The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
A private club with a special place in the world of independent bottlers, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society has offered its members exclusive access to exceptional bottlings since the 1980s.
Established in 1983
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends— actor Russel Hunter, entrepreneur David Alison, author W. Gordon Smith, architect Ben Tindall and accountant Philip “Pip” Hills, a passionate whisky enthusiast who had visited countless distilleries. The society was based upon a unique idea, which would become its trademark in the world of spirits: casks were selected from various distilleries and bottled exclusively in cask strength single cask bottlings available only to members who paid an annual membership fee. Its motto: “Seek out whisky in its purest form, prize flavour above everything else and give each bottling a curious name.” As Pip Hills was particularly fond of Glenfarclas matured in sherry quarter casks, which he bought directly from the Grant family, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s first bottling (1.1) was a sherry-cask version of Glenfarclas 8 Year Old 1975.
Scotch Malt Whisky Society founder Pip Hills
As word got around, the SMWS soon attracted new members and Hills began promoting the club so it could release bottlings every month. At its launch, the SMWS took up residence in the Vaults in Leith, Edinburgh, previously occupied by J.G. Thomson (Caledonian Breweries), and it has remained there ever since. Whiskies are selected by a small panel of experts (five or six) who meet every week.
Development and buyout
In 1995, Hills stepped down as director and the SMWS became a private business. Members were offered shares and the equity raised was used to buy a second home for the SMWS on Greville Street, London, followed in 2004 by a third address on Queen Street, Edinburgh. In the same year, the club was bought by Glenmorangie, part of the LVMH group.
The Vaults in Leith, Edinburgh
In 2008, to mark its 25th anniversary, the SMWS changed the shape of its bottles and began producing more in-depth tasting notes. Then, in 2015, after struggling to find a place for the club in its portfolio, Glenmorangie sold the business to a group of investors, leading to another makeover in 2017.
Range and code structure Bottling codes
Although the distillery name is not mentioned on labels, each bottle is assigned a code that can be used to identify it. The first number in the code refers to the distillery and the second to the bottling. The code for Laphroaig, for example, is 29, and so 29.4 is the Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s fourth bottling from the distillery. This was originally due to the Grant family’s reluctance to see their distillery’s name (Glenfarclas) on independent bottlings, but it turned out the system was ideal in an environment where brands were becoming increasingly protective and less inclined to sell their whisky to independent bottlers, much less so to allow them to use their name. Note that several codes sometimes exist for a single distillery that produces several whiskies. Such is the case for Springbank, which has three numbers: 27 (Springbank), 114 (Longrow) and 126 (Hazelburn).
The first bottlings (1) from each distillery are particularly sought after by collectors, as these whiskies were often distilled in the 1970s, a pivotal period in which the industry was modernized and distilleries produced exceptionally high-quality malts. As prices were generally based on age rather than a distillery’s prestige, these early expressions often contain young whiskies that are excellent examples of the eras’ style. Of course, they are also particularly difficult to find, as few people thought to collect them at the time and most seem to have been drunk. Very few appear at auction. Other rarities include the only bottlings of Lomond—malt produced with Inverleven’s Lomond still (98.1 and 98.2), a very peaty Brora 1976 (61.1) and a Clynelish 1965 (26.1).
Already an established expert in bottling Scottish cask strength single casks, the SMWS later extended its selections to Ireland with no. 50 (Bushmills), and then Japan with no. 116 (Yoichi). Other countries have since joined its collections, as well as other categories, such as grain whiskies—identified by the prefix G—bourbons (B), cognacs (C) and rum (R). Blends have also been introduced with inspiring names like Exotic Cargo, Peat Fearie and Spice Cannon.
The older bottlings are more laconic, mentioning only the month and year of distillation and bottling, along with the ABV, volume and cask number (the society code). The short descriptions known for being lyrical and often rather amusing followed later. The most recent bottlings also feature a colour code representing different aromatic profiles, such as Oily & Coastal or Spicy & Dry, along with a level of intensity, like the three shades of green corresponding to Lightly Peated, Peated and Heavily Peated. This information reflects the SMWS’s desire to reach a wider public by making its bottlings easier to understand and decrypt for enthusiasts. Starting out as a small club of experts with avant-gardist, original ideas, the SMWS has become a renowned independent bottler known throughout the world thanks to its international venues.
SMWS aroma profiles
Tastings
116.10 18 Year Old 1987 Scotch Malt Whisky Society
52.2%, 70 cl, 2006
A very energetic Yoichi with powerful medicinal (ointment), smoky (Lapsang Souchong, smoked meat) and salty notes, in the style of Islay whiskies from half a century ago. Yoichi’s trademark notes of plum and fruit peel (apple, pear) are also present. As it develops, the medicinal character becomes even stronger, with notes of mint and eucalyptus. Perfectly consistent and completely uncompromising.
61.5 19 Year Old 1977 Scotch Malt Whisky Society
59.4%, 70 cl, 1996, 216 bottles
Brora distilled in 1977 is often very peat-forward, albeit less so than in 1972. This cask is dominated by Brora’s signature medicinal (camphor, balm, antiseptic), farmyard and waxy notes. Salt, smoke (coal, flint) and lemon zest add lots of freshness and beautiful minerality, bringing to mind a Reisling from Alsace. Finally, menthol, spicy (curry) and even meaty notes make for a very original expression that nonetheless remains true to the distillery style.
