SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 

We are delighted to announce the Cadenhead’s, Kilkerran and Springbank events which will take place during the Campbeltown Malts Festival 2025. Events will run from Monday 19th – Saturday 24th May.

HOW TO PURCHASE TICKETS

All events will be bookable via Eventbrite, with the exception of our Springbank Society member tastings, which will be via www.springbank.scot and our Cadenhead’s Club member tastings, which will be via experience.cadenhead.scot.

There will be a maximum of 2 tickets available per person for each event, with the exception of the Springbank Society and Cadenhead’s Club Tastings where the limit is 1 per person. Please note that tickets do tend to sell out quickly so we strongly recommend that you register with Eventbrite/the relevant member sites ahead of the ticket launch to make the process quicker on the day of the ticket sales.

PLEASE NOTE IN ADVANCE THERE IS A STRICT NO REFUND POLICY FOR FESTIVAL TICKETS. IN AN EFFORT TO MINIMISE OUR PAPER WASTE, QR CODES MUST BE SHOWN TO GAIN ENTRY INTO EACH TASTING EVENT. WE ALSO HOPE THIS WILL HELP SPEED UP THE ENTRY PROCESS.

Monday, 19th May 2025

13:30 | Cadenhead’s Warehouse Tasting – Festival Edition 1 | £50.00 |

Our week of festival events will officially commence on Monday when we host the first festival edition Cadenhead’s Warehouse Tasting. This tasting will be repeated every day from Monday to Saturday, times varying.

Enjoy six exceptional whiskies drawn straight from the cask within our bonded warehouse on Bolgam Street. These whiskies have been specially selected for the 2025 Malts Festival. Three of these whiskies will be available to purchase at the end, exclusively to those attending the tasting.

This tasting will be available to book via pre-sale to Society & Club members on Eventbrite from Tuesday 18th February at 14:00 (GMT). All remaining tickets will go on sale to the public the following day at 14:00.

19:00 | Springbank Charity Tasting | £500.00 |

Thanks once again to the generosity of Mr Peter Greve, the grand Campbeltown Malts Festival charity tasting is back for 2025! Last year’s tasting was such a tremendous success – raising over £12,000 for charities and good causes close to Campbeltown’s heart – that when Peter offered some more bottles from his private collection for 2025 then we just couldn’t say no.

We’ll be discovering and enjoying Springbank distillations from the 1960s, 70s and 80s in what promises to be yet another magical evening in the Washback Bar. Limited to just 30 tickets, the evening promises to be a real highlight in the Malts Festival week.

This tasting will be available to book on Eventbrite from Wednesday, 26th February at 14:00 (GMT).

Tuesday, 20th May 2025

11:00 | Cadenhead’s Club Tasting – Session 1 | Free |

Join fellow Club members and familiar faces from our Cadenhead’s team for a few drams.

We will run two sessions of this tasting, the first on Tuesday at 11:00 and the second on Wednesday at 14:00. Please note that both tastings will be exactly the same and members will only be permitted to attend one tasting. Please do not book both time slots as both bookings will be automatically cancelled. Available to book by registered Cadenhead’s Club members only.

The Cadenhead’s Club Tasting will be free to attend but you must book your place in advance. Bookings will be made available to members via experience.cadenhead.scot on Thursday 20th February at 14:00 (GMT). On this date, a link will be sent to all members to direct you to the booking page.

13:30 | Cadenhead’s Warehouse Tasting – Festival Edition 2 | £50.00 |

A second opportunity to take part in our exclusive festival edition Cadenhead’s Warehouse Tasting. Enjoy six exceptional whiskies drawn straight from the cask within our Bolgam Street bonded warehouse. These whiskies have been specially selected for the 2025 Malts Festival. Three of these whiskies will be available to purchase at the end, exclusively to those attending the tasting.

This tasting will be available to book via pre-sale to Society & Club members on Eventbrite from Tuesday 18th February at 14:00 (GMT). All remaining tickets will go on sale to the public the following day at 14:00.

14:00 | Springbank Society Tasting – Session 1 | Free |

Join us for our annual Malts Festival Tasting, exclusive to members of the Springbank Society.

We will run two sessions of this tasting, the first on Tuesday at 14:00 and the second on Wednesday at 11:00. Please note that both tastings will be exactly the same and members will only be permitted to attend one tasting. Please do not book both time slots as both bookings will be automatically cancelled. Available to book by registered Springbank Society members only.

The Springbank Society Tasting will be free to attend but you must book your place in advance. Bookings will be made available to members via www.springbank.scot on Thursday 20th February at 14:00 (GMT). On this date, a link will be sent to all members to direct you to the booking page.

Wednesday, 21st May 2025

11:00 | Springbank Society Tasting – Session 2 | Free |

Join us for our annual Malts Festival Tasting, exclusive to members of the Springbank Society.

We will run two sessions of this tasting, the first on Tuesday at 14:00 and the second on Wednesday at 11:00. Please note that both tastings will be exactly the same and members will only be permitted to attend one tasting. Please do not book both time slots as both bookings will be automatically cancelled. Available to book by registered Springbank Society members only.

The Springbank Society Tasting will be free to attend but you must book your place in advance. Bookings will be made available to members via www.springbank.scot on Thursday 20th February at 14:00 (GMT). On this date, a link will be sent to all members to direct you to the booking page.

13:30 | Cadenhead’s Warehouse Tasting – Festival Edition 3 | £50.00 |

A further opportunity to take part in our exclusive festival edition Cadenhead’s Warehouse Tasting. Enjoy six exceptional whiskies drawn straight from the cask within our Bolgam Street bonded warehouse. These whiskies have been specially selected for the 2025 Malts Festival. Three of these whiskies will be available to purchase at the end, exclusively to those attending the tasting.

This tasting will be available to book via pre-sale to Society & Club members on Eventbrite from Tuesday 18th February at 14:00 (GMT). All remaining tickets will go on sale to the public the following day at 14:00.

14:00 | Cadenhead’s Club Tasting – Session 2 | Free |

Join fellow Club members and familiar faces from our Cadenhead’s team for a few drams. We will run two sessions of this tasting, the first on Tuesday at 11:00 and the second on Wednesday at 14:00. Please note that both tastings will be exactly the same and members will only be permitted to attend one tasting. Please do not book both time slots as both bookings will be automatically cancelled. Available to book by registered Cadenhead’s Club members only.

The Cadenhead’s Club Tasting will be free to attend but you must book your place in advance. Bookings will be made available to members via experience.cadenhead.scot on Thursday 20th February at 14:00 (GMT). On this date, a link will be sent to all members to direct you to the booking page.

18:00 | The Malt Barns Dinner | £300.00 |

Our annual Malt Barns Dinner will take place on Wednesday 21st May at 18:00. Guests will be welcomed by members of the Springbank, Kilkerran and Cadenhead’s teams and will enjoy a champagne reception accompanied by a range of locally sourced canapés.

A member of the production team will then hand draw a selection of whiskies straight from the cask. Guests will vote for their favourite dram with the most popular being bottled on the evening. Each guest will receive a 70cl bottle of the winning choice upon departure.

A four course meal will then be served with a specially selected wine to accompany each course. There will be a set menu on the evening. A member of our Events Team will contact you following your successful booking regarding dietary or any other special requirements.

The cost of our Malt Barns Dinner is £300.00. Tickets for this event will be available via pre-sale to Society & Club members on Eventbrite from Tuesday 11th February at 14:00 (GMT). All remaining tickets will go on sale to the public the following day at 14:00.

SPRINGBANK OPEN DAY

Thursday, 22nd May 2025

The Springbank Open Day will commence at 10:00 when the sale of our special Open Day bottles will begin. In addition to the tastings listed below, we will be offering free distillery tours of Springbank and Kilkerran, a range of local craft and food stalls, bars, exclusive festival bottlings, live music and much more. Events at Springbank will conclude at 18:30.

The tastings taking place during the Springbank Open Day (excluding events that are only bookable on the day) will be available to book via pre-sale to Society & Club members on Eventbrite from Tuesday 18th February at 14:00 (GMT). All remaining tickets will go on sale to the public the following day at 14:00.

Details of each can be found below:

11:00 | The Hazelburn Tasting | £40.00 |

Making up only 10% of our annual production and thus typically in scarce supply, we thought it was time to put the spotlight on the often underrated Hazelburn. Join us for a rare opportunity to sample a range of Hazelburn whiskies, from old archive drams to samples of future releases.

11:00 | The Art (and Science) of Fermentation | £40.00 |

Do you know your viability from your vitality, or your amino acids from your aldehydes? Fear not, Production Director Findlay Ross and Bottling Operations Manager Lea Watson are here to guide you through the exciting world of yeast, ethanol, and congeners alongside a few handpicked drams as they delve into the art (and science) of fermentation.

12:15 | Springbank Warehouse Tasting 1 | £40.00 |

Led by a member of our knowledgeable production team, the Springbank Warehouse Tastings offer the chance to sample straight from the casks in the atmospheric setting of our on-site warehouses, with casks selected especially for our Malts Festival to ensure an interesting and unique range of whiskies on offer.

12:15 | Live Malting Demonstration | Free |

Always a popular feature of our Springbank Open Day, our live malting demonstration serves as an excellent opportunity to learn about our traditional malting process from a member of our production team. You may even get the chance to turn the barley yourself! Tickets are only available to book on the day so make sure you head straight for the ticket point to book.

13:00 | Cadenhead’s Archive Tasting | £200.00 |

Following the success of the 2024 edition, we are delighted that the Cadenhead’s Archive Tasting will be returning for the 2025 Campbeltown Malts Festival. Experience an incredible lineup of 6 rare whiskies selected from the depths of our archives.

13:00 | Springbank Tasting | £40.00 |

The Springbank tasting presents an eclectic range of whiskies from the distillery, guided by a member of the sales team. A portion of tickets for this tasting will be available online, with the remainder purchasable at the Open Day.

14:00 | Springbank Cage Bottles Tasting | £40.00 |

The Cage Bottle tasting returns for a second year, giving attendees the chance to try unique cask samples available exclusively here at the Springbank Distillery shop, whilst learning more about our famous “cage” from members of our sales and shop teams.

14:15 | Springbank Warehouse Tasting 2 | £40.00 |

Led by a member of our knowledgeable production team, the Springbank Warehouse Tastings offer the chance to sample straight from the casks in the atmospheric setting of our on-site warehouses, with casks selected especially for our Malts Festival to ensure an interesting and unique range of whiskies on offer.

14:15 | Live Malting Demonstration | Free |

Always a popular feature of our Springbank Open Day, our live malting demonstration serves as an excellent opportunity to learn about our traditional malting process from a member of our production team. You may even get the chance to turn the barley yourself! Tickets are only available to book on the day so make sure you head straight for the ticket point to book.

14:30 | Cadenhead’s Warehouse Tasting – Festival Edition 4 | £50.00 |

Another opportunity to take part in our exclusive festival edition Cadenhead’s Warehouse Tasting. Enjoy six exceptional whiskies drawn straight from the cask within our Bolgam Street bonded warehouse. These whiskies have been specially selected for the 2025 Malts Festival. Three of these whiskies will be available to purchase at the end, exclusively to those attending the tasting.

16:00 | Springbank; New & Forthcoming Releases | £40.00 |

A sneak peek into the future of the Springbank, Longrow and Hazelburn ranges, this tasting offers the opportunity to be among some of the first to try a range of exciting new whiskies from the distillery.

16:15 | Springbank Warehouse Tasting 3 | £40.00 |

Led by a member of our knowledgeable production team, the Springbank Warehouse Tastings offer the chance to sample straight from the casks in the atmospheric setting of our on-site warehouses, with casks selected especially for our Malts Festival to ensure an interesting and unique range of whiskies on offer.

KILKERRAN OPEN DAY

Friday, 23rd May 2025

Events will begin at Glengyle Distillery from 10:00 when the sale of our special Kilkerran Open Day bottle will commence. The day will feature a range of tastings which are listed below as well as free distillery tours of Kilkerran and Springbank, local craft and food stalls, the popular Cadenhead’s Lucky Dip Bar, live music and much more. Events will conclude at 18:30.

All tastings taking place during the Kilkerran Open Day will be available to book via pre-sale to Society & Club members on Eventbrite from Tuesday 18th February at 14:00 (GMT). All remaining tickets will go on sale to the public the following day at 14:00.

Details of each can be found below:

11:00 | The Big Kilkerran Tasting | £40.00 |

Kicking off the Kilkerran Open Day, this tasting caters to longstanding Kilkerran fans and newcomers alike. Join a member of our sales team for the chance to enjoy firm favourites in the range, and preview exciting unreleased expressions.

11:00 | Kilkerran Blending Session 1 | £80.00 |

An exciting first-time offering, exclusive to our Malts Festival, the Kilkerran blending sessions will offer attendees the chance to blend and take home their own 20cl bottle of Kilkerran Single Malt, guided by a member of the team.

12:45 | Kilkerran Warehouse Tasting 1 | £40.00 |

If you have not yet had the chance to join our Kilkerran Warehouse Tastings, added to our tour offerings last year, this tasting is a great opportunity to sample whiskies directly from the six casks on offer as part of our day-to-day distillery tastings, with the chance to purchase a 35cl bottle from each cask after the tasting.

13:00 | The Big Cadenhead’s Tasting | £50.00 |

Join the Cadenhead’s Sales Team for the chance to experience some of their favourite drams, drawn from casks currently maturing in our warehouses. This tasting will demonstrate the variety of distilleries, ages and cask types that Cadenhead’s has onsite in Campbeltown. In addition to these samples, there will also be the opportunity to sample our 2025 Campbeltown Malts Festival bottling.

13:30 | Kilkerran Blending Session 2 | £80.00 |

An exciting first-time offering, exclusive to our Malts Festival, the Kilkerran blending sessions will offer attendees the chance to blend and take home their own 20cl bottle of Kilkerran Single Malt, guided by a member of the team.

14:30 | Cadenhead’s Warehouse Tasting – Festival Edition 5 | £50.00 |

Another opportunity to take part in our exclusive festival edition Cadenhead’s Warehouse Tasting. Enjoy six exceptional whiskies drawn straight from the cask within our Bolgam Street bonded warehouse. These whiskies have been specially selected for the 2025 Malts Festival. Three of these whiskies will be available to purchase at the end, exclusively to those attending the tasting.

15:00 | Kilkerran 20th Anniversary Casks Tasting | £40.00 |

Last year’s 20th anniversary celebrations saw us bottle a range of Kilkerran single casks and distribute these to our importers worldwide. This tasting offers the chance to try these limited celebratory bottlings released around the world, here in Campbeltown.

16:15 | Kilkerran Warehouse Tasting 2 | £40.00 |

If you have not yet had the chance to join our Kilkerran Warehouse Tastings, added to our tour offerings last year, this tasting is a great opportunity to sample whiskies directly from the six casks on offer as part of our day-to-day distillery tastings, with the chance to purchase a 35cl bottle from each cask after the tasting.

16:15 | Clash of the Cocktails | £40.00 |

Taking a new approach to our cocktail tasting this year, we welcome you to witness a showdown between Cameron McGeachy, David Allen, Findlay Ross and Ranald Watson, each presenting their own cocktail. Come along to sample and have your say on the winning cocktail!

Saturday, 24th May 2025

13:30 | Cadenhead’s Warehouse Tasting – Festival Edition 6 | £50.00

Our final event of the festival and the last chance to enjoy our exclusive festival edition Cadenhead’s Warehouse Tasting. Enjoy six exceptional whiskies drawn straight from the cask within our Bolgam Street bonded warehouse. These whiskies have been specially selected for the 2025 Malts Festival. Three of these whiskies will be available to purchase at the end, exclusively to those attending the tasting.

This tasting will be available to book via pre-sale to Society & Club members on Eventbrite from Tuesday 18th February at 14:00 (GMT). All remaining tickets will go on sale to the public the following day at 14:00.

ADDITIONAL EVENT INFORMATION:

• All tastings during the week are scheduled for 1 hour, with the exception of Springbank Warehouse Tastings on Thursday which will last for 45 minutes, Malting Demonstrations on Thursday which will last for 30 minutes and Kilkerran Blending Sessions on Friday which will last for 1.5 hours. • Some of the tastings will overlap each day so please be aware of this when making your selections. • Tasting locations will be shared when bookings commence. Tickets for events that are only bookable on Thursday are not available on Eventbrite and must be purchased from our ticket point at Springbank Distillery on the morning of the Open Day. • You must present your QR code to gain entry into each tasting. • In our continued effort to reduce plastic waste, we encourage attendees to bring reusable water bottles to the festival. We will have various water stations available to fill your bottles throughout the week. We also have branded water bottles available to purchase from our Springbank Distillery Shop and Cadenhead’s Whisky Shop. • For enquiries regarding our events, please email festival@springbank.scot.

Springbank Distillers Ltd, 9 Bolgam Street, Campbeltown, Scotland, PA28 6HZ

Website

A new month means a new Outturn. As we head to our next flavour adventure we’re focussing on an innate part of the Society: the Tasting Panel. Since 1983, these expert noses have been assessing every sample before it can make it into a Society bottle. Their mission? To leave no nose upturned. The full February Outturn is available NOW. What delights await this month? Take a look…

NEW OUTTURN

This month we’re sniffing out all kinds of discerning noses, from learning more about the Tasting Panel, to sensory experiences beyond whisky with tea and coffee experts. Elsewhere we’ve rounded up cocktail serves as a new way to experience our experimental small-batch Heresy whiskies. Last but not least, we introduce some new faces as we meet member and astronaut-hopeful, Dr Mason Robbins, and our new Vaults custodian, Joshua Hampshire.

BEAD UNFILTERED

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

Valentines Day
14th Feb 2025

Ready to feel the love this Valentines Day? 

Let us be a part of your unforgettable moments with a special 3-course Valentine’s menu for £39.95 pp, available throughout the week of 10th – 15th Feb 2024. Special menu available in addition to our usual a la carte menu, this offering is specially crafted for you and your loved ones.

Come & create lasting memories with us.

See Whiski Rooms Valentine’s Menu here

J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery Offers Custom Bourbon for Valentine’s Day

Give Your One-of-a-Kind Sweetheart a One-of-a-Kind Bourbon

FRANKFORT, KY (Jan. 21, 2025) –  Gifting your valentine their very own custom bourbon just got a little easier with J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery’s custom bourbon experience, available online or in person at its distillery in Kentucky. Choose your own bottle, and have it filled with J. Mattingly 1845’s double-staved™ bourbon or rye.  Choose your wax colors for the bottle’s seal. Then romanticize your personal message for the bottle label.  The J. Mattingly 1845 cupids will hand bottle it to your custom specifications and have it shipped to your sweetheart’s door just in time for Valentine’s Day. 

Named one of Maxim.com’s Top Bourbons of 2024, J. Mattingly 1845’s double-staved bourbon and rye whiskey are created using a proprietary method that adds additional charred oak staves to each barrel at just the right moment in its aging cycle to coax out extra flavor. These custom bottles are made using the same double-staved process, resulting in the same superior taste that whiskey reviewers are praising with descriptions such as “a real bourbon-lovers bourbon” and “thoroughly original and highly flavorful.” 

“The popularity of personalized gifts is on the rise, with 80 percent of consumers believing they are more thoughtful,” said Harry Richart IV, president of J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery.  “Our personalized bourbon experience, which allows you to choose everything down to what the label will say and the color of the wax on the top, ensures you’ll give a gift that is both thoughtful and appreciated.”   

J. Mattingly 1845 Bourbon and its custom bourbon creation experience are available online at jmattingly1845.com and in person at its Distillery in Frankfort, KY.  Orders placed by Feb. 3 are guaranteed to arrive by Valentine’s Day. Gift cards are available for the online custom bourbon experience and make a perfect date night experience for couples looking for an interactive activity.  Prices for the online bottles start at $99 for a 750 mL bottle, a sweetheart of a deal, considering they are usually $155.  Shipping is available to 46 U.S. States. 

About J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery 

The Mattingly family has been synonymous with distilling in Kentucky for more than two centuries, having a hand in the development of at least nine separate distilleries in the Commonwealth. 

            In 2010 Jeff Mattingly took up the family mantle and started his own craft bourbon business.  Today, Jeff’s son Cameron has joined the team as Vice President of Production, continuing the legacy into the latest generation for J. Mattingly Distillery 1845 in Frankfort, Kentucky. Together, father and son offer their proprietary double-staving™ process as well as a custom bourbon blending experience unparalleled in the spirits industry, available on-site in Frankfort or online at www.jmattingly1845.com 

 

Macaloney’s Island Distillery Triumphs at 2025 Canadian Whisky Awards, Winning Top Honours –  Now viewing Strategic Partnership for Distribution to USA, China and France

Victoria, BC – January 20, 2025

Macaloney’s Island Distillery is proud to announce that it has been awarded the coveted Canadian Whisky of the Year 2025 for its peated single malt whisky, The Peat Project Moscatel cask. In addition, the distillery was recognized for an unprecedented 7 Whiskies of the Year / gold medal whiskies, more than any distillery in Canada, whether big brand multi-national or craft! Their Master Whiskymaker & Founder, Dr. Graeme Macaloney PEng., also was awarded Blender of the Year.

The Canadian Whisky Awards, held annually in January, recognize the finest expressions of Canadian whisky across all categories, with over 200 whiskies assessed in blind tastings by 14 experienced judges. Macaloney’s Island Distillery is no stranger to success in the world of whisky. It previously won 3 ‘World’s Best’, and 8 gold medals, including 2023’s World’s Best Pot Still (Kildara), at the global industry’s most competitive, World Whiskies Awards, UK. The distillery has quickly gained a reputation for creating bold, flavourful whiskies that blend tradition with innovation, engaging whisky connoisseurs and newbies alike with their tasting experience and compelling ‘craft’ back-story.

“Of our multiple gold medals at these Canadian Whisky Awards, 3 were peated single malt whiskies (54ppm Peat Project Moscatel, 54 ppm Peat Project Sugar-kelp, lightly peated 15 ppm An Aba), and another was our crowd-pleasing ‘Sherry-bomb’ (Cath-nah-aven)” said Dr. Graeme Macaloney. “Our Peat Project™ is a whisky industry break-though because it’s the first-ever exploration of terroir and island merroir, using peat. With our innovative, proprietary 2 tonne in-distillery peat-smoker we are crafting peated whiskies using peat from the USA, Islay-Scotland and Canada all with very different bouquets. And, this years Best Canadian Single Malt (Peat Project Sugar-kelp) had sugar-kelp seaweed added to the peat-smoking thereby exploring island merroir“.

Macaloney’s Island Distillery has set its eyes on global expansion! “We recently launched in Germany with excellent results and are now looking for a strategic investor to help us target the USA, China and France, which together with UK, Taiwan & Canada, represent the top 7 single malt markets”.

About Macaloney’s Island Distillery

Founded by Dr. Graeme Macaloney PEng., in 2013, Macaloney’s Island Distillery is one of a rare breed of ‘island’ distilleries, located in Victoria on Vancouver Island, Canada. The distillery specializes in producing premium single malts and potstill whiskies. As a 5-star experiential tourist destination, Macaloney’s is host to over 180 cruise-ships annually and championed the world’s first international single malt whisky trail, the North West Whiskey Trail (www.northwestwhiskeytrail.com).

Ardnamurchan & Adelphi Masterclass with Graeme Mackay

The Adelphi name was originally associated with a distillery but that disappeared into the whisky loch of the early 1900s. The last owner’s great-grandson restored the brand in 1993 but this time as an indie bottler. Working closely with industry giant Charlie Maclean, the Adelphi bottlings have become whisky icons. More recently the team have expanded into production with the founding of the sustainability focused Ardnamurchan distillery in 2014.

Join us on 30 January at our Great Portland Street store for a masterclass exploring both Ardnamurchan’s whisky and Adelphi’s bottlings hosted by Graeme Mackay.

Book now 

Raise a dram to Robert Burns with Bladnoch this January

As the world prepares to celebrate the life and work of iconic Scottish poet, Robert Burns, on Saturday 25 January 2025, Bladnoch Distillery has recommended two of its finest Lowland single malt whiskies to toast Scotland’s national bard this Burns Night.

Commonly referred to as ‘Queen of the Lowlands’, Bladnoch is the southernmost distillery in Scotland and one of the closest to where Burns spent most of his life in Dumfries & Galloway. The water which gave life to this historic 208-year-old distillery sustained the whiskies of Burns’ era, making Bladnoch the ideal dram to complement Burns Suppers of all sizes this January.

Expertly handcrafted by master distiller Dr Nick Savage and his team, using water from the River Bladnoch which flows alongside the distillery, the Bladnoch Twinned Cask Collection comprises four whiskies – Vinaya, Liora, Samsara and Alinta – each natural in colour and non-chill filtered to ensure the truest flavours shine through.

The collection is named to reflect the unique twinning of two cask types which are married together during the whisky-making process.

Bladnoch Vinaya, 70cl, 46.7% ABV, £50

Vinaya, a Sanskrit word meaning respect and gratitude, pays homage to Bladnoch Distillery’s original founders who paved the way for the brand’s exciting new era of innovation and production.

Non-chill filtered and natural in colour, Bladnoch Vinaya is matured in a unique combination of first-fill bourbon and sherry casks, a process which creates notes of fresh apple, sweet floral grass and hints of chocolate.

A light and refreshing single malt, this is ultimate tipple to raise a dram to Scotland’s national bard on Burns Night.

Available at www.bladnoch.com, Amazon and specialist whisky retailers.

Bladnoch Alinta, 70cl, 47% ABV, £75

Bladnoch Alinta is the perfect smoky single malt whisky to toast the bard this Burns Night. Alinta, an indigenous word from several southeast Australian language groups, means ‘fire’ and ‘flames’, and evokes the notes of campfire embers found in each sip.

A sweet, smoky, peated spirit, Bladnoch Alinta takes its flavour from maturation in Pedro Ximénez sherry and ex-bourbon casks and is the ideal complement to the savoury earthy and peppery favours of haggis.

Available at www.bladnoch.com, Amazon and specialist whisky retailers.

Tasting notes

Bladnoch Vinaya

Colour: Summer barley field.

Nose: Sweet floral grass with boiled sweets.

Palate: Fresh green apples and chocolate with a hint of pepper.

Finish: Light and refreshing.

Bladnoch Alinta

Colour: Copper.

Nose: Smoky ice cream, delicate floral with sweet oak.

Palate: Campfire smoke, almonds and raisins with a white chocolate body.

Finish: Long with a sweet smoke.

About Bladnoch Distillery

Bladnoch Distillery was established in 1817, making it the oldest privately owned Scotch whisky distillery in the world. As the southernmost distillery in Scotland, Bladnoch is commonly referred to as the ‘Queen of the Lowlands.’

Hand-crafted using malt from British growers and the pristine water from the River Bladnoch which flows alongside the distillery, Bladnoch single malts are non-chill filtered to ensure the truest flavours shine through.

This legacy brand has been revived in recent years by Master Distiller, Dr Nick Savage, formerly of The Macallan, and owner David Prior, who purchased Bladnoch Distillery in 2015 and is the first Australian businessman to own a Scotch whisky distillery.

It pains us to say that Storm Éowyn’s imminent arrival has forced us to close our three Scottish Members’ Rooms tomorrow (Friday, 24 January) until 6.30pm. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that he’ll have blown through by then and we can get the whisky flowing again tomorrow evening. Our London Members’ Room will be open as usual.

We don’t make these decisions lightly, but with a red weather warning in place and the safety of our members and venue staff paramount, we’re not taking any chances. Watch out for any updates on our social media channels – and stay safe!

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

CELEBRATING

THE MACALLAN HARMONY COLLECTION GUARDIAN OAK

We are pleased to share that The Macallan Harmony Collection Guardian Oak is available exclusively at Singapore Changi Airport from 15 January 2025, and at The Macallan Global Boutiques and select duty free locations around the world from 26 January 2025 onwards. There will be limited availability worldwide.

The fourth release in The Macallan Harmony Collection has been created in collaboration with Cirque du Soleil to tell our oak story in an imaginative, visual and innovative way.

For a limited time, join us at The Macallan pop-ups at airports in Doha, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Singapore for the launch of Harmony Collection Guardian Oak, exclusive to travellers.

EXPLORE THE WHISKY

THE POP-UP EXPERIENCE

The symbolic oak tree is the central feature of the pop up. Immerse yourself in the sounds, scents and flavours of the Harmony Collection and the story of Cirque du Soleil SPIRIT, including the enchanting narrative of Davonna, guardian of the Scottish Highlands.

Discover more travel exclusives including Colour Collection, alongside tailored gifting and tasting options.

ABOUT THE WHISKY

Harmony Collection Guardian Oak is a unique collaboration with Cirque du Soleil. It is matured in a combination of first-fill sherry seasoned European oak casks and refill sherry casks, featuring rich notes of dried fruits, orange peel, dark chocolate, and warming nutmeg.

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In-person Diploma in Single Malt Whisky

Elevate your expertise and unlock the secrets of single malt Scotch whisky with our flagship Diploma course. Tailored for those working in the industry (in customer-facing roles) and enthusiasts alike (newcomers or seasoned connoisseurs), this immersive two-day course is your gateway to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the world’s most revered spirit.

Certified by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), two modules – History & Business – are delivered online in advance for self-study. The format here is short, easy-to-follow multimedia lessons. In the classroom, you’ll meet with your cohort of likeminded whisky lovers and take a deep dive into modules covering the production process, sensory analysis and world whiskies with teacher Vic Cameron. With 30 years of Scotch whisky industry experience under his belt, you’ll love the technical detail he imparts and irreverent stories told on the enjoyable journey to mastering the final assessment.

Day 1 concludes with a private distillery tour and tasting (which includes plenty of revision prompts). Day 2 concludes with the final assessment (250 questions, multiple choice format). Upon completion, you’ll receive a digital badge and physical black lapel pin for immediate display. Your SQA Diploma certificate will be sent to you in the post in the weeks following the course.