Alex and Nick Ravenhall, known as The Whisky Smugglers, who on Sunday 29th and Monday 30th August will swim around Scottish islands Jura and Islay, all with bottles of whisky strapped to their bodies to raise money for Sea Shepherd New Zealand.

The Māori brothers founded Whisky and Waves, an ocean awareness charity, to call attention to the vulnerability of the earth’s beautiful waterways. They united on creating a campaign that would encourage a wider global responsibility for overfishing, poaching and environmental waste which have all destroyed marine populations and polluted the seas. The pair felt a special calling to work with Sea Shepherd on this project, whose charity work includes protecting Maui’s dolphins endemic to New Zealand. Teaming up with some of the UK’s leading distilleries, the drams will be used to create bespoke cask whiskies, which will be sold later this year to raise money to help protect and conserve New Zealand’s waters.

The brothers now based in the UK both work in the new world whisky scene. Nick is the Managing Director for Edinburgh’s innovative Holyrood Distillery, whilst Alex is Head of Events for Atom Brands, whose clients include the famous independent whisky bottling brand Boutique-y Whisky Company. Both working in the drinks industry, the pair decided to tackle the global water problem in the sphere of whisky and in 2019 already raised $11,000 for Sea Shepherd.

Scotch Whisky Auctions are on the road again!

Please see below for our September 2021 schedule. To register your interest in a collection please complete the form which can be found here. Please note home collections are available to those customers sending 10+ bottles or bottles to the value of £1000 and above. Please get in touch if your area is not listed below but you would like a home collection. We will do our best to accommodate all requests.

Location                               Date                                       Request Deadline

Inverness Tuesday 7th September 2021 – from 11am by appointment only Monday 6th September 2021 at 12 noon

Elgin Tuesday 7th September 2021 From 1.30pm by appointment only Monday 6th September 2021 at 12 noon

Aberdeen Wednesday 8th September 2021 From 1.30pm by appointment only Monday 6th September 2021 at 12 noon

Ayrshire Home Collections Tuesday 14th September 2021Friday 10th September 2021 at 12 noon

Dumfries Home Collections Tuesday 14th September 2021Friday 10th September 2021 at 12 noon

Islay Thursday 16th September 2021 From 6pm by appointment only Tuesday 14th September 2021 at 12 noon

Edinburgh Home Collections Thursday 16th September 2021Tuesday 14th September 2021 at 12 noon

Stirlingshire Home Collections Friday 17th September 2021Tuesday 14th September 2021 at 12 noon

Fife Home Collections Friday 17th September 2021Tuesday 14th September 2021 at 12 noon

England

England Home Collections Friday 10th September 2021 – Tuesday 14th September 2021Tuesday 7th September 2021 at 12 noon

London E16Sunday 12^th September 2021 From 10am by appointment only Tuesday 7th September 2021 at 12 noon

London SW16Sunday 12^th September 2021 From 10am by appointment only Tuesday 7th September 2021 at 12 noon

London NW2Sunday 12^th September 2021 From 10am by appointment only Tuesday 7th September 2021 at 12 noon

London W14Sunday 12^th September 2021 From 10am by appointment only Tuesday 7th September 2021 at 12 noon

Manchester Monday 13^th September 2021 From 6.30pm by appointment only Tuesday 7th September 2021 at 12 noon

Collections are limited and by appointment only. If you would like to attend please complete the form which can be found here. Please note dead lines apply for collection requests. In a bid to adhere to social distancing guidelines it would be appreciated if bottles could be packed for uplift with the submission form and label completed.

A winner in our auction? We are now offering a delivery (to collection point) service to customers who are dropping bottles off for a future auction. This service is charged at £12 (inc VAT), optional loss and breakage cover is available.

Submission Form & Label

Glen Garioch 10 Year Old

The fifth and final edition of our mini series exclusive to the Inverurie Whisky Shop. This time we have selected a 10 Year Old from the Glen Garioch from a single Ex-Bourbon Cask #2296. The cask yielded 303 hand numbered bottles, bottled at 56.5% ABV

Nose: Fresh apples and pears initially lead onto sugar covered cereal and vanilla ice cream. Wet sawdust and some apricots popping up occasionally.

Palate: Fruity notes play under an oak canvas. Honey and spiced orange peel, Digestive biscuit notes with some subtle white chocolate tones.

Finish: Long and dry, mouth sapping with citrus notes.

East Aquorthies Stone Circle

The East (or Easter) Aquorthies Stone Circle is one of the oldest, and perhaps the best preserved of the 90 Stone Circles in Aberdeenshire. The name “Aquorthies” comes from the Scots Gaelic for “Field of Prayer”, and it is easy to see why. Peaceful, relaxing and boasting stunning views across to the East of Aberdeenshire, it is truly a hidden gem of a monument. It is a fitting tribute to Glen Garioch distillery. A hidden gem of a whisky in the East of Aberdeenshire. Like East Aquorthies, it is one of the oldest distilleries in the area, dating back to 1797. Across the views you see where the barley is grown, historically used for Glen Garioch malt. The landscape perfectly encapsulates the whisky in the glass. Green, fresh and elegant. This is definitely a dram to enjoy with friends in the warm weather.

£60.00

SHOP NOW

FEELING THE LOVE

September is just around the corner, and at the Society, we are getting in the groove for our Gathering celebrations – a month of festivities to commemorate all things Society. We’ll be releasing exclusive bottlings, hosting spectacular events – both in our Members’ Rooms and at special locations – and sharing drams online. To get involved, head to the website to see what is on near you.

GO TO THE GATHERING

If you can’t wait until then, we’re releasing four new preview bottlings from the September Outturn this afternoon to get the party started early. We will release the full allocation of these casks at 2pm (UK time) today, which will be followed by the September Outturn release next Friday, 3 September at 9am.

VIEW NEW WHISKIES

HOME DINING IS BACK

Fancy being treated to a 60s-inspired menu from our award-winning Queen Street culinary team in the comfort of your own home? Then Home Dining is for you. We’re bringing the experience back for one weekend only to celebrate The Gathering. Each box will arrive with a three-course meal, all prepped and ready to be popped in the oven at home. You’ll also receive three perfectly matched Society whiskies and instructional videos to help you plate the meal and serve the whisky. Home Dining is available for nationwide delivery* on Friday 17th September, or for collection from our Queen Street Members’ Room on Saturday 18 September.

SEE THE GATHER MENU       BOOK MY HOME DINING

THE GATHERING VIRTUAL TASTING

The Gathering is all about coming together with other Society members, so for those of you who can’t join us at an event, we invite you to join us in sharing a dram online! Society master ambassador John McCheyne will be joined by The Vaults’ very own Dean Marinello to host a very special virtual tasting on Thursday, 30 September.

Share five drams that have been bottled exclusively for The Gathering, it is guaranteed to be a fun-filled evening, sharing memories and stories about the Society. To get involved, simply purchase your Gathering Discovery Pack, get your glassware ready and join us on Facebook or YouTube at 8pm on the 30th. See you there!

DISCOVER MORE

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

In-person places available

At long last, the time has come where we can safely return to our usual class size of 16 for in-person diploma courses. That means, instead of most courses showing as ‘sold out’ online, there are now plenty of places available to be snapped up; from those in 3 weeks’ time right the way through 2022.

So, you can fill your boots with an intensive, industry relevant journey into the heart of Scotch over two days with Vic Cameron (Diploma in Single Malt Whisky), a fun and interactive one day course exploring all things sensory with Dr Gordon Steele (Diploma in the Art of Tasting Whisky).

Diploma in Single Malt Whisky

Mon 13 & Tue 14 Sep (4 places)
Mon 27 & Tue 28 Sep (7 places)
Wed 17 & Thu 18 Nov (4 places)
Tue 23 & Wed 24 Nov (7 places)

Diploma in the Art of Tasting Whisky

Wed 15 Sep (7 places)
Wed 29 Sep (9 places)
Fri 19 Nov (2 places)
Mon 22 Nov (9 places)

 READ MORE 

BENRIACH – MALTING SEASON

The first edition of Malting Season from Benriach.

Every year during ‘Malting Season’ their dedicated team of craftsmen malt barley onsite the old way, using historic floor maltings. The malt produced during their ‘Malting Season’ results in a rounded and creamy single malt of exceptional richness of character, a tribute to their founder and the slow craft of his historic maltings, which their team of skilled craftsmen continue to this day, in the pursuit of exceptional flavour.

This first edition of Benriach Malting Season is crafted entirely onsite beginning with the hand malting of concerto barley in their traditional floor maltings and finishing with slow maturation in bourbon and virgin oak casks in their earthen floored dunnage warehouses. The result is an extraordinary smooth single malt, richly aromatic with layers of roasted malt and barley sweetness.

Available for immediate dispatch

Tasting Notes

Colour: Barley gold

Nose: Richly aromatic with barley sugar, almond fudge and poached orchard apple.

Palate: Smooth and rounded with vanilla and honeyed pear, with the lasting nuttiness of slowly kilned malt.

Welcome to this weeks episode of the show. This week it’s a viewers selection tasting as all the samples wee kindly supplied by my good friend Guy Dutton.

https://youtu.be/Wf1vkIUfkWE

JACK DANIEL’S LAUNCHES FIRST AGE-STATED WHISKEY IN OVER 100 YEARS

Ten-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey Available in Limited Quantities Across the U.S. in September 2021 

LYNCHBURG, Tenn. (August 24, 2021) – The Jack Daniel Distillery announces the release of Jack Daniel’s 10-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey, the brand’s first 10-year age-stated whiskey in more than 100 years. The limited-availability product, which will become an annual release, celebrates the modern whiskey-making expertise of the Jack Daniel Distillery while paying tribute to the brand’s past.

“Over the last decade, we’ve been experimenting to craft a product that would properly honor the whiskey Jack Daniel was bottling at the end of the 1800’s,” said Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller Chris Fletcher. “All of us at the Jack Daniel Distillery are thrilled to release an age-stated whiskey for the first time in over 100 years to be enjoyed by all. This product has been hand-crafted by our distillery team in Lynchburg over the last 10 summers all while keeping up with the growing demand for Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey around the world. This 10-year-old whiskey celebrates our modern-day whiskey making, while also paying tribute to our founder and history. It is a special time for us all.”

Fletcher evolved the distillery’s previous aged methods by maturing Jack Daniel’s iconic Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey in oak barrels that were relocated throughout the barrelhouse to extend the aging process over the past ten years. The result is a more complex, hand-crafted whiskey with a rare flavor profile. Bottled at 97 proof—a first for the Jack Daniel Distillery—Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey 10-Year-Old features notes of dry fig and raisin laced with oak on the nose, warm butterscotch alongside soft fruit and smoke on the palate, and an incredibly long finish with sweet tobacco and spice.

The 10-Year-Old bottle design is also inspired by the brand’s history, featuring a hand-drawn iteration of the original cartouche that appeared on Jack Daniel’s aged-stated bottles a century ago.

Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey 10-Year-Old retails for $70 in a 750mL size with the first batch hitting shelves in limited quantities in early September across the United States. Visit www.jackdaniels.com for more information.

About Jack Daniel’s

Officially registered by the U.S. Government in 1866 and based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery is the first registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Jack Daniel’s is the maker of the world-famous Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Double Mellowed Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye, Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select and Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails. Today, Jack Daniel’s is a true global icon found in more than 170 countries around the world and is the most valuable spirits brand in the world as recognized by Interbrand.

Your friends at Jack Daniel’s remind you to drink responsibly.

Laphroaig 25 Year Old
Cask Strength

The sought-after annual release from Laphroaig has spent 25 years in ex-bourbon casks, left free from chill filtration and at a cask strength of 51.9% abv – truly the most natural way to enjoy the legendary Islay malt. A more-ishly sweet, herbal and medicinal smoky dram!

25 years old, cask strength, from one of Scotland’s most iconic distilleries? What is not to love about this highly sought-after annual release from Laphroaig? This one has a 25 year long slumber in ex-bourbon casks, carefully looked after by the ever watchful eyes over at the Laphroaig Distillery. This non-chill filtered dram is one to savour. Bottled in 2021, it lies at a cask strength 51.9% abv to preserve the full depth of flavour. The flavour itself is a subtle and elegant twist on the Laphroaig characteristics, an outstanding gift for any single malt lover. Moreish in the extreme!

£430.00
Buy Now ›

Barrel Select Release 2 – PRE ORDER

The second release in this series is available to order now, a luscious 13YO Glenmorangie, finished for a massive FOUR years in Cognac Casks. The second in the Barrel Select Series, (last years being the Malaga Cask), this is The Glenmorangie Cognac Cask Finish.

The Single Malt’s delicate, fruity spirit was distilled on Friday 22nd February 2008, and laid down in American white oak bourbon casks. Some eight years later, inspired by its soft, mellow taste, Dr Bill selected this whisky for a unique experiment with Cognac Casks. Therefore this release is finished for FOUR years in Cognac Casks.

With wonderful finesse, it threads the cognac casks’ notes of clove, pepper and hints of leather through Glenmorangie’s Classic fruity tones.

Official Tasting notes:

Aroma – Apple tart and toffee are delectably deepened by a subtle note of forest floor. Then Glenmorangie’s fruity bursts of baked apples, oranges and pears fill the air.
Taste – Sweet and almost sparkling, like toffee apples and baked pears scattered with almonds and slices of mandarin orange. That fruitiness is deliciously threaded with clove, star anise and soft hints of leather.
Finish – Long, elegant and gently mentholic.

From Glenmorangie Whisky Distillery.

PRE ORDER NOW