' Hills who, while travelling around Scotland in the 1970s, fell in love with whiskies drawn straight from the cask. After he expanded his syndicate the Society was purchased by Glenmorangie PLC in 2004. In 2015, the Society was sold back to private investors. In June 2021, the private owners floated the holding company The Artisanal Spirits Company plc on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange.It has a unique code system where the first number refers to the distillery and the second refers to the cask from which the bottle comes. SMWS also offers the largest range of distilleries of any independent bottler. These curiously named drams really do have something for every whisky lover!The SMWS are one of the Britain's most revered independent bottlers with a worldwide network of partner bars with one mission of getting as much whisky at natural cask strength without water to different nations including USA, Canada, Switzerland, UK, Austria, Germany and many others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTasting Notes \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003carticle\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eA fruity, interesting nose; first we imagined walking through autumn vineyards, then we found toffee apples, sugared plums, fruit cake and boozy trifle. The palate had both creamy (yoghurt bar) and tart elements (pineapple jelly, dried strawberries, apricot jam and citrus), before finishing with cinnamon, fig and damson stones. The reduced nose included honey and spun sugar, grape must and orange zest, polished shoes and perfumed candles. The palate offered unripe pear, lime, apricot and monstera, while a hint of soap made the finish dry, clean and perfumed. After 12 years in ex-bourbon wood, this enjoyed further time in a second fill cosecha PX barrique.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eAbout Allt A Bhainne\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnother of Speyside’s workhorses, Allt-a-Bhainne was one of the first distilleries designed to be operated by one person.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll the equipment is contained in a single room with mash tun at one end and four stills at the other. Originally designed to produce a light, estery malt for blending requirements, in recent years it has also occasionally produced a heavily-peated variant. Allt-a-Bhainne is only very occasionally seen as a single malt bottling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts modernist design singles Allt-a-Bhainne out as an oddity within Speyside, a region whose distilleries often seem to have sprouted from the bedrock. It was built by Seagram in 1975 during a period of growing optimism in the Scotch industry when the Canadian firm (which at the time owned Chivas Regal) was increasing its production capacity. It has had a chequered history with periods of being placed into mothballs (the most recent being between 2003 and 2005). With global demand rising, owner Chivas Brothers has it in full production once more.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e61.5% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/article\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Allt-a-Bhainne","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54686657151301,"sku":"ALT15SMWS108.71","price":149.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4806760303.jpg?v=1746545307"},{"product_id":"auchentoshan-13-year-old-2000-smws-single-cask-5-38-lemon-drizzle-cake-lowland-single-malt-scotch-whisky-2014-75cl","title":"Auchentoshan 13 Year Old 2000 SMWS Single Cask 5.38 Lemon Drizzle Cake Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2014) 75cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eAuchentoshan 13 Year Old 2000 SMWS Single Cask 5.38 Lemon Drizzle Cake Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2014) 75cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 79 bottles only. mostly all drunk\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis was only released in USA so a little more whisky at 75cl instead of 70cl. It is a cask that we did not get to enjoy in the UK.\u003cbr\u003eIt is such a delight to see some of the really early editions of the SMWS single cask bottlings. Even better to drink them!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Auchentoshan\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAuchentoshan’s claim to fame is that it is the only distillery in Scotland which exclusively uses triple distillation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe wash still operates as per normal, while the spirit coming from the intermediate still is split into two, with only the high-strength ‘heads’ being carried forward for the final distillation. The low-strength ‘tails’ are mixed with the next distillation from the wash still.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe ‘heads’ are then mixed with the ‘feints’ from the previous spirit still distillation and a cut with an average strength of 81% is taken. A short fermentation gives Auchentoshan a cereal note which acts as a grounding flavour during maturation as well as balancing the high-toned citric notes. Its high strength means that it can easily be overpowered by oak. Consequently, the older the expression, the more ‘relaxed’ the wood influence is.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLegal whisky-making started here on the banks of the Clyde in 1817 when the Duntocher distillery was built by John Bulloch. Like many early start-ups it had a chequered early history and Bulloch went bankrupt soon after. It wasn’t to put his family off however. His grandson co-founded one of the 19th century’s most famous blending and broking firms, Bulloch Lade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was bought in 1834 by John Hart and Alexander Filshie who changed its name to Auchintoshan [sic]. The Filshie’s sold up in 1875 to a local grain merchant and again like so many stills, ‘Auchie’ spent almost a century being passed from one owner to another. During the Clyde Blitz of 1941 a warehouse was hit, sending a stream of blazing whisky into the river. A bomb crater has been turned into the distillery pond.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was one of a number of distilleries purchased by brewers in the 1960s – in Auchie’s case Glasgow-based Tennant’s were owners from 1960 to 1969 when they offloaded it to a publican, Eadie Cairns. The upgraded distillery was then sold to Stanley P Morrison in 1984. It is now part of Beam Suntory. A new visitor facility was built in 2004.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnusually, all of its production is used for single malt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e572% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Auchentoshan","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54686688346437,"sku":"000689","price":239.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4837180234.jpg?v=1746545666"},{"product_id":"auchentoshan-15-year-old-1981-cadenheads-authentic-collection-single-cask-1996-75cl","title":"Auchentoshan 15 Year Old 1981 Cadenhead's Authentic Collection Single Cask (1996) 75cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eAuchentoshan 15 Year Old 1981 Cadenhead's Authentic Collection Single Cask (1996) 75cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA barley seen US Import version of the Cadenhead's releases. Mainly because people in USA tend to drink things.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo one has now made it's way back here of the previous older releases. This one was released 29 years ago and distilled 44 years ago. Crazy right?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCadenhead's are one of the most respected Indy's along with G\u0026amp;M, SMWS, Signatory \u0026amp; Blackadder for their length of service \u0026amp; heritage. Well received and reviewed through the ages. This is a 1981 Lowland Auchentoshan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNose : Oak furniture and warming Christmas spices, followed by freshly sliced green apple. A hint of fudge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePalate : Chocolatey at first, before notes of milky tea, coconut flakes, cut grass and nutmeg take shape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFinish : A big rush of floral notes appear on the finish, paired with chocolate brownie and orange.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eAbout Auchentoshan \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAuchentoshan’s claim to fame is that it is the only distillery in Scotland which exclusively uses triple distillation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe wash still operates as per normal, while the spirit coming from the intermediate still is split into two, with only the high-strength ‘heads’ being carried forward for the final distillation. The low-strength ‘tails’ are mixed with the next distillation from the wash still.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe ‘heads’ are then mixed with the ‘feints’ from the previous spirit still distillation and a cut with an average strength of 81% is taken. A short fermentation gives Auchentoshan a cereal note which acts as a grounding flavour during maturation as well as balancing the high-toned citric notes. Its high strength means that it can easily be overpowered by oak. Consequently, the older the expression, the more ‘relaxed’ the wood influence is.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLegal whisky-making started here on the banks of the Clyde in 1817 when the Duntocher distillery was built by John Bulloch. Like many early start-ups it had a chequered early history and Bulloch went bankrupt soon after. It wasn’t to put his family off however. His grandson co-founded one of the 19th century’s most famous blending and broking firms, Bulloch Lade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was bought in 1834 by John Hart and Alexander Filshie who changed its name to Auchintoshan [sic]. The Filshie’s sold up in 1875 to a local grain merchant and again like so many stills, ‘Auchie’ spent almost a century being passed from one owner to another. During the Clyde Blitz of 1941 a warehouse was hit, sending a stream of blazing whisky into the river. A bomb crater has been turned into the distillery pond.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was one of a number of distilleries purchased by brewers in the 1960s – in Auchie’s case Glasgow-based Tennant’s were owners from 1960 to 1969 when they offloaded it to a publican, Eadie Cairns. The upgraded distillery was then sold to Stanley P Morrison in 1984. It is now part of Beam Suntory. A new visitor facility was built in 2004.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnusually, all of its production is used for single malt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e63.4 % ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e75cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Auchentoshan","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54686690935109,"sku":"000448","price":389.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4718367604.jpg?v=1746545670"},{"product_id":"auchentoshan-19-year-old-2003-smws-5-116-pleasant-punishment-70cl","title":"Auchentoshan 19 Year Old 2003 SMWS 5.116 Pleasant Punishment 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eAuchentoshan 19 Year Old 2003 SMWS 5.116 Pleasant Punishment 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of 187 bottles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first lo\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis whisky was distilled on 27th January 2003 and aged in a single first-fill ex-Bourbon cask for 19 years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFamed for its exclusive use of triple distillation, Auchentoshan is based on the outskirts of Glasgow and was owned for the duration of the 1960s by Tennents brewery. They sold it to Eadie Cairns at the end of the decade, who upgraded the site and began officially bottling it as a single malt. The distillery passed through the hands of Morrison Bowmore before becoming part of the Beam Suntory table today. Unusually, none of the Auchentoshan output is reserved for blends, meaning there has been a wealth of distillery bottled single casks and independent releases throughout the years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Auchentoshan\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAuchentoshan’s claim to fame is that it is the only distillery in Scotland which exclusively uses triple distillation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe wash still operates as per normal, while the spirit coming from the intermediate still is split into two, with only the high-strength ‘heads’ being carried forward for the final distillation. The low-strength ‘tails’ are mixed with the next distillation from the wash still.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe ‘heads’ are then mixed with the ‘feints’ from the previous spirit still distillation and a cut with an average strength of 81% is taken. A short fermentation gives Auchentoshan a cereal note which acts as a grounding flavour during maturation as well as balancing the high-toned citric notes. Its high strength means that it can easily be overpowered by oak. Consequently, the older the expression, the more ‘relaxed’ the wood influence is.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLegal whisky-making started here on the banks of the Clyde in 1817 when the Duntocher distillery was built by John Bulloch. Like many early start-ups it had a chequered early history and Bulloch went bankrupt soon after. It wasn’t to put his family off however. His grandson co-founded one of the 19th century’s most famous blending and broking firms, Bulloch Lade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was bought in 1834 by John Hart and Alexander Filshie who changed its name to Auchintoshan [sic]. The Filshie’s sold up in 1875 to a local grain merchant and again like so many stills, ‘Auchie’ spent almost a century being passed from one owner to another. During the Clyde Blitz of 1941 a warehouse was hit, sending a stream of blazing whisky into the river. A bomb crater has been turned into the distillery pond.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was one of a number of distilleries purchased by brewers in the 1960s – in Auchie’s case Glasgow-based Tennant’s were owners from 1960 to 1969 when they offloaded it to a publican, Eadie Cairns. The upgraded distillery was then sold to Stanley P Morrison in 1984. It is now part of Beam Suntory. A new visitor facility was built in 2004.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnusually, all of its production is used for single malt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e56.9% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Auchentoshan","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54686691000645,"sku":"00025","price":199.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/3989407040_40855b85-b91f-4625-af9f-21e13f25c575.jpg?v=1746545678"},{"product_id":"auchentoshan-19-year-old-2003-smws-5-123-barley-sweetness-hits-dry-oak","title":"Auchentoshan 19 Year Old 2003 SMWS 5.123 Barley Sweetness Hits Dry Oak","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eAuchentoshan 19 Year Old 2003 SMWS 5.123 Barley Sweetness Hits Dry Oak\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 187 bottles made\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTasting Notes \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSurrounded by polished furniture in a stately home, we identified vanilla tablet, dolly mixtures and cinnamon toast, along with considerable fruit (passion fruit, plum tart, redcurrants and apricot yoghurt). The palate had barley-derived sweetness (spun sugar, dark toffee, muscovado, vanilla and coconut macaroon bars), but everyone noticed the dry oaky spiciness that tingled and warmed our mouths with nutmeg, black pepper, chilli, toasted cumin, ginger snaps and sugary espresso dregs. Water brought hot cross buns and caramelised almonds to the nose, along with floral and grassy notes, and old library dustiness. The palate discovered bakewell tart, liquorice, yeast extract, sandalwood and salty driftwood.\u003cspan class=\"productView-info-name\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Auchentoshan\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAuchentoshan’s claim to fame is that it is the only distillery in Scotland which exclusively uses triple distillation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe wash still operates as per normal, while the spirit coming from the intermediate still is split into two, with only the high-strength ‘heads’ being carried forward for the final distillation. The low-strength ‘tails’ are mixed with the next distillation from the wash still.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe ‘heads’ are then mixed with the ‘feints’ from the previous spirit still distillation and a cut with an average strength of 81% is taken. A short fermentation gives Auchentoshan a cereal note which acts as a grounding flavour during maturation as well as balancing the high-toned citric notes. Its high strength means that it can easily be overpowered by oak. Consequently, the older the expression, the more ‘relaxed’ the wood influence is.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLegal whisky-making started here on the banks of the Clyde in 1817 when the Duntocher distillery was built by John Bulloch. Like many early start-ups it had a chequered early history and Bulloch went bankrupt soon after. It wasn’t to put his family off however. His grandson co-founded one of the 19th century’s most famous blending and broking firms, Bulloch Lade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was bought in 1834 by John Hart and Alexander Filshie who changed its name to Auchintoshan [sic]. The Filshie’s sold up in 1875 to a local grain merchant and again like so many stills, ‘Auchie’ spent almost a century being passed from one owner to another. During the Clyde Blitz of 1941 a warehouse was hit, sending a stream of blazing whisky into the river. A bomb crater has been turned into the distillery pond.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was one of a number of distilleries purchased by brewers in the 1960s – in Auchie’s case Glasgow-based Tennant’s were owners from 1960 to 1969 when they offloaded it to a publican, Eadie Cairns. The upgraded distillery was then sold to Stanley P Morrison in 1984. It is now part of Beam Suntory. A new visitor facility was built in 2004.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnusually, all of its production is used for single malt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e58% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Auchentoshan","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54686691131717,"sku":"00026","price":169.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/3989438505.jpg?v=1746545681"},{"product_id":"auchroisk-19-year-old-1990-single-cask-95-13-afternoon-tea-in-a-patisserie-speyside-single-malt-scotch-whisky-2009-75cl","title":"Auchroisk 19 Year Old 1990 SMWS Single Cask 95.13 Afternoon Tea In A Patisserie Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2009) 75cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eAuchroisk 19 Year Old 1990 Single Cask 95.13 Afternoon Tea In A Patisserie Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2009) 75cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 287 bottles produced\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn early Auchroisk from SMWS and not many are bottled in comparison to others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis was only released in USA so a little more whisky at 75cl instead of 70cl.\u003cbr\u003eIt is such a delight to see some of the really early editions of the SMWS single cask bottlings. Even better to drink them!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eTasting Notes \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNose :\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003eThis bottling begins neat with a slightly alcoholic impression and is somewhat reserved. However, it quickly develops towards light vanilla, pear, a hint of apple, and a hint of nuttiness. The longer the malt is allowed to breathe in the air, the more rounded the aroma becomes, reminiscent of old rum, dried fruit, licorice, and blackberries. Very complex.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDiluted, the aroma also offers notes of rum, plums, and spicy, delicious dried fruit combined with vanilla. A lovely, delicious, \"old nose.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePalate :\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003eWithout added water, the taste impression is dry, followed by malty sweetness, blackberries, and more vanilla. The body is medium-complex.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith water, the palate also enhances, offering vanilla, malty sweetness, blackberries, and more dried fruit, all in a beautiful interplay. It opens up and the body becomes fuller.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFinish :\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003eThe finish is medium-long and offers more blackberry notes, sweetness, and vanilla with a light tannin touch and a spicy wood note.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEven with water, the finish remains consistent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eAbout Auchroisk\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAuchroisk [pronounced Orth-rusk] is one of Diageo’s ‘nutty-spicy’ sites.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere the heavy character is produced by rapid mashing, quick fermentation and, in the wash stills, a rapid boiling regime which almost cooks the solids and allows controlled carryover of some solids. This almost singed character [shared with Blair Athol] is most obvious at new make but recedes with maturation, being replaced by a balanced honeyed cereal sweetness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe building of Auchroisk in 1972 was meant to herald the start of a new era for blended Scotch. Certainly architecturally (like its contemporary, Allt-a-Bhainne) it stands out – a white, harled, modernist structure in the moorland. It was commissioned by IDV, at that time the parent firm of J\u0026amp;B which had decided that sales of the blend justified another distillery being built to join its Speyside portfolio of Glen Spey, Knockando and Strathmill.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAuchroisk was first bottled as single malt in 1986 and was the first to carry the prefix ‘Singleton’, a name now attached to single malts from Glen Ord, Glendullan and Dufftown. Although highly regarded by writers and judges in its time, it never quite made the leap from cult to major brand. Interestingly, the maturation process involved decanting 10-year-old ex-Bourbon matured whisky into ex-Sherry casks for a further two years of secondary maturation, making it the first example of finishing, but IDV never thought of talking up the process, leaving Balvenie and Glenmorangie to be regarded as the pioneers of the technique. The brand was dropped in 2001 and has subsequently quietly slipped back into the shadows.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough somewhat remote, the large tracts of land surrounding the distillery make this the ideal site for one of Diageo’s main northern warehousing complexes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e58.4% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e75cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Auchroisk","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54686693392709,"sku":"000707","price":439.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4838552641.jpg?v=1746545740"},{"product_id":"balmenach-11-year-old-2004-smws-single-1st-fill-bourbon-cask-48-62-magic-citrus-water-punch-speyside-single-malt-whisky-2015-70cl","title":"Balmenach 11 Year Old 2004 SMWS Single 1st Fill Bourbon Cask 48.62 Magic Citrus Water Punch Speyside Single Malt Whisky (2015) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eBalmenach 11 Year Old 2004 SMWS Single 1st Fill Bourbon Cask 48.62 Magic Citrus Water Punch Speyside Single Malt Whisky (2015) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 59 bottles made only\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe all love a bit of Balmenach as it gives us a punchier spirit that is like an older cousin of Glen Grant from the Speyside region. Balmenach is the bad influence child next to Glen Grant. Always a very satisfying drink with every dram. A dram full of interesting and quite complex flavours, this one borders on the line between fruit and flowery with a hint creeping in of fabric softener or similar. Saved at the end by an intensity of spice and oak wood, making it very moreish.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Balmenach\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSituated in the district of Cromdale on the banks of the River Spey the distillery stands in beneath the nearby hill of Tom Lethendry where the Jacobites were defeated in the Battle of Cromdale in 1690.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBalmenach Distillery is one of the earliest distilleries sanctioned as a result of the Excise Act 1823. In 1897 the distillery was purchased by Glenlivet and was served by its own railway branch off the Strathspey Railway until 1969. The distillery closed in 1941 and re-opened in 1947, following expansion of its facilities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Distillery is owned by Inver House Distillers Limited, a privately owned distiller whose other distilleries include: Speyburn-Glenlivet Distillery; Knockdhu Distillery; Balblair Distillery; and, Old Pulteney Distillery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e53.6% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Balmenach","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54686698996037,"sku":"000482","price":189.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4751404513.jpg?v=1746545816"},{"product_id":"balmenach-12-year-old-2001-smws-single-1st-fill-bourbon-cask-48-46-exploding-flower-speyside-single-malt-scotch-whisky-2014-70cl","title":"Balmenach 12 Year Old 2001 SMWS Single 1st Fill Bourbon Cask 48.46 Exploding Flower Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2014) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eBalmenach 12 Year Old 2001 SMWS Single 1st Fill Bourbon Cask 48.46 Exploding Flower Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2014) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 216 Bottles bottled back in 2014\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe all love a bit of Balmenach as it gives us a punchier spirit that is like an older cousin of Glen Grant from the Speyside region. Balmenach is the bad influence child next to Glen Grant. Always a very satisfying drink with every dram. A dram full of interesting and quite complex flavours, this one borders on the line between fruit and flowery with a hint creeping in of fabric softener or similar. Saved at the end by an intensity of spice and oak wood, making it very moreish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eAbout Balmenach\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSituated in the district of Cromdale on the banks of the River Spey the distillery stands in beneath the nearby hill of Tom Lethendry where the Jacobites were defeated in the Battle of Cromdale in 1690.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBalmenach Distillery is one of the earliest distilleries sanctioned as a result of the Excise Act 1823. In 1897 the distillery was purchased by Glenlivet and was served by its own railway branch off the Strathspey Railway until 1969. The distillery closed in 1941 and re-opened in 1947, following expansion of its facilities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Distillery is owned by Inver House Distillers Limited, a privately owned distiller whose other distilleries include: Speyburn-Glenlivet Distillery; Knockdhu Distillery; Balblair Distillery; and, Old Pulteney Distillery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e57.4% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Balmenach","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54686700142917,"sku":"000480","price":215.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4750979265.jpg?v=1746545819"},{"product_id":"balmenach-14-year-old-smws-spirit-of-speyside-special-release-tawny-garibadli-speyside-single-malt-scotch-whisky-2024-70cl","title":"Balmenach 14 Year Old SMWS Spirit of Speyside Special Release Tawny Garibadli Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2024) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eBalmenach 14 Year Old SMWS Spirit of Speyside Special Release Tawny Garibadli Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2024) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 881 bottles made\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the best Balmenachs we have ever had! Refill \u0026amp; 1st Fill Bourbon \u0026amp; American Oak PX HHD\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe walked through the deep, dark forest, stepping over moss-covered tree roots and groups of wood mushrooms. As the wind whispered through the dense evergreens, the aroma of steamed raisin pudding with a tawny port wine sauce emerged. We followed our noses and found a little gingerbread house with vanilla-based frosting, supported by tonka beans, cinnamon sticks and garibaldi biscuits.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen we added a couple of drops of water the scent of chocolate-coated dark red cherries flirting with nougat ice cream and PX raisins dominated, while on the palate we enjoyed blueberries freshly picked from the woodland. Bottled for the 2024 Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Balmenach\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSituated in the district of Cromdale on the banks of the River Spey the distillery stands in beneath the nearby hill of Tom Lethendry where the Jacobites were defeated in the Battle of Cromdale in 1690.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBalmenach Distillery is one of the earliest distilleries sanctioned as a result of the Excise Act 1823. In 1897 the distillery was purchased by Glenlivet and was served by its own railway branch off the Strathspey Railway until 1969. The distillery closed in 1941 and re-opened in 1947, following expansion of its facilities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Distillery is owned by Inver House Distillers Limited, a privately owned distiller whose other distilleries include: Speyburn-Glenlivet Distillery; Knockdhu Distillery; Balblair Distillery; and, Old Pulteney Distillery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e49.8% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Balmenach","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54686700601669,"sku":"000606","price":149.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4806835037.jpg?v=1746545823"},{"product_id":"balmenach-16-year-old-2006-smws-single-bourbon-hogshead-oloroso-finish-48-160-ode-to-the-worm-tub-speyside-single-malt-whisky-2024-70cl","title":"Balmenach 16 Year Old 2006 SMWS Single Bourbon Hogshead Oloroso Finish 48.160 Ode To The Worm Tub Speyside Single Malt Whisky (2024) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eBalmenach 16 Year Old 2006 SMWS Single Bourbon Hogshead Oloroso Finish 48.160 Ode To The Worm Tub Speyside Single Malt Whisky (2024) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 274 bottles\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eTasting Notes \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003carticle\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe could tell straight away this was a heavier and oilier type of distillate. Lots of initial aromas of rapeseed oils, mechanical tool box rags, hessian cloth, olive oil and liquorice. Some dark fruit beers, black tea, red apple skins and dried cranberry. Water brought hints of wine must, lemon cough drops, myrtle, hawthorne and mustard power warmth. The palate maintained this sense of weight with notes of chopped dates, cinder toffee, aniseed sweets and heather honey cake. Also putty and waxiness. Water brought an elegant leathery note, along with plum wine, fir wood resins and more aniseed notes that included liquorice and some herbal liqueurs. Matured for 13 years in a bourbon hogshead before being transferred to a 1st fill American oak oloroso sherry hogshead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Balmenach\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSituated in the district of Cromdale on the banks of the River Spey the distillery stands in beneath the nearby hill of Tom Lethendry where the Jacobites were defeated in the Battle of Cromdale in 1690.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBalmenach Distillery is one of the earliest distilleries sanctioned as a result of the Excise Act 1823. In 1897 the distillery was purchased by Glenlivet and was served by its own railway branch off the Strathspey Railway until 1969. The distillery closed in 1941 and re-opened in 1947, following expansion of its facilities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Distillery is owned by Inver House Distillers Limited, a privately owned distiller whose other distilleries include: Speyburn-Glenlivet Distillery; Knockdhu Distillery; Balblair Distillery; and, Old Pulteney Distillery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/article\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e55.8% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Balmenach","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54686700634437,"sku":"000723","price":175.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4768899990.jpg?v=1746545827"},{"product_id":"balmenach-26-year-old-1988-smws-single-refill-bourbon-hogshead-48-49-herbal-enough-to-please-a-gerbil-speyside-single-malt-whisky-2014-70cl","title":"Balmenach 26 Year Old 1988 SMWS Single Refill Bourbon Hogshead 48.49 Herbal Enough To Please A Gerbil Speyside Single Malt Whisky  (2014) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eBalmenach 26 Year Old 1988 SMWS Single Refill Bourbon Hogshead 48.49 Herbal Enough To Please A Gerbil Speyside Single Malt Whisky (2014) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 241 Bottles bottled back in 2014\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe all love a bit of Balmenach as it gives us a punchier spirit that is like an older cousin of Glen Grant from the Speyside region. Balmenach is the bad influence child next to Glen Grant. Always a very satisfying drink with every dram. A dram full of interesting and quite complex flavours. This is more old and dignified of a dram with a designer bourbon cask taste. Just beyond delicious.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eAbout Balmenach\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSituated in the district of Cromdale on the banks of the River Spey the distillery stands in beneath the nearby hill of Tom Lethendry where the Jacobites were defeated in the Battle of Cromdale in 1690.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBalmenach Distillery is one of the earliest distilleries sanctioned as a result of the Excise Act 1823. In 1897 the distillery was purchased by Glenlivet and was served by its own railway branch off the Strathspey Railway until 1969. The distillery closed in 1941 and re-opened in 1947, following expansion of its facilities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Distillery is owned by Inver House Distillers Limited, a privately owned distiller whose other distilleries include: Speyburn-Glenlivet Distillery; Knockdhu Distillery; Balblair Distillery; and, Old Pulteney Distillery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e49.2% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Balmenach","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54686700765509,"sku":"000481","price":399.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4750982775.jpg?v=1746545830"},{"product_id":"ben-nevis-9-year-old-2013-smws-single-cask-78-64-mesmerising-allure-highland-single-malt-scotch-whisky-2022-70cl","title":"Ben Nevis 9 Year Old 2013 SMWS Single Cask 78.64 Mesmerising Allure Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2022) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eBen Nevis 9 Year Old 2013 SMWS Single Cask 78.64 Mesmerising Allure Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2022) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 457 bottles made.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe SMWS Independent Bottling company produces another belter with a Ben Nevis Single Cask at a mighty 67.2% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTasting Notes \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003carticle\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe nose promised rum and raisin ice cream, salted caramel, chocolate halva, syrup-drenched torrijas and cherry pipe tobacco – mesmerising and alluring. Intense dark sweetness flooded our mouths with custard tarts, dark chilli chocolate, orange marmalade, syrup of figs, dried dates and pomegranate molasses; the finish found charred oak, cardamom and cumin. On the reduced nose we identified muscovado in porridge, burnt jam tarts, dried fruit and nut mix, palo cortado and stables. Now the palate had candied orange peel, gingerbread, crème brûlée and an aftertaste of leather and cheroots. After four years in bourbon wood, this was transferred into a second fill oloroso butt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/article\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout Ben Nevis\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Ben Nevis 2005, a distinguished single malt Scotch whisky, marks a remarkable entry into the Private Cask Bottling series by the esteemed Ben Nevis Distillery. Distilled on the 26th of May, 2005, and bottled on the same date in 2023, this expression celebrates 18 years of meticulous aging in a hogshead cask, under the cask number 399. This specific bottling, crafted at a potent strength of 56.5% Vol. in a 700 ml bottle, is dedicated to David Downes Oaklee of Queensbury, Bradford, carrying the moniker \"The Water of Life\" on its label, a nod to the Gaelic roots of whisky. The choice of a hogshead cask for the aging process imbues this whisky with a distinctive character, offering a rich tapestry of flavors and aromas that resonate with the rugged beauty and storied history of the Ben Nevis distillery. The high alcohol content promises an intense and engaging tasting experience, showcasing the whisky's deep complexity and the refined craftsmanship that has gone into its creation. The Ben Nevis 2005 Private Cask Bottling stands as a testament to the art of whisky making, representing a unique collaboration between the distillery and an individual passion for whisky. It embodies a perfect blend of tradition and personal dedication, making it not just a remarkable whisky but also a piece of history, bottled to be savored and appreciated by those who understand the depth and nuances of single malt Scotch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e67.2% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ben Nevis","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54686710825285,"sku":"000460","price":139.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4734860296.jpg?v=1746546077"},{"product_id":"ben-nevis-9-year-old-2013-smws-single-cask-78-68-oldey-funkey-butte-highland-single-malt-scotch-whisky-2022-70cl","title":"Ben Nevis 9 Year Old 2013 SMWS Single Cask 78.68 Oldey Funkey Butte Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2022) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eBen Nevis 9 Year Old 2013 SMWS Single Cask 78.68 Oldey Funkey Butte Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2022) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 438 bottes produced\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne can never say that the SMWS do not produce from meaty bottlings from a tonne of distilleries. With establishments in various nations, they are one of the most respected bottlers\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTasting Notes \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003carticle\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe neat nose bristled with sherry influences that suggested tangy dark-fruit chutneys, brown sauce, bruised apples, ginger wine, orange peels, mulling spices and a sumptuous leathery richness. We also got plenty of freshly baked brown bread, treacle cake, tobacco and black miso. Reduction brought dark liquid seasonings, game-meat stocks, aged pinot noir, dried eucalyptus, orange oils and marzipan. The neat palate was superbly herbal and darkly earthy up front; robustly sooty and gamey impressions, with leather, bitter dark chocolate, herbal cough mixtures, salted Dutch liquorice and natural tar extracts. Water brought more gingery notes, crushed brazil nuts, black pepper, motor oils, damp pipe tobacco, walnut wine, paprika and fruity red chilli. Tars, aged armagnac and stewed dark fruits graced the aftertaste with a gorgeous rancio note.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Ben Nevis\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eBen Nevis distillery was built by \"Long\" John MacDonald in 1825, and was so popular by the end of the 19th century that at one point the estate employed over 200 people. After a series of closure and re-openings at the beginning of the 20th, it was eventually bought by former Canadian bootlegger, Joseph Hobbs. He installed a coffey still there in 1955, making Ben Nevis Scotland's first dual-operation distillery, and began to blend its malt and grain before filling it to cask. Sporadic closures again followed Hobb's death, with stability finally ensured in 1989 when it was bought by long-term customers, Nikka Whisky of Japan. Its turbulent history means there were few distillery bottlings until the launch of the 10 year old single malt in 1996, but casks had long been making their way to independent labels, and many of them are very highly praised.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/article\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e67.3% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ben Nevis","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54686710956357,"sku":"000461","price":135.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4734879677.jpg?v=1746546081"},{"product_id":"benriach-10-year-old-2010-smws-single-bourbon-ipa-2nd-fill-12-48-hoppy-madness-speyside-single-malt-scotch-whisky-2020-70cl","title":"BenRiach 10 Year Old 2010 SMWS Single Bourbon \u0026 IPA 2nd Fill 12.48 Hoppy Madness Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2020) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eBenRiach 10 Year Old 2010 SMWS Single Bourbon \u0026amp; IPA 2nd Fill 12.48 Hoppy Madness Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2020) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 239 bottles\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe SMWS are one of the most revered longstanding independent bottlers similar to Gordon \u0026amp; Macphail. SMWS run various member partner bars throughout the globe and are principally famous for their cask strength unwatered down offerings monthly. Once they are gone they are gone and we are fortunate enough to have some resurface from older days gone by.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe do not often see whisky in IPA Cask finishes aside from Chichibu and some others on the odd occasion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe purple profile suggests a sweeter fresh oak, mulled wine, spicy, balsamic strawberries and pale ale influences.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout BenRiach \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe BenRiach distillery is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery in the Speyside area of Scotland. It is currently owned by Brown-Forman Corporation after being purchased on 1 June 2016 as a subsidiary from the BenRiach Distillery Company Limited, formed by two South African funding partners, Geoff Bell and Wayne Keiswetter, and Scotch whisky expert Billy Walker. In 2008, the company expanded their portfolio with the acquisition of the Glendronach distillery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e59.5% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BenRiach","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54686712332613,"sku":"000492","price":189.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4757218720.jpg?v=1746546090"},{"product_id":"benriach-15-year-old-2008-smws-single-ex-bourbon-oloroso-hogshead-cask-12-83-an-enthralling-experience-speyside-single-malt-whisky-2024-70cl","title":"Benriach 15 Year Old 2008 SMWS Single Ex-Bourbon \u0026 Oloroso Hogshead Cask 12.83 An Enthralling Experience Speyside Single Malt Whisky (2024) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eBenriach 15 Year Old 2008 SMWS Single Ex-Bourbon \u0026amp; Oloroso Hogshead Cask 12.83 An Enthralling Experience Speyside Single Malt Whisky (2024) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 232 bottles produced\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003carticle\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eWow! We imagined flaming a Christmas pudding, honey-roasting pecan nuts and candied strawberries. On the palate, we baked a chocolate raspberry cake with layers of dark chocolate, silky chocolate buttercream and a raspberry filling with a chocolate raspberry ganache. To drink we had a perfect Manhattan of rye whiskey, sweet red vermouth and gentian-herb bitters, garnished with a candied maraschino cocktail cherry. With a drop of water, if you wish, we enjoyed a rice pudding served with a liberal dash of blackcurrant liqueur. To taste it was creamy, like a warm blueberry muffin or a walnut brownie. Following 12 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, we transferred this whisky into a first fill Spanish oak oloroso hogshead.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout BenRiach \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe BenRiach distillery is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery in the Speyside area of Scotland. It is currently owned by Brown-Forman Corporation after being purchased on 1 June 2016 as a subsidiary from the BenRiach Distillery Company Limited, formed by two South African funding partners, Geoff Bell and Wayne Keiswetter, and Scotch whisky expert Billy Walker. In 2008, the company expanded their portfolio with the acquisition of the Glendronach distillery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/article\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e57.5% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BenRiach","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54686712398149,"sku":"000403","price":159.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4707555756.jpg?v=1746546094"},{"product_id":"benriach-28-year-old-1991-smws-single-ex-sherry-butt-12-43-desire-lines-speyside-single-malt-scotch-whisky-2020-70cl","title":"BenRiach 28 Year Old 1991 SMWS Single Ex-Sherry Butt 12.43 Desire Lines Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2020) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eBenRiach 28 Year Old 1991 SMWS Single Ex-Sherry Butt 12.43 Desire Lines Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2020) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 387 bottles\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eScotch Malt Whisky Society\u003c\/em\u003e was founded in Edinburgh in 1983 by Phillip 'Pip' Hills who, while travelling around Scotland in the 1970s, fell in love with whiskies drawn straight from the cask. After he expanded his syndicate the Society was purchased by Glenmorangie PLC in 2004. In 2015, the Society was sold back to private investors. In June 2021, the private owners floated the holding company The Artisanal Spirits Company plc on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt has a unique code system where the first number refers to the distillery and the second refers to the cask from which the bottle comes. SMWS also offers the largest range of distilleries of any independent bottler. These curiously named drams really do have something for every whisky lover!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe SMWS are one of the Britain's most revered independent bottlers with a worldwide network of partner bars with one mission of getting as much whisky at natural cask strength without water to different nations including USA, Canada, Switzerland, UK, Austria, Germany and many others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese older labels from the first runs are mostly with distillation methods that include direct heat which was replaced with steam for many distilleries for environmental reasons changing the taste of whisky forever. It'll get real interesting when nuclear fusion is used to distil whisky. We might glow green for a few weeks after we drink the stuff. Who knows.... but all we know is that the old stuff has a musky taste that is VERY welcomed by people nowadays trying to time travel through whisky's past.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eTasting Notes \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003carticle\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eSalted caramel chocolate at first, then greengage, cocoa, aged sweet Chenin from the Loire and madeira sponge cake. A dram that induces hushed silence. It continues with melon liqueur, raspberry cordial, muesli, spiced dark fruits, rum cocktails, gingerbread and figs in syrup. A rather humbling complexity. Reduction brings savoury umami, dense chocolate, black pepper warmth, nutty, meaty and bready qualities. Leaf mulch, aged cigars, red chilli and leathery game meats. The mouth upheld this dazzling complexity with brown bread smothered in treacle, caramelising brown sugar, toffee apples, cider brands, blackcurrant cordial, bread pudding, sugary black tea and bitter marmalade. Water brought aged calvados, old white balsamic, endless dark fruits, wintergreen, cough sweets, dried marjoram and a kind of herb-tinged sooty waxiness. Sublimely complex and mesmerising.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eAbout Benriach\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn a similar vein to its immediate neighbours (Glen Elgin and Longmorn), fruit is at the heart of the Benriach character, here manifesting itself as pears and peaches with an added aromatic top note.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVibrant when young, it matures well – especially in refill casks where fruits take on a more tropical edge and extra spiciness steadily develops.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the latter years of the Seagram era, Benriach produced a smoky distillate for blending purposes. The enthusiastic reaction to this style when its new owner bottled examples means a peated season takes place every year. A wide range of finishes – of both styles – is also available. Many of the bottlings have been given Latin names and the brand name has been rewritten as BenRiach.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe distillery is currently operated by Jack Daniel’s producer, Brown-Forman.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e‘The best laid schemes o’mice and men gang aft a-gley’\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRobert Burns could well have been writing about John Duff [builder of Glenlossie and Longmorn] and his intention to establish a whisky-making fiefdom close to Elgin. His Longmorn distillery had been built in 1893, and having achieved early success he decided what was needed was another plant next door. In 1897, he built Benriach. Sadly, his timing could not have been worse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Pattison crash of 1899, coupled with a downturn in the domestic market, saw a huge number of distilleries (many of which had only just opened) close down. Benriach was once of those, only running for two years before languishing in silence for the next 65, during which its large malting facility was used to supply Longmorn’s requirements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe upturn in whisky’s fortunes in the 1960s saw Benriach run from 1965 onwards. A single malt was bottled in 1995 as part of then owner Seagram’s version of UDV’s Classic Malts, but volumes were limited and its reputation was not particularly high. As a result, most malt whisky drinkers dismissed it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen Pernod Ricard took over Seagram’s whisky division in 2001 Benriach was closed once again, but bought in 2003 by Billy Walker, the former production director of Burn Stewart, and two South African entrepreneurs (an ironic echo of Duff’s attempts to establish whisky production in that country in the late 19th century). The BenRiach Distilling Co. now owns Benriach itself, Glendronach (where, incidentally, John Duff was once manager) and Glenglassaugh.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a former blender, Billy Walker had insight into the true quality of Benriach. A selective series of bottlings, mixing old (from Seagram days), very young (from their ownership) and peated (from both) proved an eye-opener to malt drinkers. It has rapidly become a strong performer on the global market. Today it is back in full production and in 2013 the floor maltings reopened.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe distillery was picked up by Brown-Forman, one of the largest US wine and spirits producers, in 2016 along with the Louisville-based company’s acquisition of the entire BenRiach Company.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e54.8% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/article\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"BenRiach","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54686712660293,"sku":"000726","price":489.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4842336951.jpg?v=1746546101"},{"product_id":"benrinnes-17-year-old-2006-smws-single-cask-36-217-heaven-and-earth-speyside-single-malt-scotch-whisky-2024-70cl","title":"Benrinnes 17 Year Old 2006 SMWS Single Cask 36.217 Heaven And Earth Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2024) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eBenrinnes 17 Year Old 2006 SMWS Single Cask 36.217 Heaven And Earth Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2024) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 518 bottles produced\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTasting Notes \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003carticle\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe aroma sent us into orbit with green asteroid belts (fizzy apple laces), strawberry stars and heavenly chantilly cream. The taste then brought us back to earth with classic chelsea buns, cinnamon candied almonds and hot spiced mulled cider. After reduction we made rose cardamom burfi and pongal (Sri Lanka's version of rice pudding made with jaggery). On the palate, we tucked into lavender honey ice cream, pecan pie with maple cream and, in the finish, a ruby red grapefruit marmalade. The starting point for this small batch was two bourbon hogsheads of single malt Scotch whisky. Both casks were transferred at 13 years old to first fill American oak PX hogsheads. The casks were then married together before bottling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAbout Benrinnes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLocated on the lower slopes of Speyside’s sentinel mountain, ‘The Ben’ is another of those intriguing distilleries which produces a highly individual make but which – due to its demand by blenders – has never become a front-line single malt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt has six stills which are run in two pairs of three. For years a form of partial triple distillation was utilised to help promote a meaty\/sulphury new make character. The low wines from the first distillation were split into strong and weak feints. The lower-strength portion was redistilled in the middle still and split into two again, with the stronger part [strong feints] being carried forward, the weaker being retained for the next charge. The strong feints were then mixed with the highest strength distillate from the wash still and redistilled in the spirit still.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEverything is run through worm tubs which are kept very cold, adding weight and meatiness to the spirit. In recent years, this complex distillation has been simplified.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOccasionally seen as an independent bottling, the clearest manifestation of its meaty quality (which puts it in a similar stylistic camp as Dailuaine, Mortlach and Cragganmore) is Diageo’s Flora and Fauna bottling which comes from 100% ex-Sherry matured whisky.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe current site of the Benrinnes distillery is in fact its second location. The original was built in 1826 by Peter MacKenzie but was destroyed in a flood in 1829. A new site was then found by John Innes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts most famous owner was Alexander Edward who was a partner in Craigellachie distillery, owned Aultmore, Dallas Dhu and was for a time co-owner of Oban [see Craigellachie]. The Edward family sold the distillery (which had caught fire in 1896) to John Dewar in 1922. It is now part of the Diageo stable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e59.2% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/article\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Benrinnes","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54686714593605,"sku":"000449","price":189.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4718367614.jpg?v=1746546126"},{"product_id":"blair-athol-11-year-old-1985-smws-single-cask-68-5-highland-single-malt-scotch-whisky-1996-70cl","title":"Blair Athol 11 Year Old 1985 SMWS Single Cask 68.5 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (1996) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eBlair Athol 11 Year Old 1985 SMWS Single Cask 68.5 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (1996) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 5th cask of Blair Athol that the SMWS had bottled for their society.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is such a delight to see some of the really early editions of the SMWS single cask bottlings. Even better to drink them!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society was founded in Edinburgh in 1983 by Phillip 'Pip' Hills who, while travelling around Scotland in the 1970s, fell in love with whiskies drawn straight from the cask. After he expanded his syndicate the Society was purchased by Glenmorangie PLC in 2004. In 2015, the Society was sold back to private investors. In June 2021, the private owners floated the holding company The Artisanal Spirits Company plc on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt has a unique code system where the first number refers to the distillery and the second refers to the cask from which the bottle comes. SMWS also offers the largest range of distilleries of any independent bottler. These curiously named drams really do have something for every whisky lover!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe SMWS are one of the Britain's most revered independent bottlers with a worldwide network of partner bars with one mission of getting as much whisky at natural cask strength without water to different nations including USA, Canada, Switzerland, UK, Austria, Germany and many others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese older labels from the first runs are mostly with distillation methods that include direct heat which was replaced with steam for many distilleries for environmental reasons changing the taste of whisky forever. It'll get real interesting when nuclear fusion is used to distil whisky. We might glow green for a few weeks after we drink the stuff. Who knows.... but all we know is that the old stuff has a musky taste that is VERY welcomed by people nowadays trying to time travel through whisky's past.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Blair Athol\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA member of the ‘nutty-spicy’ camp which defined the old Bell’s distilleries, Blair Athol takes the first part of the descriptor to its boldest expression.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCloudy worts and a short fermentation time give the nutty base, but it is distillation which adds real weight to the distillate. A controlled level of solids coming across in the wash still add a rich, deep, malt-loaf character to the new make. It is this character which allows it to show so well in ex-Sherry, although for blending purposes the majority of the make is destined for ex-Bourbon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe central Perthshire town of Pitlochry sits on the banks of the River Tay and has had a distillery since 1798, making its plant one of the oldest legal whisky-making sites in Scotland. The original distillery was named Aldour after the burn which supplied it with process water, but changed its name to Blair Athol [after a village seven miles to the north] in 1825. This could conceivably have been to sweeten the Duke of Athol who owned the land\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt became part of the Peter Mackenzie blending house in 1886, but like many distilleries suffered during the economic troubles of the 1930s and fell silent between 1932 and 1949. In the interim period however Mackenzie (and its estate, which also included Dufftown distillery) had been bought by Perth-based blender, Arthur Bell \u0026amp; Sons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy the 1970s, Bell’s was being built into the UK’s top-selling blended Scotch and, as a result, Blair Athol was doubled in capacity. Guinness (which bought Bell’s in 1985, and after further mergers evolved into Diageo) opened a visitor’s centre in 1987.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn an attempt to tap into the then infant single malt market, Bell’s bottled it as an eight-year-old in the 1980s, but in the Diageo era it has only appeared as a member of the Flora \u0026amp; Fauna range (at 12 years of age), matured in first-fill ex-Sherry casks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e61.8% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Blair Athol","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54686719148357,"sku":"000678","price":599.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4832698949.jpg?v=1746546265"},{"product_id":"blair-athol-15-year-old-smws-single-cask-68-122-a-cafe-in-jerez-70cl","title":"Blair Athol 15 Year Old SMWS Single Cask 68.122 A Cafe in Jerez Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eBlair Athol 15 Year Old SMWS Single Cask 68.122 A Cafe in Jerez 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the highest rated Blair Athol's being a 1st fill PX Barrique. The sherry coats the mouth instantaneously and the dryness that ensues is legendary.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of our favourite drams here at Whisky Situation also. This one does not disappoint.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDistilled: 18\/08\/2008\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCask Type: 1st Fill Ex PX Barrique\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTasting Notes \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003carticle\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe nose evoked a café in Jerez; chilled dulce sherry and coffee, polished wood tables, mantecados and polverónes, salted almonds, raisins, dried figs and jamon serrano. The palate was robust but balanced – dark toffee, muscovado, candied orange in dark chocolate and raspberry sauce over vanilla ice cream weighing in against old oak and cigarillos. The reduced nose encountered gingerbread, molasses, coffee grounds and nutty aromas (with the wind in from Africa). The palate now included red fruits, medjool dates, salty black olives, sweet wine and a spicy finish of nutmeg and clove. We transferred this whisky into a first fill, ex-bodega PX barrique after 11 years in ex-bourbon wood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eAbout Blair Athol\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA member of the ‘nutty-spicy’ camp which defined the old Bell’s distilleries, Blair Athol takes the first part of the descriptor to its boldest expression.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCloudy worts and a short fermentation time give the nutty base, but it is distillation which adds real weight to the distillate. A controlled level of solids coming across in the wash still add a rich, deep, malt-loaf character to the new make. It is this character which allows it to show so well in ex-Sherry, although for blending purposes the majority of the make is destined for ex-Bourbon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe central Perthshire town of Pitlochry sits on the banks of the River Tay and has had a distillery since 1798, making its plant one of the oldest legal whisky-making sites in Scotland. The original distillery was named Aldour after the burn which supplied it with process water, but changed its name to Blair Athol [after a village seven miles to the north] in 1825. This could conceivably have been to sweeten the Duke of Athol who owned the land\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt became part of the Peter Mackenzie blending house in 1886, but like many distilleries suffered during the economic troubles of the 1930s and fell silent between 1932 and 1949. In the interim period however Mackenzie (and its estate, which also included Dufftown distillery) had been bought by Perth-based blender, Arthur Bell \u0026amp; Sons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy the 1970s, Bell’s was being built into the UK’s top-selling blended Scotch and, as a result, Blair Athol was doubled in capacity. Guinness (which bought Bell’s in 1985, and after further mergers evolved into Diageo) opened a visitor’s centre in 1987.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn an attempt to tap into the then infant single malt market, Bell’s bottled it as an eight-year-old in the 1980s, but in the Diageo era it has only appeared as a member of the Flora \u0026amp; Fauna range (at 12 years of age), matured in first-fill ex-Sherry casks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout SMWS \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. 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That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e59.8% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/article\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Blair Athol","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54686719344965,"sku":"000009","price":169.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4397166554.jpg?v=1746546279"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/collections\/download_27afed1b-8456-499c-8e7d-4453ecc2330c.jpg?v=1747512228","url":"https:\/\/b1yyjg-bk.myshopify.com\/collections\/smws.oembed?page=5","provider":"Whisky Situation Old","version":"1.0","type":"link"}