Like school, but better

This autumn, pursue your passion and do something useful with your time online. Our back to school programme encourages you to indulge your interest in whisky, while accumulating professional skills with piles of potential to set you up for success.

Whether your goal is to change careers, upskill or to simply get more enjoyment from your favourite drams, our suite of certificates, modules and diplomas provide access to expert practitioners across modular self-study, video tutorials and in-person teaching.

 BROWSE OUR PROGRAMME 

Learning highlights

Online Diploma in Single Malt Whisky

Our flagship course and highest award. Sign yourself up for a challenging yet enjoyable journey into the heart of Scotch. Plus, if you’ve already enjoyed a certificate course, you can claim back the cost against the diploma, either online or in-person. The in-person dates are available here.

“A solid foundation for anyone who’s passionate about the world of whisky and looking to take that knowledge to new heights.”
Robert Abad, August 2021

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Certificate in Scotch Whisky

Boost your appreciation of Scotch. Work through a series of interactive exercises, videos and pop quizzes and discover more about all things aqua vitae.

“The online course is very well put together. I have studied whisky for over 14 years and this course actually taught me more than the last 5 books I have read. Highly recommend!”
Bryne Valenzuela, August 2021

Certificate in Irish Whiskey

Explore the world of uisce beatha across a series of video lessons and interactive exercises written by Irish whiskey experts Fionnán O’Connor and Matt Healy.

“I thought I knew a lot about Irish whiskey already, but the course is a wealth of knowledge!”
Shane McGlynn, June 2021

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Focus on Flavour

Unlock the flavour secrets within your favourite drams in this short standalone module. Explore the chemistry behind flavour origination and enhance your enjoyment of every dram.

“Very good, in-depth information about whisky flavour making.”
Dennis Kruize, November 2020

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Wake Up Your Whisky Nose

Tap into the wonders of smell, emotion and memory in this short standalone module. Learn how to train your nose and become a better whisky taster.

“I’m now more acquainted with my life long tipple, Slàinte Mhath!”

Scott Rennie, April 2020

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Diploma in the Art of Tasting Whisky

Want to go even further? Delve into your senses, learn more about flavour origination and the wonder of oak in this one-day multi-sensory experience at the spectacular location of Arniston House.

“It was a great experience. I definitely recommend it.” Daniel Zaharia, August 2021

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Why study with us?

Here are five succinct reasons to be cheerful (when considering an Edinburgh Whisky Academy course):

1.  Trust our quality.

2.  Explore your passion.

3.  Learn from experts.

4.  Kickstart your career.

5.  Join our network.

Watch the video and read the more detailed reasons to sign up here.

Discover your unique learning journey

BERRY’S SPEYSIDE RESERVE BLENDED MALT WHISKY

Many of Scotland’s most famous malts hail from Speyside, known for their approachable, fruity style and floral complexity. Our Classic Speyside Malt captures the very essence of the region, balancing subtle, honeyed fruit aromas with easy-going yet complex aromas.

£26.90

Appearance: Golden Syrup
Bouquet: Honeyed fruit, citrus and soft wood
Palate: Creamy citrus, honey, rounded
Finish: Soft fruits, mid-long

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2011 Glen Scotia 10 Year Old “Malts Festival 2021 Limited Edition” Cask Strength Bordeaux Red Wine Finish

Un-Peated Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) (Elsewhere $100)

$79.99 View

The Malts Festival bottlings of Glen Scotia have been an enormous hit the last several years, and this exquisite bottling is sure to be no different. Sold out instantly from the Glen Scotia website, we don’t expect our small allocation to last long here in California either. The whiskey is made up exclusively of Glen Scotia’s unpeated runs from 2009-2011 and aged in first fill Bourbon casks before a 5-month finish in first fill Bordeaux red wine casks. Bottled at the natural cask strength of 56.1% ABV this edition highlights Glen Scotia naturally sweet fruited malt enhanced by the bright red fruit of fresh Bordeaux wine casks.

GLENALLACHIE RELEASES CASK STRENGTH OLOROSO-FINISHED

WHISKY EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE UK

The Scotch whisky distillery, led by iconic Master Distiller Billy Walker, debuts

single malt finished in Oloroso casks for UK market

The multi-award-winning Speyside distillery behind the World’s Best Single Malt (World Whiskies Awards, 2021) today reveals a limited-edition created exclusively for the UK. The GlenAllachie 14-year-old Oloroso Wood Finish joins the innovative Wood Finish series.

Presented at natural cask strength of 55.4%, the 14-year-old single malt (UK RRSP £89.99) is a small-batch release initially matured in first and second fill American oak barrels, before being re-racked for over two years aging in Oloroso puncheons personally sourced by whisky industry stalwart Billy Walker.

Walker has earnt widespread acclaim for his superlative wood management and blending expertise. After an almost half century in the whisky industry, Walker was inducted into Whisky Magazine’s Hall of Fame earlier this year for his exceptional and lasting contribution to the world of whisky.

After closely monitoring the maturing spirit within the Oloroso-seasoned Spanish oak casks, Walker determined when the perfect balance between distillery and wood character was achieved. The whisky was then bottled without added colouring or chill filtration.

The result is an exceptional single malt that delivers rich sherry-matured indulgence; notes of sticky raisins, gooey dark chocolate pudding, zesty orange and fresh espresso, all coupled with classic GlenAllachie honeyed charm.

Commenting on the exciting UK release, Walker said:

“As soon as we acquired The GlenAllachie distillery, I knew exactly what direction I wanted us to take the liquid in; a single malt known for its bold, indulgent sherried character.

“This UK bottling is no different, with all those archetypal Oloroso tones you would expect – rich cocoa, cinnamon sticks, tangy orange and fresh ginger, all alongside a warming mocha depth. A sophisticated single malt that exemplifies the exciting direction that we have been taking The GlenAllachie in.”

The GlenAllachie 14-year-old Oloroso Wood Finish is available now exclusively from UK specialist retailers, with an RRSP of £89.99.

ABOUT GLENALLACHIE:

One of Scotland’s few independently owned and managed distilleries, The GlenAllachie is led by industry veteran, Billy Walker, who boasts an almost 50-year tenure in whisky. With an emphasis on wood policy, The GlenAllachie’s cask budget for 2021 stands at an eye-watering £1m/$1.2m. With 16 on-site warehouses holding over 50,000 casks, we have complete control of the end-to-end maturation process.

The GlenAllachie focusses on quality over quantity, which is why we chose to reduce our production capacity from 4m to 500,000 Litres of Alcohol, and increase our fermentation period to 160 hours for an ester rich, fruity spirit.

We believe age and integrity matter, which is why all our whiskies carry an age statement, and are bottled at a minimum of 46% ABV, natural colour and non-chill filtered for maximum flavour experience.

Our other brands are MacNair’s Boutique House of Spirits, encompassing Lum Reek Blended Malt Scotch Whisky and Exploration Rum, and White Heather Blended Scotch Whisky.

Further information on the distillery and company can be found at www.theglenallachie.com

Facebook – @TheGlenAllachie

Twitter – @TheGlenAllachie

Instagram – @theglenallachie_

TASTING NOTES

The GlenAllachie 14-year-old Oloroso Wood Finish – 55.4% ABV (Cask Strength) – UK Exclusive

• Colour: Burnished Mahogany.
• Nose: Rich butterscotch alongside warming mocha, toasted almonds and gentle pineapple.

• Taste: Fresh espresso and dark chocolate, with zesty orange, sticky raisins and hints of ginger.

STAMP OF APPROVAL

Our Gathering celebrations are in full swing, with members coming together to share drams and good times at events across the globe and even in their own homes. If you haven’t been involved yet, it’s not too late – head to our events page to check out what is coming up.

TAKE ME TO THE GATHERING

The Gathering is all about sharing our love for whisky, and we’re delighted to release some specially selected bottlings for the occasion, including casks which was sampled and approved by members!

HERBSTLICHES PICKNICK MIT ZITRONENKUCHEN

Cask No. 9.212

Back in 2020, we sent out samples, hosted events, and invited members to submit tasting notes and names for this cask. The entries were used by the Tasting Panel to create the final tasting note which appears on the bottle and in the Outturn, and our Austrian member Wolfgang Muellner came up with this uniquely descriptive name. We hope you all enjoy it as much as our sample group did!

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

BERRY’S SHERRY CASK MATURED BLENDED MALT WHISKY

Sherry casks are considered a luxury in Whisky making. These expensive barrels imbue a spirit with distinctive notes of deep fruit, citrus and nuts. Our Classic Sherry Cask Malt is blended from the best Sherry butts to deliver a balanced expression of this uniquely engaging style.

£26.90

Appearance: Enticingly dark
Bouquet: Sherry prominence with secondary resinous and prune like notes. Invitingly seductive.
Palate: Well balanced fruit on a Sherry bed. Wonderfully satisfying and fulfilling.
Finish: Long, lingering Sherry delight

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Westward ” K&L Exclusive” Single Barrel #277 Cask Strength Single Barrel American Single Malt Whiskey (750ml)

$99.99 View

Westward has long been producing some of the finest American Single Malts available due to a few very intentional choices and Scottish-like climate. We’ve selected one of their oldest available casks and it’s a classic. Westward only uses Pacific Northwest grown barley and it’s all malted just 10 miles from the distillery at Great Western Maltings. This two-row barley is malted to spec – high color pale malt – which would be something akin to a medium or medium + coffee roast. This brings out an array of beautiful toasted flavors ranging from filberts, almonds, and coffee to chocolate nibs and cereals. Perhaps the biggest flavor differentiator is in the yeast choice. The vast majority of distillers use an highly efficient distiller’s yeast, not so here. Westward employs the Chico Strain ale yeast – the very same yeast that accounts for Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale’s famous flavor. Combine that with a low and slow 5 day ferment and the tropical fruit esters in the whisky are off the charts. Sweet mash leads to a little extra variation from barrel to barrel making the selection that much more special. Our barrel was aged in brand new #2 char 100% American oak for over 5 years in Clackamas, OR. The predominantly cool and wet climate with a short hot summer isn’t all that different from Scotland allowing for that ester development combined with barrel extraction that makes great single malt so special. Distilled 4-21-16. Bottled 6-10-21. 126.8 Proof.

The latest batch from Ardnamurchan…

Another anticipated release from the much-loved Ardnamurchan Distillery, AD/07.21:05 is a 50:50 mix of peated and unpeated spirit with a marriage of 35% maturation in sherry casks, and the remaining 65% in ex-bourbon casks. A more-ishly fruity, sweet and savoury dram with a pinch of salt and a fresh wisp of bonfire smoke.

Buy Now … £45.00 →

Ardnamurchan AD/07.21:05 Description

Now In Stock

The Mossburn name was released in 2017 as a range of classic Independent Bottler Malts. In the nearly three decades prior, the team developed and honed its skills in blending and bottling whiskies and a variety of other spirits. Their combined experience spans generations, with over a century of continuous family history in the Scotch Whisky industry.

SEE THE FULL COLLECTION

Everything You Need To Know About Whisky

Our book – Everything You Need To Know About Whisky (but are too afraid to ask) – is out and picking up great reviews.

“Content-wise it’s possibly the most honest and wide-ranging book on whisky….”

— Becky Paskin, drinks writer

“This is a well-written, weighty and robustly honest romp through the past, present and future of an engaging and entertaining business.”

— Joel Harrison, Club Oenologique

“I suspect even seasoned enthusiasts will read this quasi-essay from cover to cover, exactly the kind of book that’s needed while a lot of regular encyclopaedic whisky stuff is now available online.”

— Serge Valentin, Whisky Fun

Get your copy now, only at The Whisky Exchange.

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