SMWS Archives - Whisky a Day

Whisky #597: SMWS 44.143 Good Traditional Fare

January 8, 2023 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

SMWS 44.143 Good Traditional Fare. 17 year old cask strength, single cask bottling from Craigellachie distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 57.0%. Tasted at Whisky a Day HQ, $260 (bottle).

Colour: Electric amber.

Nose: Initial nose prickle, then quickly giving away to caramelised balsamic, blueberries and sweet BBQ beef jerky.

Palate: Heavy, chewy and rich. Dried muscatels, smoked honey, rich raspberry jam and salted caramel macarons. Sweet cigar box & saxophone reed woody notes.

Finish: A drying finish, with a long-lingering warmth on the front half of the palate.

Comments: It’s a delightfully intense and chewy dram. A meaty and oily mouthfeel, but then a drying finish. The contrasting flavours and sensations perhaps reflect the double cask maturation, initially in an ex bourbon hogshead, then finished in 1st fill ex Olorosso sherry barrique. I can’t help but wonder if the bold, meaty, and oily flavours and mouthfeel are driven to a large extent by Craigellachie’s worm tub condensers, which are nowadays somewhat of an outlier compared to most distilleries with shell & tube condensers.

A definite departure from the typically grassier, lighter notes of Craigellachie’s original bottlings, but damn it’s a tasty drop. Worth every penny.

Whisky #594: SMWS 66.120 Bacon Butty

February 8, 2022 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

SMWS 66.120 Bacon Butty. 11 year old cask strength, single cask bottling from Ardmore distillery. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 58.3%. Tasted at Whisky a Day HQ, $180 (bottle).

Colour: Pale straw.

Nose: Raspberries dusted with icing sugar. Sticky BBQ pork ribs, fresh sawdust and a hint of wood smoke.

Palate: Charred meat, caramel fudge and blueberries. Chargrilled lamb chops and rendered fat off a juicy sirloin steak.

Finish: A lingering wood smoke finish, as compared to the more medicinal and maritime peaty notes from Islay peated whiskies. A slight briney twist. Medium intensity but it lingers long in the front palate.

Comments: A bacon butty is a very British thing, not so common out here in Australia. But I can definitely see where the tasting committee was going with this and can almost imagine what one would taste like…as I’m not sure I’ve ever had the privilege of tasting one!

Whisky #591: SMWS 59.59 Spock’s Earwax

January 10, 2022 by Whisky a Day 2 Comments

SMWS 59.59 Spock’s Earwax. 10 year old cask strength, single cask bottling from Teaninich distillery. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 55.2%. Tasted at Whisky a Day HQ, $170 (bottle).

Colour: Electric gold.

Nose: A slight nose prickle; aromas of honey, freshly baked biscuits and pineapple chunks.

Palate: Pleasingly, it tastes nothing like wax (earwax, Spock’s earwax or any other kind). Spicy and somewhat dry mouthfeel, almost chalky. Dried orange slices, mandarins, cracked pepper and lemon zest.

Finish: Spicy; white pepper, Chinese five spice and a salty tang. Medium length.

Comments: It’s a deliciously different prickly citrus adventure.

Whisky #589: SMWS 46.72 Jungle Slippers

November 16, 2021 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

SMWS 46.72 Jungle Slippers. 25 year old cask strength, single cask bottling from Glenlossie distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 53.8%. Tasted at Whisky a Day HQ, $399 (bottle).

Colour: Cool gold.

Nose: It’s a subtle nose, quite delicate. Lemon madeleines and caramelised pineapple cooked on the bbq.

Palate: Earthy and zesty. Gremolata, orange marmalade on hot buttered toast, and passionfruit pulp.

Finish: Soft cigar box, dark chocolate and vanilla sponge cake. Medium length, with a gentle salty warmth. A lemon sherbet fizz in the fade.

Comments: An outstanding drop, absolutely faultless. Multi faceted and utterly delicious, you could keep unpacking this one for ages but it’s probably best to not overthink it and just sit back, sip and enjoy.

Whisky #586: SMWS 82.32 Boozy Cherry Cake

October 29, 2021 by Whisky a Day 1 Comment

SMWS 82.32 Boozy Cherry Cake. 8 year old cask strength, single cask bottling from Glencadam Distillery. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 63.0%. Tasted at Whisky a Day HQ, $190 (bottle).

Colour: Deep golden honey.

Nose: A gentle nose prickle, then soft strawberry jam, stewed cherries and oak notes with a faint whiff of a cigar box (it’s been empty for a long time).

Palate: Juicy sultanas, blackcurrant pastilles and white pepper on the front palate. Glacé cherries and fruit cake flavours, but with a drying mouthfeel. It’s more panettone than moist Christmas cake.

Finish: Spicy and dry. A lingering warming buzz coats the mouth. Honey and chilli heat, nicely balanced though.

Comments: Christmas cake and spicy dry cigars…now that’s a combo I can get behind as we head into the festive season.

Whisky #583: SMWS 7.234 Appealing Apricot Jamboree

October 5, 2021 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

SMWS 7.234 Appealing Apricot Jamboree. 8 year old cask strength single cask release from Longmorn Distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 57.5%. Tasted at Whisky a Day HQ, $149 (bottle).

Colour: Glistening pale gold.

Nose: Gentle but layered. Lemon cream tarts, strawberry fairy floss and tropical fruit salad.

Palate: Creamy honeycomb cake, banana bread and smooshed slightly overripe bananas.

Finish: Pineapple jubes with a salty fade.

Comments: It’s not often that you get to drink a whisky with your photo on the bottle, but here we are. A special release for the Australian SMWS branch to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Australian Malt Whisky Tasting Championships, with the photo in question being from the last edition of the champs. Whisky a Day was front & centre, but alas did not take home the chocolates.

Exceedingly easy to drink, the first bottle of this managed to mysteriously evaporate before it had been reviewed! Fresh, zesty and uplifting, this is a perfect springtime whisky.

Whisky #577: SMWS 50.108 Darkness of the edge of brown

July 20, 2021 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Whisky #577: SMWS 50.108 Darkness of the edge of brown. 28 year old single cask, cask strength SMWS bottling of Bladnoch Distillery. Lowlands, Scotland. ABV: 56.6%. Tasted at Whisky a Day HQ, $499 (bottle).

It’s been a while between drinks, but we’re back. FINALLY. I think we can all agree that the last 18 months has been (and continues to be) a rather unwelcome punch to the nuts. Covid has impacted us all in different ways, which is one of the reasons for my hiatus between reviews. Let’s get back into it!

Colour: Shimmering gold.

Nose: Moist lemon friand dusted with icing sugar. Maple bacon. Cigar boxes, saxophone reeds and dusty bookshelves. Time in the glass brings brown sugar melting atop a hot bowl of porridge.

Palate: Banana syrup, pineapple jubes. Honey drizzled on hot pan-fried halloumi.

Finish: The finish is so long and gentle, it’s actually got two finishes. Gentle black pepper and honey on the front of the palate for the initial finish; then a tangy, salty slightly woody twist for the second.

Comments: Absolutely sublime. This was 1 of only 95 bottles yielded from the single cask, so to have the privilege of enjoying such rare whisky is quite special.

It’s a very contemplative dram. I bought this special SMWS Bladnoch whisky last year as a present to myself to celebrate purchasing my first home. A month later, covid hit and like so many people I was out of a job. Farrrrrrk! Faced with a huge new mortgage and suddenly with no job during lockdown, I decided the only way forward was to grab life by the scruff of the neck. Within a week I had set up my own Human Factors consulting firm…and Distilled Consulting was born.

A bit over a year later, Distilled Consulting is going strong. Starting up a new business and making it through the first 12 months is always hard going – just ask any founder. To have started an exciting new Human Factors consultancy in the middle of a global pandemic and not just survived, but thrived – is something that I am incredibly proud of. Time for a well deserved Distilled beverage to celebrate!

Every sip of this whisky was not just a celebration of buying my own home, but it has reminded me of the struggle and satisfaction at overcoming adversity. It’s been a very special drop to me.

Whiskies #575 & #576: SMWS Strathisla Showdown

July 21, 2020 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Whisky #575: SMWS 58.30 Fresh and Invigorating. 8 year old single cask, cask strength SMWS bottling of Strathisla Distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 60.9%. Tasted at Whisky a Day HQ, $160 (bottle).

Two single cask, cask strength, whiskies from Strathisla, SMWS distillery number 58.

Colour: Bright gold.

Nose: Lemon sponge cake and strawberry fairy floss. Freshly snapped grass strands and tennis balls. Surprisingly light on the alcohol at first, then a slight drying nose prickle.

Palate: Tangy grilled pineapple rings and zesty lemon sherbet lollies. Caramelised brown sugar notes too.

Finish: Huskier than a pack of sled dogs…malt husks and toasted grains abound.

Whisky #576: SMWS 58.33 Sweet and Juicy – Dry Finish. 11 year old single cask, cask strength SMWS bottling of Strathisla Distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 59.7%. Tasted at Whisky a Day HQ, $175 (bottle).

Colour: Almost identical to the other Strathisla above – bright gold.

Nose: Dried raspberries and maraschino cherries.

Palate: Like taking a bite into a fresh slice of Black Forest cake…chocolate, cherries, creamy moist mouthfeel.

Finish: A tangy salty combo to finish, with subtle herby notes. One of my go-to dishes to cook when I have a group of friends over is a fennel-encrusted pork belly…the finish to this is like you’ve taken a bite of that and you’ve got a mixture of the fennel infused salt flakes on your tongue and you crush them up to the roof of your mouth to dissolve…dammit I’m hungry now!

Overall comments: Two SMWS Strathisla whiskies, two quite different siblings. The SMWS 58.33 Sweet and Juicy – Dry Finish is a whisky of two halves; both satisfying in their own way but a little Jekyll and Hyde. The sweet creamy fruit-driven flavours to start that yield to delicious salty, savoury flavours in the finish.

The pick for me though is clearly the SMWS 58.30 Fresh and Invigorating, it’s just a little more connected as you experience the full tasting. A symphony that feels like each of the movements is connected and flows effortlessly from one to the next.

Whisky #571: SMWS 123.26 Blossom Falling Onto Sponge Cake

June 12, 2020 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

by SMWS 123.26 Blossom Falling Onto Sponge Cake. 9 year old single cask, cask strength SMWS bottling of Glengoyne Distillery. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 61.2%. Tasted at Whisky a Day HQ, $167 (bottle).

Following my last review of Whisky #570 Glengoyne The Legacy Series Chapter One Single Malt, I realised there were a few more Glengoyne bottles kicking around at Whisky a Day HQ. This one is an independent bottling from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS), enjoy.

Colour: Sparkling gold.

Nose: Creaming soda & candy canes.

Palate: There’s lots of sugary treats here. Soft Turkish delight jelly (the rosewater kind), whipped cream frosting atop a freshly baked vanilla sponge cake. Creamed honey that feels like it’s oozing it’s way across your taste buds.

Finish: Creamy oak & vanilla ice cream flavours, with a long gentle warmth that slowly fades…but unexpectedly fading first from the middle of the palate to eventually the tip of your tongue.

Comments: The SMWS tasting committee really nailed the name on this one! Stunningly easy to drink. A masterful expression of Glengoyne from the SMWS.

Whisky #568: SMWS 123.25 Joyful Impressions of Spring

May 13, 2020 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

SMWS 123.25 Joyful Impressions of Spring. 9 year old single cask, cask strength SMWS bottling of Glengoyne Distillery. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 62.1%. Tasted at Whisky a Day HQ, $175 (bottle).

Life is all about balance…

Colour: Hazy gold.

Nose: It’s all freshly baked confected sweetness – popcorn, light creamy sponge cake fresh out of the oven, zesty lemon and banana Paddle Pop ice-cream. All whilst you’re walking through the Aussie bush and you get a whiff of some snapped lantana branches.

Palate: Salty, sweet, creamy butter, the lemony zest of gremolata…this bounces around the mouth and ticks all the boxes. Full mouthfeel and absolutely nails the savoury/sweet balance.

Finish: A lingering prickle and warmth around the mouth, with a lemon sherbet kick at the end.

Comments: They say coronavirus isolation has led to people reassessing things and wanting more balance in life. At Whisky a Day we’d say this SMWS 123.25 Joyful Impressions of Spring from Glengoyne is perfectly…balanced!

Fresh and invigorating, it’s a fantastic drop. Highly recommended if you can get your hands on one of only 222 bottles that were produced.

Whisky #559: SMWS 68.18 Triple berry Lamington cake

December 2, 2019 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

SMWS 68.18 Triple berry Lamington cake. 7 year old single cask, cask strength SMWS exclusive bottling of Blair Athol Distillery for Whisky & Alement, Melbourne. ABV: 58.3%. Highlands, Scotland. Tasted at Whisky a Day HQ, $169 (bottle).

After an extended break, Whisky a Day is back! Life has a habit of getting in the way sometimes…new job, new apartment, trying to buy a new house, new girlfriend, competing in powerlifting and sailing events…it’s been a busy time recently! But whisky got me through 😉

Let’s get back into the swing of things with a stunning whisky from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS), one that was an exclusive bottling for one of Australia’s top whisky bars, Whisky & Alement in Melbourne.

Colour: Pinkish bronze.

Nose: Sweet and savoury all at once…fresh muffins and cakes baking in the oven, followed by a balsamic glaze drizzled over roasted beef. And then the heat and smell of walking into a woodwork shop – sawdust and wood shavings.

Palate: It really is jammy; tart raspberry at first, then it softens and sweetens into more of a strawberry jam on buttered white toast.

Finish: Long satisfying goosebumps on the tip of your tongue, like you’ve just kissed someone for the first time that you’ve fancied for a long time.

Comments: Maybe I’m just hungry, but this one is very food-like. I deliberately did not look at the SMWS tasting notes for this one, but the name made it hard not to let your mind be drawn to food. Lamingtons and jam are most definitely in liquid form here, a stunning drop.

Whisky #556: SMWS 93.92 Fruit Pie in a Cleaning Cupboard

August 7, 2019 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

SMWS 93.92 Fruit Pie in a Cleaning Cupboard. 12 year old single cask, cask strength SMWS bottling from Glen Scotia Distillery. Campbeltown, Scotland. ABV: 57.7%. Tasted at Whisky a Day HQ, $195 (bottle).

Colour: Polished gold.

Nose: Hessian sacks, sea salt and that smell of snapping half dead twigs from a tree.

Palate: Salty flavours front the band here, ably supported by backup singers creme brûlée, overcooked toast, dark chocolate and espresso crema.

Finish: Like a salted Werther’s Original caramel candy. I don’t even think Werther’s make a salted caramel candy, but if they did this would be what it tasted like as the last piece melts on your tongue.

Comments: I’ve never tasted a fruit pie in a cleaning cupboard, but if I had I would have expected something sweeter on the palate along with a more pungent ammonia-like hit on the nose. This dram has neither of those things, which is absolutely fine with me.

Whiskies #541-544: The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Festive STEPS Whisky Party

November 30, 2018 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

by Whiskies #541-544: The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Festive STEPS Whisky Party.

It was always going to be a tough ask: 7 single cask, cask strength whiskies from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) in the space of one glorious evening at the Royal Automobile Club in Sydney. The whisky equivalent of a rain-affected T20 cricket match where you’re suddenly chasing 273 runs in just 13 overs…

Time to strap on the pads, head to the nets and face a bit of chin music to prepare for the cask strength onslaught that awaits. A cheeky Starward Old Fashioned cocktail upon arrival to get the eye in and then it’s time to adjust the box, head out to the middle and start swinging (read: swigging) for the boundary rope!

Whisky #541: SMWS 6.27 Sucking on a Cough Sweet. 10 year old Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottling from Glen Deveron (Macduff distillery). Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 59.0%.

Colour: Pale straw like a third morning Test pitch.

Nose: Sweat-stained leather, freshly snapped twigs off a small tree.

Palate: Tangy orange peel and white pepper

Finish: Salty and dry; some lemon hard-boiled lollies.

Comments: A good opener to see the shine off the new ball, but not too many juicy deliveries.

Whisky #542: SMWS 2.109 Let the Good Times Roll. 11 year old Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottling from Glenlivet distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 62.4%.

Colour: Like looking into a glass of Riesling. If you’re not a Riesling drinker…yes I am aware of the irony of describing one unfamiliar drink with another. Sorry about that.

Nose: A handful of sawdust rubbed into the popping crease at the drinks break. Freshly cut grass, rising humidity as the dew evaporates off the outfield in the morning sun.

Palate: Toasted oak, preserved lemon and freshly toasted white bread smothered in butter. Creamed that one for six – nailed the tasting note with my last sip!

Finish: A lovely long zesty tingle on the from my palate.

Comments: Raise the bat and acknowledge the applause, a fine partnership from Glenlivet and the SMWS.

Whisky #543: SMWS 9.148 Mustard, Custard and Musk. 21 year old Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottling from Glen Grant distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 60.4%.

Colour: Rose gold.

Nose: Floral perfume and an old cigar box. Clarinet reeds…yes I used to play the clarinet in my younger days…

Palate: Like chewing into a salty wagyu sirloin steak with plenty of jus. The warmth gently builds like the midday sun building the heat rising off the pitch.

Finish: Tangy, with black pepper. Dry woody notes to finish, like a paddlepop stick on your tongue. Open up and say ahhhh…

Whisky #544: SMWS 73.104 Happy Hobnobbing Moments. 16 year old Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottling from Aultmore distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 55.6%.

Colour: Unpolished brass.

Nose: An old leather belt; ripping open a packet of juicy sultanas. Fruitcake baking in an oven. Butter caramel notes.

Palate: …it was at this point that the required run rate started getting steep and I decided to declare this innings of cricket analogies over. Time to simply enjoy the remaining whiskies of the night without putting pressure on myself to deconstruct every joyous drop.

Comments: Trying to analyse every whisky at an event where you’re meant to be simply relaxing and enjoying some new whiskies isn’t all that festive or sociable! There were some amazing SMWS drams on offer and it was time to chill out and share a yarn with some familiar faces. Another cracking SMWS event as always, many thanks to Suzy, Matt and all the other SMWS ambassadors for putting together a great night!

Whisky #539: SMWS 4.244 Welcoming an Old Sea Dog

October 3, 2018 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

by SMWS 4.244 Welcoming an Old Sea Dog. 13 year old single cask, cask strength SMWS bottling from Highland Park Distillery. Orkney Islands, Scotland. ABV: 57.6%. Tasted at Whisky a Day HQ, $185 (bottle).

When you’ve been on a fitness retreat for two weeks and you’re thirstier than a pirate at an open bar, you’d better make your first whisky an absolute banger. A cask strength, single cask Highland Park offering from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) ought to do it!

Colour: Lustrous pale gold.

Nose: Like tearing open a tin of smoked mussels. Hessian sacks soaked in seawater and left out on the jetty in the rain.

Palate: Salty edamame beans, citrus salty crystals. I’m not even sure that’s a thing, but it’s the best way to describe it. The whisky just crackles and pops in your mouth with a salty lemon tang.

Finish: A long salty woody tang. Like sucking for just a second too long on some wooden chopsticks after you’ve had a takeaway Chinese meal with just a little too much MSG. You just can’t help but want to come back and enjoy every last ounce of that rich salty zest.

Comments: I’ve enjoyed this one so much I had to refill the glass three times to complete the tasting. Enough said. Another cracking dram from the SMWS!

Whisky #535: SMWS 63.44 Deep Soul Medicine

August 14, 2018 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

by SMWS 63.44 Deep Soul Medicine. 11 year old single cask, cask strength SMWS bottling from Glentauchers Distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 60.7%. Tasted at Whisky a Day HQ, $170 (bottle)

Colour: Sparkling copper.

Nose: Earthy. Think hessian sacks and oak barrels as you walk through a warehouse at a winery.

Palate: An intense flash of juicy flavour, like biting into a couple of Starburst jellies with the liquid centres. Maybe a raspberry and orange together, it’s hard to tell. After the intensity subsides some mango chutney and freshly baked fruit cake. My trusted whisky tasting lieutenant Kiwi got some berries and dried fruits.

Finish: Spicy, slightly salty and an oaky red wine tannin finish. Blueberries and burnt biscuits in the fade.

Comments: Like copping an unexpected slap to the face, it brings a rush of blood to your lips and wakes up the taste buds with a jolt. An intense mix of fiery flavours all jostling for attention, before sorting themselves out and letting each other have their turn in the spotlight.

Whisky #529: SMWS 71.51 Summer Berry Brûlée

May 19, 2018 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

by SMWS 71.51 Summer Berry Brûlée. 9 year old single cask, cask strength single malt from Glenburgie Distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 61.4%. Tasted at Whisky a Day HQ, $139 (bottle).

Happy World Whisky Day! 🥃 What better way to start the day’s celebrations than with a bright and spritely dram like this one from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS).

Colour: Glowing morning sunshine.

Nose: Hiking through a forest on a cool winter’s morning – earthy and fresh. Fruit salad too – passionfruit, pineapple and strawberries.

Palate: The palate almost has a few phases – it starts quite fruity, morphs into some more creamed honey and vanilla flavours before sliding into more oaky tones.

Finish: A zing of lemon and juicy pineapple chunks on the top of the tongue, followed by a long oaky warmth that lingers long.

Comments: It feels a bit strange to be cracking open a whisky called Summer Berry Brûlée when it’s late May and quite chilly here in Sydney. But as a breakfast whisky to kick off World Whisky Day it works a treat – it’s light, bright and full of flavour, but isn’t going to blow away your tastebuds when you’ve got an exciting day of dramming ahead. And at only $139, I’d challenge anyone to find a single cask, cask strength whisky for the price, let alone a drop as good as this. Cracking value and an outstanding way to kick off World Whisky Day!