This fall marks SMWS Canada’s 15th anniversary and we’re celebrating by hosting our first-ever distillery tour in Scotland from September 13th – 20th!

Scotland-based luxury travel company MacLean & Bruce has worked with us to put together an exciting itinerary of distillery tours, heritage site visits, a cooperage tour, and gastronomic culinary experiences for 12 people.

Your trip begins in Edinburgh followed by several days spent exploring some of Scotland’s distilleries from the Lowlands to the Highlands. The week culminates with a lunch and tasting hosted by legendary whisky writer Charlie MacLean MBE at the original home of the SMWS, The Vaults in Leith.

SMWS Canada founders Rob and Kelly Carpenter will be accompanying you on this exciting adventure but don’t let that deter you! 😉 This is a must for any member eager to visit the Society’s spiritual home in Leith and enjoy some of Scotland’s best whisky regions.

VIEW FULL ITINERARY HERE

(Not gonna lie: it felt smug to trade 50cm of snow in favour of blue skies and sunny drams.)

It’s with full hearts and much respect that we headed West in January, paying tribute to our friends and peers as they celebrated the 20^th anniversary of the Victoria Whisky Festival.

It takes passion and commitment to bring a whisky festival to fruition, even more so under the auspices of a government monopoly. (Like a big amount.)

That the Victoria Whisky Festival has done so as a charitable endeavour – powered by a literal army of volunteers who have raised upwards of $600,000 for local charities – is nothing short of epic, and speaks to service, dedication and community building.

It also speaks to how far whisky appreciation in Canada has come over the past twenty years, and it was heartwarming to see a swath of familiar faces from Spirit of Toronto and beyond, including some longtime whisky stans from La Belle Province.

Looking back we couldn’t have asked for a better start to the year. The commitment to excellence of our Victoria peeps has always set a high bar for Spirit of Toronto to follow, but this year feels even more daunting.

Gauntlet thrown. Our own tickets go on sale Tuesday April 7 at 10am (and with a quarter of them already pre-sold, just saying.)

In the meantime, keep reading after the signature for some of the weekend’s liquid highlights…

With much esteem,
Johanna

Johanna Ngoh
Founder, Spirit of Toronto and Whisky Social

Year of the Horse – Chinese New Year Edition

The Year of the Horse is almost here – a symbol of momentum, strength and bold new beginnings.

If you haven’t secured yours yet, now’s the time to raise a dram that captures that spirit. The Big Peat Chinese New Year Limited Edition delivers rich smoke, big character and celebratory flair – crafted for festive toasts, meaningful gifting and sharing with good company.

Created specially for the season, this limited release is all about welcoming luck, energy and fresh starts in unforgettable style.

Celebrate with confidence. Toast to what’s ahead.

Ride into the Year of the Horse with Big Peat in hand.

CELEBRATE NOW

KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL® PROGRAM LAUNCHES “BUILD YOUR OWN BOURBON TRAIL®” TRIP BUILDER

Plan, Personalize, and Explore the Bourbon Trail™ Like Never Before

FRANKFORT, KY.— The Kentucky Distillers’ Association’s world-famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail® experience has launched its first-ever online trip builder to help visitors customize and personalize their ideal Bourbon adventure.

Visitors can now “Build Your Own Bourbon Trail®” itinerary through a streamlined planning experience at kybourbontrail.com. The digital feature is designed to inspire travel to Kentucky communities and help tourists experience all that Bourbon has to offer.

“Millions of people from all over the world are making the pilgrimage to Kentucky each year to immerse themselves in the art, science and craft of America’s only native spirit,” said Eric Gregory, president of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association that founded the KBT® in 1999.

“But as we’ve grown to a record 68 Bourbon Trail™ destinations, we get a lot of questions about where and how to start planning the trip. This interactive tool will make planning fun and easy to manage and share, while highlighting the beautiful countryside of our beloved Commonwealth.”

Gregory said the “Build Your Own Bourbon Trail®” tool feature puts all the planning essentials in one place so visitors can easily find distilleries, tasting rooms and many other partner experiences.

Guests can curate personalized itineraries, save their plans and conveniently share their trip with friends, family and travel companions. “We’ve spent more than a year thinking through every detail, even down to driving times between distillery experiences,” Gregory said.

Watch the video about how to use the new feature online, here.

Bourbon is one of Kentucky’s most treasured signature industries, generating $10.6 billion in economic impact every year, supporting 24,000 workers with $2 billion in salaries and benefits, and pouring more than $370 million into local and state taxes.

There are now KBT® experiences in 35 of the Commonwealth’s 120 counties, from rural, historic and craft distilleries to modern tasting rooms in Kentucky’s urban core, with Official Gateway partners in Louisville, Lexington, Bardstown, and Northern Kentucky.

Dee Ford, longtime Chair of the KBT® Advisory Group, said the new “Build Your Own Bourbon Trail®” tool offers more than just convenience – it’s a way to find exciting experiences that might not have been on a visitor’s radar.

“After visitors determine which part of Kentucky will be their home base, they’ll now be able to find and explore the many experiences just around the corner,” said Ford, who is Angel’s Envy Brand Home General Manager and a member of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame®.

“Our new trip builder tool takes into account what’s important for our visitors, including the excitement of discovering that next hidden gem,” she said.

“That’s something that makes the Bourbon Trail™ special. There is so much to see and taste, and always something new. We encourage visitors to slow down and unplug, savor the experience, and come back thirsty for more.”

Across the globe, those curious about what Kentucky Bourbon has to offer can start building their Bourbon Trail™ experience today at kybourbontrail.com.

The feature was developed in collaboration with the KDA’s partner agency Lewis, which has won multiple top-tier awards for its rebranding and marketing of the Bourbon Trail™ tour to appeal to new and returning visitors.

Founded in 1880, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) is the Worldwide Voice of Bourbon®.

About the Kentucky Distillers’ Association: 

Founded in 1880, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association is the Worldwide Voice of Bourbon®. Its diverse and growing membership produces the overwhelming majority of the world’s Bourbon, from historic, global brands to emerging micro distilleries that are fostering the next generation of the Commonwealth’s timeless craft. Kentucky Bourbon is a $10.6 billion economic engine generating nearly 24,000 jobs. A 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization, the KDA maintains an open membership policy, champions a strong commitment to the responsible and moderate consumption of spirits, and fights to curb underage drinking and drunk driving. Learn more at www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com.

Did you manage to try our Just a dash ‘Heresy’ releases? While our online stock sold out in record time, our Members’ Rooms still have a few last bottles of  Batch 36: Just a dash – Jammy cobbler and Batch 37: Just a dash – Dundee cake explosion.* Head to your local Members’ Room this upcoming week and check them out!

*Not available at Greville Street

dram-cierge@smws.com

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

Big News! Recently in Louisville, VDC Blue Ridge Toasted Barrel Finish was named 🥇 Best American Single Malt at the 2026 World Whiskies Awards. This incredible recognition reflects the dedication and passion of our entire team. We couldn’t be prouder. 🙌  If you haven’t experienced this award-winning whisky yet, we hope you’ll pour a glass and celebrate with us. 🥃✨

Distillery Corner: Strathisla

Join Kirsty & Vic as they visit Strathisla Distillery, one of Scotland’s oldest and most iconic distilleries, known for its picturesque pagodas and integral role in the Chivas Regal blend. Discover the story behind their unusual 11-year-old single malt, its bold, full-bodied character and why whisky lovers consider a visit here a must.

🎬 Watch the Video | 📖 Read the Post

The 2026 Canadian Artisan Spirit of the Year is Macaloney’s Island Distillery Cath-nah-aven Single Malt Whisky

The ninth edition of national competition showcases the best artisan spirits from across Canada

Vancouver, BC (February 24, 2026) – Following their 2025 Canadian Whisky of the Year award, Macaloney’s Island Distillery has earned the top prize in the 2026 Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition (CASC) for their Cath-nah-aven Single Malt Whisky, presented by Artisan Distillers Canada (ADC).

Judges noted this whisky brings “a beautiful, burnished copper appearance, leading to a nose suggesting Oloroso sherry, fruitcake, cocoa powder and candied almond, with a palate of toasted hazelnut, baking spice, toffee and fruitcake, all of which sail off into a long, smooth, caramel-tinged finish.”

The CASC judging panel was comprised of 14 independent judges who evaluated hundreds of artisan spirits, plus bitters, submitted by 56 producers from across Canada and entered into 24 different categories. The Canadian Artisan Spirit of the Year is awarded to the top-scoring spirit, regardless of category.

“In spite of serious headwinds in this sector, I’m happy to see that there are still amazing spirits produced across Canada,” stated ADC’s founder and executive director, Alex Hamer. He continued, “Canadians who are interested in supporting their local communities and businesses can look to our artisan spirit producers for just about all their needs, including gins, rums, whiskies, and more. CASC continues to be a great place to find some of Canada’s best spirits.”

About Artisan Distillers Canada (ADC) and the Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition (CASC)

Artisan Distillers Canada (ADC) operates consumer and industry-focused events and awards programs for Canada’s artisan distilleries and spirits sector. ADC’s goals are to support consumer awareness of artisan distilleries and spirits, to provide education and professional development through conferences focused on best practices in the science and business of distilling, and to foster community. For more information about ADC, visit artisandistillers.ca.

ADC launched the Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition (CASC) in 2018. Spirits submitted to any of the 24 different CASC award categories are sampled blindly and evaluated by an independent panel of judges from across the country, with the top spirit in each category earning a Best in Class Award. Spirits are also awarded Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals, with the top overall scoring spirit being awarded Canadian Artisan Spirit of the Year. CASC is open to any distillery in Canada that meets ADC’s ‘artisan’ classification for distilleries and spirit products. To learn more about Canadian artisan distilleries and spirits, visit artisandistillers.ca/artisan-distillery.

The Act That Changed Scotch Forever?

Few dates loom as large in Scotch whisky history as 1823. The Excise Act of that year is routinely described as the moment whisky became legal, the line in the sand between smuggling chaos and the birth of the modern industry. But, as whisky historian Iain Russell discusses with Dave Broom, that version of events is far too simple.

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