The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has come a long way since an adventurous group of friends clubbed together to share a cask of single malt whisky back in 1983. Some 35 years later – with three Members’ Rooms, branches all around the world and a network of international partner bars – we’re still delighting our members with an ever-changing selection of exceptional single cask whiskies.

To celebrate reaching this milestone we’re releasing some extra-special bottlings.  Grab a bottle now to join the party!

Delightful gravitas
£195.00

VIEW WHISKIES            35th ANNIVERSARY

EVENTS NEAR YOU

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The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

Celebrate the unofficial end of summer with the ultimate cookout cocktail with Crown Royal’s newest offering, limited-edition Crown Royal Texas Mesquite. This whiskey has been hot out of the gates since its launch in May, and we’re confident Crown Royal Texas Mesquite is the perfect complement to any Labor Day meal with its rustic and refined notes of smoked mesquite and barbeque. It combines the smoky flavor of locally sourced Texas mesquite wood with the signature smoothness of Crown Royal De Luxe.

Get it while it’s hot! Crown Royal Texas Mesquite is available until the end of summer in Texas and other select states, including California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Nevada, Maryland and Tennessee.

Texas Mesquite Mule

Cocktail recipe developed by Texas Mixologist Brian Floyd 

1.5 oz. Crown Royal Texas Mesquite

½ oz. lemon juice

½ oz. agave syrup

4 oz. Ginger Beer

Directions: Combine Crown Royal Texas Mesquite, lemon juice and agave syrup in a shaker. Strain over ice and top with ginger beer. Garnish with a lemon wheel or slice of candied ginger.

Texas Mesquite Old Fashioned

Cocktail recipe developed by Texas Mixologist Brian Floyd 

1.5 oz. Crown Royal Texas Mesquite

½ teaspoon of wildflower honey

Dash of orange bitters

Directions: Add honey to a rocks glass and top with Crown Royal Texas Mesquite. Stir for 30 seconds to mix in the honey, then add ice. Add a dash of orange bitters and stir again. Garnish with an orange peel and mint sprig.

Mesquite Paloma

Cocktail recipe developed by Texas Mixologist Brian Floyd

1.5 oz. Crown Royal Texas Mesquite

3 oz. Grapefruit soda

Grapefruit wedge garnish

Directions: Combine Crown Royal Texas Mesquite and grapefruit soda into a shaker and pour into a glass over ice. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge.

Fredericksburg Fix

Cocktail recipe developed by Texas Mixologist Brian Floyd 

1.5 oz. Crown Royal Texas Mesquite

1 teaspoon of peach preserves

½ squeeze of lemon

Directions: Combine the peach preserves, lemon and Crown Royal Texas Mesquite into a shaker and shake vigorously. Strain over crushed ice and garnish with a lemon slice.

A Hard-to-Find Whisky at the Best Price Going

Helios Distillery “Kura The Whisky” Japanese Rum Cask Finished Pure Malt Whisky (750ml) ($59.99)
“One of the most unique and appealing peated whiskys in the shop.”
– David Othenin-Girard, K&L SoCal Spirits Buyer

New to our Japanese whisky collection is the rare and temptingly delicious “Kura The Whisky” from Helios. This very special pure malt is a flagship bottling for the distillery and is handily one of the finest Japanese whiskeys we’ve had the pleasure of drinking. Distilled in Okinawa, aged in American white oak, and finished in rum casks, it is delightfully refreshing, even for a peated whisky. Wonderfully balanced, it dishes up mossy notes and stone fruit, along with sweet, honeyed tones. Its smokiness is perfectly in check and is a terrific foil to the whisky’s spicy notes. Hard to find, even in Japan, we were able to secure a solid one-time allocation from our distributor, and at a price we might never see again. Interest in Japanese whisky remains at a feverish pitch, and we fully expect this stunning version to sell out in a flash. This is a very special opportunity and one you don’t want to sleep on, so make sure to lock in your bottles today.

Helios Distillery “Kura The Whisky” Japanese Rum Cask Finished Pure Malt Whisky (750ml) ($59.99)

The Helios Distillery in the city of Nago has become renowned for their exceptional Awamori, the local Okinawan specialty. This is a kind of aged Sochu that has been consumed on the island since the 15th century. But while they made their name locally for selling Awamori, Helios was quietly distilling ultra high quality rum and malt whisky. Their flagship whisky, sold under the Kura brand, is one of the most unique and enticing Japanese whiskies we’ve ever come across. They begin with peat sourced from the mires of Hokkaido. The Japanese peat has a lot of the same characteristics as Scottish peat, but availability is extremely limited. That whisky is then blended with other single malt whisky distilled in Okinawa after many years aging in American white oak. Finally, the malts are finished further in used Japanese rum casks, which have been seasoned for up to 21 years before being used to finish the Kura. They’ve infused Okinawa’s unique spirit into this world class and limited new Japanese whisky. Expect exceptional balance between the briny, mossy Hokkaido peat on the nose and the spicy oak and soft sweet character of the rum casks on the palate. One of the easiest drinking peated whiskies in the store, this is approachable yet brimming with character and finesse. Unlike so many other pure malts from Japan, it appears that this one is fully distilled in the country to the exacting standards of Helios, rather than imported from abroad and aged in Japan.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 08, 2018

It’s not often that we come across a new Japanese whisky. Yes, there are new brands being developed and launched all the time, but this little whisky from the wonderful Helios distillery on Okinawa arrived as a total surprise. What’s unique about the excellent new whisky from southern Japan are a couple of little words that separate it from a number of other pure malts on the market: “Distilled By.” Pure malt is whisky terminology the Japanese continue to use which has been banned in Scotland for a number of reasons. It is the legal equivalent of saying, “a blend of single malts,” but in Japan it is used to refer to single malt as well. Even more confusing is the fact that Japanese whisky must be aged in Japan but not necessarily distilled there. We’re very skeptical of many new brands because they’re legally allowed to import blended malt, age it in Japan and call it Japanese whisky. That doesn’t mean that the whiskies are bad, just that they don’t deserve a premium over Scotch in any sense. This technique is not only used by little upstart brands, but also the large producers. While there’s been some grumbling about clarifying the rules, the potential downside for the popular blends in Japan is significant, hence the strong resistance to change. The reason they haven’t been able to replicate the process for products labeled “single malt” is that Scotland prohibits the export of single malt in bulk – it must be bottled in Scotland to be considered such. So many of new brands bring in Scotch (or Canadian malt) and sell it as Japanese whisky thanks to the lax regulations of the pure malt designation. But the Helios Distillery is doing something very different. According to their importer they’re not just distilling malt whisky on their old pot stills, they’re using malt dried with Hokkaido peat. This is blended with an unpeated malt whisky from the distillery and aged in used American oak. This is not rice whisky like so many of the southern Japanese distilleries produce but is made from 100% malted barley. There is a long tradition of distilling and aging rice in the south, but Helios is actually most famous for their rum internationally. They produce a coveted 21 year old Japanese rum and finish this whisky in those exceptional barrels. The result is one of the most unique and appealing peated whiskys in the shop. The nose is a mingling of dried stone fruits and round maritime smoke. The roundness continues on the palate and the sweetness of the rum casks offers opulence, but not too cloyingly so. It’s gentle but interesting. Despite the peat it’s seems somehow refreshing. It’s hard to compare this to anything else on the market, but if you can imagine dumping some Hakushu 12 year into one of the Nikka malts you might get close. Needless to say, I purchased every bottle the importer had in stock and plan to continue to do so for as long as they’ll let me.

Current Releases

Double Cask DC098

This award-winning batch of Double Cask is comprised of American and French oak casks, six in total, that range from 10 to 17 years old. “This whisky has incredible length, balanced tannin, a very creamy mouthfeel, and an underlying nutty-autumn-vineyard character that make it perfect for the cool weather we’re having in Australia right now.”

Heather Tillott, Production Manager

PURCHASE NOW

 American Oak TD0145

Cask TD0145 was aged for 11 years in a 200L American Oak ex-bourbon cask, producing only 268 bottles at 47.5% ABV. We bottled this cask completely unfiltered, so it has an incredibly creamy texture and huge finish. This also means that sediment may form in the bottle over time, which is perfectly natural. It’s a rare opportunity to experience Sullivans Cove in its purest form. We now ship to Hong Kong, France, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and the UK through our online store.

PURCHASE NOW

Amrut and Ashok

Nectar of the Gods

Tuesday 11 September 2018
7.30pm-9pm

Tickets on sale now!

BOOK NOW >

In the run up to the much anticipated 10th anniversary Whisky Show, join us as we discover Amrut – ‘Nectar of the Gods’ in Sanskrit – and be the first in the UK to taste a brand new release: Amrut Madeira Cask Finish. Amrut brand ambassador Ashok Chokalingam will guide us through six whiskies, including the multi-award-winning Fusion, the new batch of the super-rare Naarangi and the brand new Madeira Cask Finish, flown to the UK specially for the tasting. Discover how Amrut’s whiskies are different to those from the rest of the world, and taste why this award-winning distillery continues to break Indian whisky stereotypes.

Amrut Single Malt
Amrut Fusion
Amrut Peated Cask Strength
Amrut Portonova
Amrut Naarangi (new batch)
Amrut Madeira Cask Finish (new release)

Ashok is a well-known character in the whisky world. He was the Icons Of Whisky Rest Of The World Ambassador Of The Year in 2012 and 2016, and has a reputation for fantastic tastings. He spends most of his time in India these days, so don’t miss out on the chance meet him in person.

Tuesday 11 September

7.30-9pm

Virtual Tasting Discovery Pack

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has come a long way since an adventurous group of friends clubbed together to share a cask of single malt whisky back in 1983. Some 35 years later – with three Members’ Rooms, branches all around the world and a network of international partner bars – we’re still delighting our members with an ever-changing selection of exceptional single cask whiskies.

On Monday, 24 September, we’ll be holding our first ever global, virtual tasting. Streamed live from The Vaults and hosted by our master brand ambassador John McCheyne, members from all over the world are invited to join us in sharing the same five hand-picked drams. Simply purchase a Discovery Pack to receive your five whiskies and join in the fun, there are loads of ways to get involved.

• Log on to Facebook at home and stream the tasting live – either on your own or get some friends together
• Join a screeningat one of our Members’ Rooms
• Be part of the experienceat The Vaults

Don’t miss out on the chance to be part of this momentous event, and to share the experience with friends and members all around the world.

DISCOVER MORE

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

29-30 SEPTEMBER 2018

OLD BILLINGSGATE, LONDON

The Whisky Show 2018

MASTERCLASSES

VIEW MASTERCLASSES 

The line-up for 2018 is our best yet, with legendary whiskies presented by some of the industry’s biggest names. From Port Ellen to bourbon, food pairings and rum to our favourite Whisky Show bottlings, we’ve got something for everyone – no matter your level of whisky knowledge. Tickets for these masterclasses will go live at 2pm on Monday 20 August 2018. There are still a few more Sunday masterclasses to announce, so keep an eye on your inbox.

Please note: you must have a valid ticket to the appropriate day of The Whisky Show to attend these masterclasses.

Saturday 29 September, 12.15-1.45pm
£200

Port Ellen will soon be opening its doors again. To celebrate, distillery manager Georgie Crawford and whisky ambassador Colin Dunn will take us through eight official bottlings of this cult whisky: the 9th through 16th releases.

LEARN MORE 

Beginner’s Guide to Whisky 

with The Whisky Exchange’s Billy Abbott
Saturday 29 September, 12.30-1.30pm
£25

Want to get the most out of the show? In this class, Whisky Exchange ambassador and resident whisky geek Billy Abbott will lead you through a selection of whiskies to help you get the most out of each dram and pinpoint your favourite flavours.

LEARN MORE 

26 Years to Predict the Future with Glenfiddich

 with master blender Brian Kinsman
Saturday 29 September, 2.30-3.45pm
£40

It takes a while to make a whisky. Glenfiddich Excellence takes 26 years to reach maturity, but how do the whisky makers know when it will be ready – or even what it will become? Join master blender Brian Kinsman to explore the journey of the Glenfiddich spirit, from still to bottle.

LEARN MORE 

Rxm vs Whisky

with Luca Gargano, Sukhinder Singh and compere Stef Holt
Saturday 29 September, 2.45-3.45pm
£45

It’s time to celebrate our guest spirit: rum. Join rum expert Luca Gargano and Whisky Exchange co-founder Sukhinder Singh as they go head to head to find out which is best, rum or whisky.

LEARN MORE 

New Faces of Whisky 

with Ardbeg’s Brendan McCarron, Diageo’s Aimée Gibson, Whyte & Mackay’s Gregg Glass and compere Dave Broom
Saturday 29 September, 4.30-6pm
£80

A look into the future with the new whisky makers of today. We’ve asked Brendan, Aimée and Gregg to each choose three whiskies for us: a favourite, a whisky they’ve created and something special made just for the masterclass.

LEARN MORE 

Food Loves Whisky with Old Pulteney

with whisky ambassador Lukasz Dynowiak
Saturday 29 September, 4.45-5.45pm
£30

The new Old Pulteney range of whiskies pair excellently with food. Join whisky ambassador Lukasz Dynowiak for a dive into Pulteney’s new drams with carefully-selected pairings from the show’s artisan food partners.

LEARN MORE 

Better Bourbon 

with Bourbon Review editor Justin Sloan
Sunday 30 September, 12.15-1.30-pm
£50

Join Bourbon Review’s Justin Sloan to pull apart the intricacies of America’s native spirit and discover the breadth of flavour its distillers are creating. Justin’s chosen some favourites to show how things have changed over the decades and how good bourbon is today.

LEARN MORE 

Six Whiskies of the Decade

with Sukhinder Singh and Oliver Chilton
Sunday 30 September, 12.30-2pm
£50

Each year, The Whisky Show releases a range of exclusive show bottlings. Whisky Exchange co-founder Sukhinder Singh has saved a few of his favourites, and in this class he and Elixir Distillers whisky-maker Oliver Chilton will lead us through a selection of these rare whiskies.

LEARN MORE 

Tickets for these masterclasses will go live at 2pm on Monday 20 August 2018. Set an alarm, as they will sell fast…

SEE ALL MASTERCLASSES 

TERMS & CONDITIONS Products are offered subject to the following terms and conditions:

1. Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.
2. We do not issue physical tickets. When you make your booking, your name will be added to a guest list for the event.
3. In the case of cancellation on part of the organisers, the full ticket price will be refunded to you. We reserve the right to make cancellations up to 24 hours before the event.

  The Whisky Exchange is the registered trademark of Speciality Drinks Limited. Registered in England and Wales (Company No. 4449145).

Registered Office: Elixir House, Whitby Avenue, Park Royal, London NW10 7SF, UK. 

MANCHESTER UNITED ADDS TO WINNING SPIRIT WITH CHIVAS PARTNERSHIP

– Chivas Announced as Official Spirits Partner of Manchester United – 

8^th August 2018 – The original luxury blended Scotch whisky, Chivas, has teamed up with the world’s biggest football club, Manchester United, in a three-year global partnership.

The collaboration will see Chivas and Manchester United join forces to celebrate their collective belief that blended is better – in life, football and Scotch. Just as Chivas brings together Scotland’s best malt and grain whiskies to create something extraordinary in the bottle, Manchester United brings together the world’s best footballers, a dedicated club team and a legion of fans all around the world to create extraordinary results on the pitch.

The partnership was revealed to fans in advance of the Club’s first Premier League home game of the 2018/19 season on Friday 10^th August, through a film that explores the unique blend of characteristics that make up the Manchester United team. Shot in Los Angeles during the Club’s pre-season tour, the film stars an array of Manchester United first team players revealing an often unseen side to them, showing what defines who they are, both on and off the pitch.

Throughout the season, Chivas will be collaborating with Manchester United to demonstrate that blended is better – by encouraging fans to celebrate the blend that makes them unique, and showing that when players collaborate with their teammates they can achieve the greatest success.

Jean-Christophe Coutures, Chairman and CEO at Chivas Brothers, commented: “Blending has been in our DNA ever since James and John Chivas pioneered the art in 19th century Scotland. Partnering with Manchester United was therefore a natural fit; we both firmly believe that great things can be achieved when we come together – from balancing the perfect blend of malt and grain whiskies that go into our Scotch, to using the perfect combination of players’ skills on the pitch to create a winning team. We look forward to using our spirit to help showcase the spirit of the Club and its fans all around the world.” 

Richard Arnold, Group Managing Director at Manchester United, commented: “Manchester United’s history is built on teamwork and we embrace Chivas’ belief that ‘blended is better.’ Our success both on and off the pitch allows us to bring together the best mix of people who help to make our Club the global name it is today. Each individual has their own skills but the way in which they blend together is what makes us a united team. It is a pleasure to welcome Chivas as Manchester United’s Global Spirits Partner and we look forward to working together to share this belief with our fans.” 

The partnership will be brought to life through a 360 campaign activated across all touchpoints globally from August 2018. Chivas branding will also be displayed on digital perimeter boards at Old Trafford as well as throughout the stadium from the first game on Friday.

Find out more about the partnership and why blended is better at Chivas.com.

Notes

About Chivas

Chivas believes that blended is better, in life and in Scotch. The original luxury blended Scotch whisky, Chivas’ belief in blending was instilled by founding brothers, James and John Chivas, who pioneered the art of blending in 19th century Scotland. Since then, Chivas has been integral to the growth of the Scotch whisky category worldwide – by bringing together the best malt and grain whiskies to create something extraordinary.

Chivas believes in the power of blending in life, as well as in Scotch. In bringing people together to create a greater whole – which is why Chivas is proud to be the global spirits partner of Manchester United, the world’s biggest football club; and in blending ambition with generosity and using success to enrich the lives of others – which is why the Chivas Venture supports social startups with $1m in annual funding.

Chivas blends its home in Speyside, Scotland, with more than 100 countries across the globe, who together have made Chivas the global success it is today, selling more than 4.2 million 9L cases every year. The Chivas range blends timeless classics with modern innovation, including: Chivas 12, Chivas Extra, Chivas XV, Chivas Mizunara, Chivas 18, Chivas Ultis, Chivas 25, Chivas Regal The Icon, and the Global Travel Retail exclusive Chivas Brothers Blend.

Chivas. Success is a blend. www.Chivas.com 

About Manchester United

Manchester United is one of the most popular and successful sports teams in the world, playing one of the most popular spectator sports on Earth. Through their 140-year heritage the Club has won 66 trophies, enabling them to develop the world’s leading sports brand and a global community of 659 million followers. Their large, passionate community provides Manchester United with a worldwide platform to generate significant revenue from multiple sources, including sponsorship, merchandising, product licensing, new media & mobile, broadcasting and match day.

www.manutd.com