There are plenty of ways to enjoy the spirit of summer at our Members’ Rooms. Sign up for one of our Caskmaster heats, join us for a tasting at the Fringe or head to one of our On the Road tastings in the UK.

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SMWS ON THE ROAD

SMWS AT THE FRINGE

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

145 YEAR OLD DISTILLERY

CELEBRATES ITS 25 YEAR RENAISSANCE!

Since its original establishment in 1881, Bruichladdich was for much of its early life a workaday distillery on Islay located on the western shore of the Lochindaal Bay across from Bowmore. Intended by its founders, the three Harvey brothers who were scions of a Glasgow distilling family, to be be a modern distillery of the Victorian Age, the facility was meticulously designed and built around stone buildings that used state-of-the-art coal technology vs. the peat-drying traditions that were typical of the region. Operations hummed along under Harvey ownership for 50+ years until a fire in 1934 and William Harvey’s death in 1936 brought a close to the opening era.​

After some years of idled operations, Bruichladdich was re-launched under a string of new owners who began to dabble in peated whiskies and continued to do so for decades. With the addition of two stills in 1975, production expanded to the point that by the 1990s, the distillery was producing more product than ever before and under then owner Jim Beam, the bean-counters in Kentucky considered the whole distilling operation surplus to requirements. Thankfully, the distillery was simply mothballed until, in 2001, a consortium led by London Wine Shop owner Mark Reynier brought it back to life and, ever since, it has grown to be a darling of Islay.​

Key to the ascendancy of Bruichladdich since its renaissance was the new owners’ choice of renowned Master Distiller Jim McEwan to lead operations. Jim had gotten his start in the world of Scotch at age 15 learning to make barrels at Bowmore, then was named Cellar Master at age 22 and, by the age of 37, he was Distillery Manager He held that post until his “retirement” in 2000, but was soon enticed to go across the bay and restart Bruichladdich. Under his guidance, the portfolio was refined and expanded to encompass three distinct lines: unpeated spirits under the Bruichladdich banner; heavily peated Scotches under the brand Port Charlotte; and super-heavily peated whisky under the Octomore name. In 2013, Bruichladdich was purchased by the drinks giant Remy Martin and Jim finally retired, leaving the Master Distiller responsibilities to Adam Hannett who had apprenticed with him over the prior decade. Adam learned his craft well and has continued the fine traditions established by his mentor, crafting outstanding Single Malts for the entire portfolio, which offers something for every Islay whisky palate.

​Cheers!​

SHOP BRUICHLADDICH

 Tamdhu 21 Year Old named Overall Winner

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards

We’ve been having a great time at this year’s Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, and I wanted to share some news with you directly. At the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards, Tamdhu 21 Year Old was named Overall Winner – a special moment for a whisky we’ve nurtured with great care. The recognition was echoed by Forbes, who praised its balance, depth, and clarity of character.

I was also delighted to see Tamdhu Distinction III awarded Gold in the Non‑Age Statement category.

Collecting these awards was a proud moment for all of us at Tamdhu. They reflect a commitment we’ve never wavered from: a single malt dedicated entirely to sherry oak, made patiently and with purpose. If you have a dram open, I hope you enjoy it all the more. And if not, there’s never been a finer moment to pour one.

A Deep Dive into Johnnie Walker

From its beginnings in a small Scottish grocery to the household name it is today, Johnnie Walker has shaped the whisky landscape for more than two centuries. This guide to the top-selling scotch label dives into its history and unique portfolio, stretching from the approachable Red Label to coveted limited releases.

Irish Whiskey Technical File Public Consultation

Take Time Before You Respond – Informed Feedback Carries Greater Weight

Following last weeks publication of the draft Irish Whiskey Technical File for public consultation, we are encouraging everyone to take some time before submitting any formal response.

This is a very positive step but our advice at this stage is not to rush.

There are two important reasons for this:

1. More informed analysis will emerge over the coming days.
A number of respected technical experts and experienced figures from across the Irish whiskey industry will be reviewing the document in detail and sharing their insights. Their analysis will help navigate some of the more complex language and provide valuable context for what the proposed changes may actually mean in practice.

2. There appear to be one or two inaccuracies within the published draft.
We understand these may be addressed or clarified during the consultation process, so it is worth allowing time for any corrections or explanatory guidance before forming final conclusions.

The consultation remains open until 4 September 2026, so there is no advantage in submitting an immediate response. Taking the time to fully understand the proposals will help ensure that any feedback is informed, accurate and carries greater weight.

We will continue to monitor developments closely and share further analysis and guidance as more information becomes available.

What this means for Killowen?

Killowen set up their distillery to make real Pot Still Irish Whiskey; we have not laid down a single cask of the current GI-restricted whiskey in five years. As such, everything we have in bond will safely and rightfully become official Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey upon the correction of this technical file. This means the world to us, as we bet the house and put our keys on it from day one. The very first whiskey we ever distilled was real Pot Still that is not yet legally recognised as such. We all owe it to history and to our culinary heritage to correct this.

Useful public resources:

• Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine – Public Consultation (consultation portal and documents)
https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/

Useful detailed reading resources:

https://arrow.tudublin.ie/tfschcafdoc/7/

Useful light reading resources:

https://www.irishwhiskeymagazine.com/magazine/premium/historic-mashbills/

Sláinte

The Killowen Distillery Team

Bunnahabhain An Cuan Garbh No. 1 White Port Cask Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Meaning “the rough seas” in Scots Gaelic, An Cuan Garbh marks the second chapter in the Westering Home Collection by Bunnahabhain. Where the first chapter of Turas Math began with preparation, this release reflects the crossing itself: a passage defined by challenge, transformation, and discovery.

Finished in white port casks from Portugal’s Douro Valley, it carries the richness of distant shores and the reward of the journey’s end.

Spend more to save more on American whiskey

There are few things we love more than American whiskey, but announcing an offer like this might be one of them! For a limited time, if you spend over £80 on 2 bottles of American whiskey, you’ll get £10 off; and if you spend over £150 on 2 bottles of American whiskey, you’ll get £20 off.

To redeem, simply add two eligible bottles to your basket and enter BRBN10 or BRBN20 at checkout to claim your discount.

SHOP NOW

15 years ago, a dream turned into reality. The process of building and preparing the distillery for producing spirit was a huge job.  On July 4th 2011 the first spirit was put into barrels to begin the aging process. Since then, award winning single malt whiskies have been produced and enjoyed the around the world. It’s been a wonderful journey, and one that is only just beginning. Judging by the quality of the whisky that is coming out of the warehouse there are exciting things to come.

If you are able to make it to the distillery we are having a little celebration, some live music and some cocktails & charcuterie and we’d love to see you here. We’ll also have a limited release of 30 bottles of the 15 Year Old Single Malt available.

The Harris Journal – Discover our Drams

Since the launch of The Hearach, each bottle has carried its own unique batch number on the stopper seal, marking a moment in the story of our whisky.

In the near future, we will reach our nineteenth batch release with the strip code HE0001924. It will be the final numbered batch of The Hearach Single Malt, bringing this chapter of our whisky’s journey to a close.

The whisky itself remains unchanged. We will continue to craft, mature and marry The Hearach in carefully composed batches, just as we always have. The difference is simply that the batch numbers will no longer appear on the seal, while the design and tasting notes will become consistent.

Removing the numbers will simplify things for customers while allowing avid fans to complete the collection that began with our very first release. For those who have followed every batch, HE0001924 offers a fitting conclusion.

When batches 17, 18 and 19 become available online next week, the numbered series will be complete. It marks the end of one chapter in the story of The Hearach, but it is far from the end of the story.

DISCOVER OUR DRAMS