PERFECTION RECOGNISED AS THE SOCIETY WIN CASK STRENGTH SCOTCH WHISKY OF THE YEAR AT INTERNATIONAL WINE & SPIRIT COMPETITION 2018

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society won a total of 11 awards for their single cask whiskies 

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) (http://bit.ly/2uXN6Iu) has won Cask Strength, Scotch Whisky of the Year for their bottle Cask 3.305 – The scents of perfection at the International Wine & Spirit Competition 2018 (IWSC).

The 28-year-old Islay whisky, which was released in December 2017 with only 209 bottles available to SMWS members, also won a Gold Outstanding award. Listed under the SMWS flavour profile of Old & Dignified, the whisky spent 26 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead before being transferred to a 1^st fill Pedro Ximinez hogshead for the remainder of its maturation.

The taste of the whisky is described by the Society’s Tasting Panel as “dark fruits soaked in port followed with chocolate-covered brazil nuts and banoffee pie” with a nose of a “heavenly reek of smoked bacon mingled with coffee ice cream, butterscotch and lemon thyme on the finish”.

10 other awards

The SMWS achieved an impressive haul of awards for an independent bottler, winning 10 other awards including a Gold for Cask 4.239 – High sea rebellion and Silver Outstanding for Cask 36.138 – Fruit baskets in a painted room and Cask 42.43 – Smoky spiced red rye ale.

As with all Society releases, they are limited edition and members have snapped up most of the awarded whiskies, but Cask 35.203 – Feria de Jerez is still available in the UK/EU (http://bit.ly/2uWtEvq). The Society’s Tasting Panel described this Speyside whisky as having a “full aroma of sweet potatoes with dried figs, caramelised apples and Chantilly cream” and a “lively taste of dark chocolate covered figs and Sherry soaked Medjool dates”.

The Society releases an outturn of new whisky every month and still has exciting plans for the rest of the year, including a range of new single cask whiskies in their August outturn along with the release of a rum, Armagnac and cognac under their Single Cask Spirits collection.

Founded in 1969, the International Wine & Spirit Competition awards excellence in wines and spirits worldwide, encouraging recognition for quality products. 90 countries worldwide enter the competition and each sample is treated with the same care and consideration in the IWSC’s dedicated tasting premises.

Commenting on the win, Kai Ivalo, Spirits Director at the SMWS said: “This year we are celebrating the 35^th anniversary of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society and we’re delighted to mark this by winning Cask Strength Scotch Whisky of the Year, along with an array of other awards.

These awards acknowledge the best spirits in the world and follow on from taking home seven awards at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in May earlier this year. It’s the perfect way to mark our 35^th anniversary.”

Full awards listed below:

Cask 3.305 – The scents of perfection

Cask Strength Scotch Whisky 2018

Cask 3.305 – The scents of perfection

Gold Outstanding 2018

Cask 36.138 – Fruit baskets in a painted room

Silver Outstanding 2018

Cask 42.43 – Smoky spiced red rye ale

Silver Outstanding 2018

Cask 50.96 – A day trip to heaven

Silver 2018

Cask 52.21 – Tropical breezes fill the sails

Silver 2018

Cask 35.203 – Feria de Jerez / Available here: http://bit.ly/2uWtEvq

Bronze 2018

Cask 29.240 – Seventh heaven

Bronze 2018

Cask 4.239 – High sea rebellion

Gold 2018

Cask 9.133 – Elixir of the gods

Silver 2018

Cask 29.225 – Slapped by a kipper

Silver 2018
For more information on membership:

UK
http://bit.ly/2uXN6Iu
Twitter: @SMWSUK

Notes:

About The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 

• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is an international whisky club that bottles rare single cask, single malt whisky, and a range of other spirits
• The Society was established in Edinburgh in 1983 and now has more than 26,000 members and branches around the world
• The Society only ever bottles single casks – each cask is unique, making every Society bottling a limited edition
• The Society has bottled whisky from more than 135 distilleries in its history
• The Society releases a new batch of around 30 single cask, single malt whiskies every month
• The Kaleidoscope Whisky Bar and Shop in Edinburgh has over 200 whiskies on offer and is open to everybody
• The Society offers a variety of membership’s packages which can be tailored. Please see http://bit.ly/2uXN6Iu
• For more information about the Society, visit http://bit.ly/2uXN6Iu