There are many reasons to enjoy being a member of the Society but one of our more unique aspects is the amount of information we share on our bottles. Sharing the distillation date is another insight into the one-of-a-kind casks we bottle for you. But there’s another part that’s developed over the years that we couldn’t have predicted: using matching distillation dates to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries.

Will the stars align for you? We’ve handpicked a selection of whiskies ranging from Leo to Capricorn for you to choose a dram for theirs, or your very own big day.

FIND YOUR ADVENTURE IN THE STARS

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

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 574: Scotland 2025 – 5 of 6 – Ben Nevis, Dalwhinnie & Tomatin

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, travels to Scotland. This is part 5 of a 6-part series about his trip to Scotland this year. In this video, he takes the ferry from Skye to the mainland and passes by the Glenfinnan Viaduct, famous from the Harry Potter films. Then he heads towards Fort William, where he visits the Ben Nevis distillery. He continues his journey to the Dalwhinnie distillery, passes by the Centre of Scotland Stone, and on the way to Inverness, he makes a brief stop at the Tomatin distillery. Enjoy the beautiful scenery.

https://youtu.be/89gUi1E0P9U

CLYDEBUILT WHISKY BRAND RELEASES

BATCH OF SINGLE MALTS

Boutique Scotch whisky brand Clydebuilt expands its portfolio with tranche of Single Malts

Award-winning Scotch whisky brand Clydebuilt today expands its portfolio with six new small batch Single Malt releases, including three Single Cask bottlings.

Independent Scotch whisky distillery Ardgowan is behind the boutique label, with the first release hitting shelves in 2019.

The site, based in Inverkip, filled its first cask with its own distillate and officially opened to the public last month after eight years of planning and construction.

The range is named after the distinguished shipbuilding trade historically on the River Clyde, with the word ‘Clydebuilt’ coming to stand for craftsmanship and integrity.

Distillery Manager Laura Davies, whose 13 years of experience includes mentorship under the late industry great, Dr Jim Swan, developed the new batch of Clydebuilt Single Malts.

The six releases, which were sourced from the world-renowned Speyside region, include:

• 12-year-old Sherry Cask Matured: aged in a combination of Sherry butts, followed by Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez hogsheads, this Single Malt is bottled at 46% ABV.
• 12-year-old 100 Proof Sherry Cask Matured: a higher strength iteration of the aforementioned expression, this whisky underwent the same maturation before being bottled at 57.1% ABV, conforming to the traditional British 100 proof system historically defined as the point at which a spirit could ignite gunpowder.
• 12-year-old Official Opening Day Release: bottled to commemorate the distillery’s official opening on 20^th June 2025, the Speyside Single Malt was matured in three Sherry casks and bottled at a cask strength of 59.5% ABV.
• 2012 Pedro Ximénez (PX) Hogshead Single Cask: presented at cask strength of 58.5% ABV, 352 bottles have been produced from cask number AS059 which formerly held PX: a dark, sweet style of Sherry wine.
• 2012 Oloroso Hogshead Single Cask: matured in cask AS076 which previously hosted Oloroso – the darkest of the dry Sherry styles – this limited release consists of just 342 bottles with an ABV of 59.0%.
• 2012 Manzanilla Hogshead Single Cask: aged in a rare Manzanilla cask, exclusively available from the Spanish coastal town of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, the lighter profile and maritime notes add a distinctive twist on the 335 bottles available at 61.1% ABV.
• 12-year-old Sherry Cask Matured: £46.99
• 12-year-old 100 Proof Sherry Cask Matured: £64.99
• 12-year-old Official Opening Day Release: £85
• 2012 PX Hogshead Single Cask: £85
• 2012 Oloroso Hogshead Single Cask: £85
• 2012 Manzanilla Hogshead Single Cask: £85

As is the case with all Clydebuilt whiskies, each expression is bottled without added colouring or chill filtration.

Remarking on the news, Davies shares:

“With Ardgowan situated on the Firth of Clyde, the rich history of craftsmanship local to our distillery is the inspiration for the Clydebuilt brand. Every whisky bottled under the name must be worthy of honouring the unmatched attention to detail and pride in quality of those that came before.”

“Our new Single Malts underwent maturation on-site at Ardgowan in premium European oak Sherry casks. All aged for 12 years, each delivers distinctive character owed to both the distillate profile and the maturation history. Most importantly, they are all bottled with an age statement, at a minimum of 46% ABV, without chill filtration and without artificial colouring. These are undoubtably Single Malts deserving of the Clydebuilt name.”

The distillery’s tour offering will launch imminently following the appointment of Visitor Centre Manager Barbara Campbell this month.

Clydebuilt Single Malts will be available via specialist retailers in the UK, Austria, Belgium, Sweden and Germany. Find out more here.

ABOUT CLYDEBUILT SCOTCH WHISKY:

Some of the greatest ships in the world were built on the River Clyde and so, over time, the word ‘Clydebuilt’ came to stand for craftsmanship, integrity and pride. The Clydebuilt brand was inspired by that exceptional legacy: a fitting tribute as Ardgowan Distillery, the home of the brand, is situated on the Firth of Clyde near Inverkip.

While Ardgowan Single Malt continues to slumber for many years, Whisky Maker Laura Davies applies the same meticulous approach to Clydebuilt. This is a boutique range of thoughtfully selected and masterfully matured Scotch whiskies that honour the spirit of the Clyde, emulating and upholding the attention to detail and the pride in quality of those that came before. Discover more.

Further information on Ardgowan Distillery Company can be found at ardgowandistillery.com

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TASTING NOTES:

Clydebuilt 12-year-old Sherry Cask Matured, 46% ABV

• Colour: Deep Amber.
• Nose: Raisins, figs and polished oak.
• Taste: Dark fruits and spices. A long and rounded finish with lingering depth.

Clydebuilt 12-year-old 100 Proof Sherry Cask Matured, 57.1% ABV

• Colour: Deep Amber.
• Nose: Raisins, dates, toasted nuts and spice.
• Taste: Full bodied with dried fruits, dark chocolate and leather.

 Clydebuilt 12-year-old Official Opening Day Release, 59.5% ABV

• Colour: Deep Mahogany.
• Nose: Lucious dried fruits, toasted nuts and rich Sherry sweetness.
• Taste: Bold and warming, with fig, raisin, spice and a velvety mouthfeel.

Clydebuilt 2012 Pedro Ximénez Hogshead Single Cask (AS059), 58.5% ABV

• Colour: Deep Mahogany.
• Nose: Ripe figs, sticky dates and rich caramel.
• Taste: Velvety toffee, dark chocolate and a touch of espresso.

Clydebuilt 2012 Oloroso Hogshead Single Cask (AS076), 59.0% ABV

• Colour: Deep Amber.
• Nose: Dark fruits and warming spice.
• Taste: Rich dried figs, dark chocolate and gentle oak, with nutmeg and toasted wood.

 Clydebuilt 2012 Manzanilla Hogshead Single Cask (AS041), 61.1% ABV

• Colour: Pale Gold.
• Nose: Crisp green apple, floral notes and toasted almonds.
• Taste: Zesty citrus with a gentle nuttiness. Fresh and delicate.

UPCOMING WHISKY SHOWS

Over the coming months, you’ll be able to find the Sales Team showcasing our drams at the following whisky shows.

August:
Kilkerran Shop Pour, Bonnie ‘n’ Wild, Edinburgh (UK)
Whisky Fringe, Edinburgh (UK)
Wee Gantry Tasting, Milngavie (UK)
Springbank Shop Pour, Green Welly, Crianlarich (UK)
Wee Gantry Tasting, Stirling (UK)

September:
Salon Dugas, Paris (France)
Whisky Messe Austria, Innsbruck (Austria)

October:
Starmore Boss Drinks Festival, Sheffield (UK)
M&P Pavlina Festival, Warsaw (Poland)
Whisky Show Budapest, Budapest (Hungary)
Wee Dram Festival, Bakewell (UK)
Swiss Whisky Festival, Baden (Switzerland)
Aberdeen Whisky Shop 15th Anniversary, Aberdeen (UK)
Dornoch Whisky Festival, Dornoch (UK)

November:
Northern Whisky Festival, Carlisle (UK)
Oslo Whisky Show, Oslo (Norway)
Glasgow Whisky Festival, Glasgow (UK)
Spirits in the Sky, Brussels (Belgium)
Springbank Whisky Cruise, Cologne (Germany)
Dumfries Whisky Festival, Dumfries (UK)

December:
Kendal Whisky Festival, Kendal (UK)

9 Bolgam Street, Campbeltown, Argyll, PA28 6HZ

July’s Drop has just landed!    

We’re serving up a bit of everything this month: two web-exclusive rums, a bold and fruity new chapter from Whiskyland, and four wildly different Decadent Drams to wrap your palate around. From high-ester funk to sherried elegance, this drop covers serious ground. Let’s get Decadent!

VIEW ALL

Johnnie Walker Black Label, 40%

THE REVIEW

In the world of massive brand deals and the still premiumisation of Scotch whisky, here we have a constant that hasn’t changed much in the space of the whisky industry. A combination of so many different flavours from across all of Scotland, malts and grains, aged for a minimum of twelve years and blended to create this multitude of balance, style, and timelessness.

As you can tell, Black Label is a favourite of mine. The story of how this whisky hooked me is an important one and is included in this video, but please do share your stories with me, even if they don’t include Black Label in any way.

This bottle has the history to put many other brands to bed, and indeed without this bottle, the Scottish whisky industry, along with many others wouldn’t be anywhere near as successful or important as it currently is.

(johnniewalker)

Whisky Reviews every Wednesday
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Glenfarclas releases its oldest whisky to date: The 70-Year-Old

We are proud to unveil the oldest expression ever released by Glenfarclas, one of Scotland’s few remaining family-owned and managed distilleries.

Distilled on 20 November 1953, and launched in 2025, the Glenfarclas 70-Year-Old marks a pinnacle in the distillery’s legacy, embodying over seven decades of meticulous ageing and expertise.

Matured in the distillery’s traditional dunnage warehouses in Speyside, this release was laid down in first-fill sherry casks. The whisky has been overseen by six distillery managers over the past seventy years and will now be available to purchase internationally.

“As Chairman of a family-owned distillery I am committed to overseeing the production of our exceptional malt whisky, just as my forefathers did before me. We take great pride in maintaining complete control over every aspect of production, preserving our time-honoured traditional methods – most notably, the use of direct-fired stills, which creates a robust and full-bodied spirit.

“Remarkably, this particular cask has been maturing almost as long as I’ve been alive.

Releasing it now marks a true milestone, and one that Callum and I have considered carefully and with great respect for its legacy.”

– John Grant, chairman and fifth generation of the Grant family to have owned and run Glenfarclas distillery

“This whisky has waited seventy years to be enjoyed. Through wars, the reign of a queen and now a king, the world has changed — but this spirit has endured, and it stands as a rare and timeless testament to patience and craft.”

– Callum A. Fraser, Distillery Manager at Glenfarclas

INTRODUCING THE GLENFARCLAS 70-YEAR-OLD

The latest release will be available to purchase via specialist retail suppliers across global markets. For more information visit www.glenfarclas.com

Tasting Notes

Colour: Polished dark teak with a subtle gleam – richly hued but not overly dark.

Nose: Soft and smooth, with gentle tannic undertones that never overwhelm. Opens with aromas of stewed fruits and traditional Scottish dumpling. A delicate thread of Speyside peat drawn from the slopes of Ben Rinnes – adds a lightly earthy, smoky nuance. The sweetness deepens, revealing layers of fruit compote, honeyed malt, and a quiet richness.

Palate: Dark chocolate laced with sherry-soaked dried fruits gives way to a refreshingly spicy tingle on the palate leading to a bold thread of rich, roasted coffee. The mouthfeel is luxuriously coated in treacle toffee, creating a full-bodied, indulgent texture.

Finish: The finish lingers and effortlessly clings to the roof of the mouth. Delicate peat resurfaces, rolling gently across the tongue with a green, grassy echo of Speyside origins.

This is Glenfarclas to its core.

Glenfarclas Glenfarclas Distillery Ballindalloch Banffshire, AB37 9BD United Kingdom

For the first time in our history we have decided to part with a treasure – and this is your chance to make it your own. Wolfburn has sold many freshly filled casks in the past, but never an aged one. Today we are breaking with tradition and auctioning one of our very best casks: a first-fill Madeira hogshead.

Resting gracefully for five years in our warehouses by the sea, the spirit inside this cask has already matured into something special. It is lovely whisky now and – if its new owner chooses to mature it for longer – it will become even more delectable as the years progress. We expect it to produce approximately 300 bottles.

This unique cask is being offered through sealed bids, with NO RESERVE – a rare opportunity to secure not just whisky, but a piece of Wolfburn’s story. To enter, simply send your bid by email to info@wolfburn.com before 2PM UK time on Sunday 3rd August.

Imagine owning an entire cask, a rare Highland masterpiece that few ever have the chance to call their own. Whether kept as a personal legacy or shared among fellow enthusiasts, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Will this chapter of Wolfburn history be yours to write?

Submit your sealed bid today, please include the word AUCTION in the subject line – and let the spirit of the Highlands become your legacy.

The Wolfburn Team

SUBMIT YOUR BID NOW VIA mail to:info@wolfburn.com