SMWS 1.305 ANEW LAND FOR SHERRY SCEPTICS

Tasting Notes

SMWS Tasting Panel's tasting note:  "This spent eight years in ex-bourbon wood before being transferred into a first fill Spanish oak oloroso-seasoned hogshead; the light sherry influence has produced a complex dram. The nose offered heather honey, maple candies, pomegranate molasses and strawberry compote, then autumn leaves, pine forests, old wardrobes and nutmeg. On the palate, candied almonds, sticky toffee pudding and crème caramel sweetness were balanced by tangy, floral notes (one Panellist found themself in a blackcurrant bush), with spiced prunes to finish. 

The reduced nose brought chocolate gingers, walnuts, dates and sherry trifle, while the palate acquired coltsfoot rock, cinnamon buns, lemon drizzle cake and liquorice allsorts eaten in a florist’s."

Independent Bottler

As a Scotch Malt Whisky Society member, you will join over 40,000 other members around the world who, like our whiskies, are altogether unique. Only members can purchase SMWS whiskies (please note we are not a Scotch-of-the-Month club); you'll join a family of whisky adventurers who appreciate that their whisky discoveries taste better when shared.

SMWS Canada offers a wide variety of whiskies, and sometimes other spirits, every month.  Our exclusive retail partners, including Kensington Wine Market, host tastings of our new releases every month, and members get advance notice and a discount on the ticket price.

Also available exclusively to members is Unfiltered, our award-winning online magazine that is guaranteed to provide you with fascinating insights into The Society and its events, and the world of single malt whisky.

Members also gain access to Members' Rooms in Edinburgh, Leith, London and elsewhere, and receive a discount at SMWS Partner Bars around the world.

A Club With Personality - Who Are We?

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is a club unlike any other. Since we were formed in 1983, we've believed in doing things differently. We seek out whisky in its purest form, we prize flavour above everything else, and we're united and constant in our passion - to share the world's best whiskies, to bring them to life, and to make you proud to belong to the world's most colourful whisky club.

Our Beginnings

"The people who said it couldn't be done were so dull" - Pip Hills, Society Founder

Our Society grew out of a few individuals' irrepressible spirit of discovery and adventure, which still drives us today. Inspired by the unique character of a cask of single malt whisky, purchased over 40 years ago from a Speyside distillery, this pioneering group of friends founded the Society in 1983 to buy more casks and share their discovery with like-minded adventurers.

The Canada Chapter of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society began its journey in October 2011. Kensington Wine Market is proud to have been its first retail partner, and continues to be the largest provider of SMWS bottles in Canada.

What We Do

Each of our whiskies must pass the uncompromising noses of our expert Tasting Panel – a secretive group of independent whisky connoisseurs from all walks of life – before being deemed worthy of an iconic Society green bottle. The exploration of flavour and sharing our discoveries is what we're all about. Our members enjoy exclusive access to our hand-picked whiskies from over 140 distilleries in Scotland and beyond. We bottle them at cask strength and offer a constant variety. How you drink them is entirely up to you.

You can find more information on the SMWS here

Browse Kensington Wine Market's current selection of SMWS bottles here