Four Pillars – Two New Expressions

In just a short time we will be releasing our brand new limited edition ‘Expressions’ range where we focus on 2 of our 4 key pillars.

These two releases focus on the barley itself. One dedicated to Laureate, the other to Golden Promise. Each has been developed with a considered approach to maturation, allowing us to showcase the character of each grain in the way we believe it shines best.

GOLDEN PROMISE

The Golden Promise Edition celebrates a barley variety renowned for its rich flavour and historic importance in Scotch whisky. Matured with a 68% influence from first-fill bourbon casks, alongside carefully selected first-fill sherry casks which make up the remaining 32%. This cask make-up highlights Golden Promise’s naturally structured and indulgent character, revealing layers of buttery pastry, baked orchard fruits and gentle spice.

LAUREATE

The Laureate Edition showcases a newer generation of barley, selected for its resilience and exceptional flavour potential. With a 68% influence from first-fill sherry casks, balanced with 32% first-fill bourbon maturation, this whisky brings forward Laureate’s vibrant and elegant profile, with notes of candied orange peel, dried fruits, ripe orchard fruits and a lasting honeyed finish.

The first expressions will be revealed on 15 September 2026.

You can shop the range at www.aberargie.com

The Society started with three things: a big idea, a cask of the good stuff and friendship. As the SMWS turns 43 years young this month, and we, SMWS Canada, will hit 15 years in October, we mark the start of many other new moments made for celebrating together – preferably with a glass of the good stuff in hand. September Outturn is live – let’s get into it!

We’re continuing with the roll out of the Society’s new flavour profiles. The original twelve flavour profiles have evolved into eight mouthwatering categories – each with a new name, colour and character. This is a refinement and a refocus on flavour based on our historical archive of Tasting Notes and member feedback. Discover more here.

More of the new profiles will be introduced over time as we slowly retire the old profiles.

LEMONY McLEMONFACE

CASK No. 156.8

AGE:  10 years

PROFILE:  Sweet & zesty

CASK:  1st fill ex-bourbon barrel

DELICATE TONGUE DANCE

CASK No. 48.180

AGE:  12 years

PROFILE:  Ripe, fruits & honey

CASK:  1st fill ex-bourbon barrel

UNITES NATIONS

CASK No. 11.65

AGE:  10 years

PROFILE:  Dried fruits & spices

CASK:  2nd fill oloroso hogshead

JUICY AND DELICIOUSLY INTENSE

CASK No. 68.128

AGE:  16 years

PROFILE:  Deep, rich & dried fruits

CASK:  1st fill PX barrique

A CASTAWAY’S BEACH HUT

CASK No. 42.90

AGE:  19 years

PROFILE:  Coastal & maritime

CASK:  Refill ex-bourbon hogshead

KRAKEN CALAMARI

CASK No. 53.517

AGE:  13 years

PROFILE:  Bold & peaty

CASK:  1st fill oloroso hogshead

BROWSE SEPTEMBER OUTTURN HERE

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The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada
Suite 160
104 – 1240 Kensington Road NW
Calgary, AB T2N 3P7
403-969-8225
curious@smws.ca
www.smws.ca

Carsebridge (silent)Living Souls Single Grain Scotch Whisky50 Year Old

70cl · 40.3% ABV

This magnificent bottling offers a rare opportunity to experience a 50yo whisky from another one of Scotland’s now silent distilleries – Carsebridge. This release is perfect for marking life’s rarest occasions.

Most of Carsebridge’s whisky disappeared into blends rather than official bottlings, which is a large part of why surviving independent releases are so interesting now. The distillery closed in 1983 during industry consolidation, most of the site was demolished in the 1990s, and remaining stocks have become increasingly scarce, giving Carsebridge a lasting place among the more important lost names in Scotch grain whisky.

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY HONORS 40 YEARS OF ELMER T. LEE BOURBON WITH FIRST-EVER UNCUT AND UNFILTERED OFFERING

Four decades after its introduction, this bold new expression honors Elmer T. Lee’s legacy

FRANKFORT, KY (September 14, 2026) – Buffalo Trace Distillery proudly announces the release of Elmer T. Lee 40^th Anniversary Edition, the first-ever uncut and unfiltered expression of Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon. Debuting four decades after the original Elmer T. Lee Bourbon was released, this limited offering honors the legacy of one of the industry’s most influential pioneers and offers enthusiasts a rare opportunity to experience this iconic whiskey in its purest form.

Elmer T. Lee’s legacy at Buffalo Trace Distillery began in 1949, when he joined the then-George T. Stagg Distillery as a maintenance engineer following his service in World War II and graduation from the University of Kentucky. Over the next four decades, he rose to become Master Distiller, helping guide the Distillery through a transformative era of modernization and growth while shaping the future of bourbon.

A visionary ahead of his time, Lee fundamentally changed the American whiskey landscape in 1984 with the introduction of Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon, the world’s first single-barrel bourbon and a concept that helped pioneer the premiumization of bourbon. To honor his enduring impact, the Distillery introduced Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon in 1986, a namesake expression that directly reflects his commitment to careful selection and consistency. Its combination of craftsmanship, authenticity and legacy has made it a benchmark for both enthusiasts and collectors.

“Elmer’s legacy is something we feel and celebrate every day at the Distillery, not just in the bourbon we make, but in the way we approach our work,” said Buffalo Trace Distillery Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley. “His commitment to craftsmanship guided not only our future at Buffalo Trace, but it also helped set the course for American whiskey as a whole. I was fortunate to learn from Elmer early in my career, and his guidance left a lasting impression on how I approach my work. Releasing this rare whiskey in his honor is incredibly meaningful and a privilege for all of us at the Distillery.”

Now, 40 years after its debut, Buffalo Trace Distillery is unveiling a bold new expression of this bourbon. For the first time, Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon is presented uncut and unfiltered, drawn directly from the barrel without dilution or chill filtration. This approach is a reflection of how Elmer evaluated barrels for Blanton’s selection, providing enthusiasts with the opportunity to experience the whiskey as he would have.

The barrels selected for the 40th Anniversary Edition of Elmer T. Lee Bourbon were chosen for their richness and individuality, each bottled at its natural barrel proof to preserve a more robust, unaltered profile. Across the collection, notes of apricot, almond, vanilla, toasted coconut and honeysuckle lead to a rich, chewy palate with crème brûlée-like sweetness and a long finish of toasted oak and baking spice. Ranging from 124.8 to 138.6 proof, each barrel offers a subtle variation in character, structure and intensity.

“For the first time, we’re sharing Elmer T. Lee Bourbon exactly as it comes from the barrel,” said Erica Bovard, Senior Brand Director, American Whiskey. “By offering it uncut and unfiltered, we’re able to highlight the depth and character of the whiskey while staying true to the standards Elmer set. We think fans will love this release, and importantly, it’s one we believe Elmer would be proud of.”

The Elmer T. Lee 40th Anniversary Edition will be available in limited quantities via a new bottle drawing system, hosted by the Buffalo Trace Distillery Gift Shop, at a suggested retail price of $99.99 (750ml; local taxes and fees may apply).

Developed in response to consumer feedback, the Buffalo Trace Distillery Bottle Draw is a new system intended to make limited bottle releases more accessible and convenient for visitors. For the inaugural drawing, fans can register online from 10 a.m. ET on September 15 through 11:59 p.m. ET on September 17 for the chance to purchase a bottle. Entries are limited to one per person, and registration timing does not affect the odds of selection. On September 22, an independent partner will randomly select names, with all entrants notified of the results. Those selected will have from September 28 through October 11, to visit the Distillery during normal visitor hours and purchase their bottle. As this marks the first Buffalo Trace Bottle Draw, the Distillery will gather participant feedback to help refine and improve the experience for future releases. For more information or to enter, visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com/draws.

Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon is produced in limited quantities on an ongoing basis and released as each single barrel is deemed ready for bottling. The 40^th Anniversary Edition joins the portfolio alongside a handful of rare, commemorative variants including the 100 Year Tribute (released in 2019), the Commemorative Bottle (released in 2013), and the 90^th Birthday Edition (released in 2009). For more information about Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon, please visit https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/our-brands/elmer-t-lee-single-barrel/.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery  

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1775 and it is a National Historic Landmark, as well as listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its history includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site. The Distillery has won more than 40 distillery titles since 2000 and garnered more than 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. Its William Larue Weller, Stagg, Eagle Rare 10, and Thomas H. Handy received Gold Awards at the 2025 International Wine & Spirits Competition and its flagship Buffalo Trace Bourbon received a Master Medal at the 2025 Global American Whiskey Masters. Buffalo Trace Distillery has a deep commitment to supporting charitable initiatives. Nonprofit organizations interested in learning more about the Distillery’s efforts are encouraged to register their charity here. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery, visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com

FROM ARRAN’S EARLIEST YEARS
XOP Arran 26 Years Old. Single Sherry Butt

ABV: 51.9% | Vol: 70cl

Our newest Creators Collection, Elgin Marvels: Icons from Speyside presents two whiskies from the same town with two very different creation stories.

We hinted that Cask No. 35.405: Statuesque elegance has had a more complex journey – let’s get into it.

This distillery 35 release started with maturation in two bourbon hogsheads, one filled in 1987, and the other in 1988.  After three decades they were then transferred separately into first fill PX barriques. After three years, the content of the 1987 was married with the 1988 cask. Two years later, we moved the entire content into a second fill bourbon barrel so the flavours could mellow into their final form.

By contrast, Cask No. 7.286: Fruit bomb frieze was matured in a refill bourbon hogshead for the entirety of its creation, this Marvel features the kind of juicy extravagance you’d associate with earlier eras of this make. No twists or transfers – just time and patience to let the cask really shine.

While the cask approaches are vastly different, at 33 and 38 years old they are united not only by their lengthy maturation but also by their intense fruitiness. Together they emphasise the diversity that can come from one small corner of Speyside.

READ THE STORY

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

Invergordon Finn Thomson Single Cask Single Grain Scotch Whisky

50 Year Old·1974 Vintage

£399.95

Distilled at Invergordon in 1974, this exceptional single grain Scotch whisky was matured for 50 years in a single bourbon barrel before being selected and bottled by independent bottler Finn Thomson. Released as part of the prestigious Crown Collection, it was bottled at its natural cask strength of 47.1% ABV without chill filtration or added colouring, preserving the full character developed across five decades in oak.

Scotland’s most exceptional casks. Drawing on generations of family expertise in the whisky trade, the company carefully selects and bottles rare single cask and small-batch whiskies that celebrate authenticity, provenance and outstanding quality.

THE GLENALLACHIE UNVEILS PIONEERING WHISKY MATURED IN RARE MONGOLIAN VIRGIN OAK

The GlenAllachie Distillery today, Thursday 10th September, introduced the fourth chapter in its celebrated Sinteis Series – a 2015 Mongolian Virgin Oak, Pedro Ximénez & Oloroso Sherry Cask Matured Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

This 10-year-old limited edition marks the first Scotch whisky matured in elusive Mongolian virgin oak to be bottled for global release, reflecting The GlenAllachie’s pioneering approach to wood mastery and its continued evolution of the Sinteis Series. This fourth edition embodies an ethos of ‘A Convergence of Three: Three Casks, Three Stories, One Exceptional Whisky.’

‘Sinteis’ (pronounced sin-teesh), meaning ‘synthesis’ in Scottish Gaelic, captures the essence of The GlenAllachie’s cask innovation, uniting the bold and expressive virgin oak with the familiar warmth of sherry casks to create distinctive, boundary-pushing expressions.

While previous expressions in the series explored a dual cask approach, Part IV was initially matured in bourbon barrels before spending time separately in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks. The whiskies were then combined and transferred to rare Mongolian virgin oak casks.

Mongolian virgin oak casks, crafted from Quercus Mongolica, are hard to source and unforgiving in character. Consequently, this wood type has remained largely unexplored in Scotch whisky. This oak is scarce in nature, having to be grown for over a century and naturally felled in order to be used commercially. Sourced from the forests of East Asia and noted for their tight grain structure and remarkable density, the wood reveals rich caramel, subtle sandalwood and oriental incense nuances.

Sinteis Part IV showcases this harmony with two types of sherry casks. Oloroso infuses the whisky with layers of dried fruit, dark chocolate, and nutty complexity, while Pedro Ximénez brings sweet toffee and treacle. The final whisky reveals dark chocolate, layered orchard fruits and warm pastries; a celebration of each cask’s distinct character, converging perfectly into one.

Commenting on the new release, Master Distiller Billy Walker said:

“The Sinteis series has allowed us to explore the interaction between different virgin oak and sherry casks. The series has explored dual-cask maturation in considerable depth already so for Sinteis Part IV I wanted to invite a pivoted approach that would be both a challenge and an adventure.

“We work intensively with Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks, so moving the liquid into Mongolian virgin oak was certainly an exciting challenge. The wood’s unforgiving nature and rarity in whisky-making meant we had little precedent to work from. As a team, we trusted in our instinct and experience, and I’m exceptionally proud of the whisky we’ve created and to be able to showcase the beautiful character of Mongolian oak.”

Sinteis IV is bottled at a cask strength of 58.5%, with natural colour and without chill filtration, preserving the full character and integrity of cask maturation. Each release in the Sinteis Series is a limited-edition bottling, distinct in its own right.

The bespoke packaging features a hand-drawn motif inspired by Quercus Mongolica and united by an endless knot, based on the geometric ornamentation found throughout traditional East Asian art as well as the enduring relationship between wood, whisky and time. The balance between natural forms and precise geometry, accented with ornate gold foil, reflects the intricate balance of nature and craft found within this expression.

The GlenAllachie Sinteis Part IV, 2015 Mongolian Virgin Oak, Pedro Ximénez & Oloroso Sherry Cask Matured, is available with a UK RRP of £75.99 from The GlenAllachie Distillery and online at www.theglenallachie.com from September 10. It will become available globally in the coming weeks.

The Sinteis Series – Sinteis Part IV, 2015 Mongolian Virgin Oak, Pedro Ximénez  & Oloroso Sherry Cask Matured

• 10 years old single malt whisky
• Limited edition release
• Bottled at cask strength 58.5%
• Natural colour and non-chill filtered

Tasting Notes

Colour: Burnished Chestnut.
Nose: Baked pastries, and butterscotch, followed by brandied orchard fruits, cocoa and treacle tart, with cinnamon and crystallised ginger.
Taste: Candied hazelnuts, baking spices and plum syrup, followed by spiced baked orange, vanilla ice cream and mocha, with mānuka honey and fig jam.

About The GlenAllachie
Since re-emerging under independent ownership in 2017, The GlenAllachie has made bold, strategic choices rooted in flavour integrity over volume. By fine-tuning fermentation practices, streamlining production, and investing heavily in cask management, the distillery has cultivated a house style renowned for depth, complexity, and individuality.

Beyond the stillhouse, The GlenAllachie’s influence continues to grow, with high-profile and innovative releases such as The Sinteis Series, and age-stated limited editions earning global acclaim. The distillery’s commitment to transparency – bottling at natural colour, non-chill filtered, and often at cask strength – underscores its dedication to the discerning whisky drinker.
Prioritising the production of quality spirit, the GlenAllachie Distillery chose to reduce its production capacity from four million to around one million litres of alcohol and increase its fermentation period to 160 hours – almost three times the industry standard – for an ester-rich, fruity spirit.

The GlenAllachie also maintains a strong focus on sustainability and provenance, with local sourcing and traditional methods guiding much of its ethos. Supported by the Scottish Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (SIETF), a state-of-the-art Mechanical Vapour Recompression (MVR) system was installed at the distillery to capture and recycle waste heat from distillation, using it to reheat the stills. It is a distillery that not only honours Scotch whisky heritage but actively shapes its future.

About Billy Walker
With a career spanning over 50 years, Billy Walker is a legendary figure in the Scotch whisky industry, renowned for his transformative leadership of distilleries like Benriach, Glendronach, and Glenglassaugh. Celebrated for his innovative use of casks and unwavering commitment to quality, he is now the owner and Master Blender at The GlenAllachie.

Under his stewardship, the company has achieved widespread acclaim. Among its many accolades, the GlenAllachie 12-year-old was named World’s Best Single Malt at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards.

It’s from this incredible record of success that Billy has cemented his reputation as one of the most prominent whisky figures of his generation.

Laphroaig
15 Year Old Islay Single Malt
70cl · 46% ABV

Laphroaig 15 Year Old brings extra depth to the distillery’s unmistakable Islay style, offering a more mature and rounded take on its bold coastal character. Now back in the core range after a ten year absence, it stays true to Laphroaig’s signature peat smoke while adding more richness, balance and complexity through 15 years of maturation on Islay.

£78.95

The return of Laphroaig 15 Year Old marks the arrival of one of Islay’s most celebrated age-statement whiskies as a permanent addition to the distillery’s core range. Matured exclusively in first-fill ex-bourbon casks for 15 years and bottled at 46% ABV without chill filtration, this expression showcases a more refined and mature side of Laphroaig while remaining unmistakably true to the distillery’s iconic smoky character.

Produced on the rugged south coast of Islay, Laphroaig has been crafting distinctive peated single malts since 1815. The extended maturation allows the powerful medicinal peat smoke, maritime salinity and coastal influence to integrate beautifully with layers of vanilla, citrus and orchard fruit drawn from the American oak. The result is a whisky of remarkable balance, offering exceptional depth without sacrificing the bold personality that has earned Laphroaig its loyal following across generations.

Compared with the distillery’s younger expressions, the 15 Year Old introduces greater elegance and complexity. Richer oak influence, softer smoke and enhanced fruit sweetness create a rounded, sophisticated dram that appeals equally to long-time Islay enthusiasts and those looking to step into older peated whiskies. Its combination of maturity, natural presentation and classic Laphroaig character makes it one of the standout age-statement releases in the modern range.

Whether enjoyed neat or with a few drops of water to reveal additional layers of fruit and spice, Laphroaig 15 Year Old delivers a memorable tasting experience. It is an outstanding choice for collectors of Islay whisky, fans of heavily peated single malts and anyone seeking a premium Scotch that perfectly balances smoke, sweetness and coastal complexity.