A whisky tasting and live music gig with The Rhythm and Booze Project!

Sometimes an event comes along that shouldn’t be missed; this is one of those times.

SMWS Canada is beyond thrilled to welcome to Calgary, for one night only, The Rhythm & Booze Project, a blues duo out of the UK which incorporates whisky tastings into their roots, folk, and blues live music gigs. Blending infectious showmanship with their high-energy music, you’re in for an amazing evening of fantastic music and delicious SMWS whiskies.

Wednesday, January 14th

The Confluence (formerly Fort Calgary)

$65 – doors open at 7:00pm for a 7:30pm start (should wrap up around 9:30pm)

GET TICKETS HERE

Here’s a little teaser of what to expect (ignore the whiskies in the video; we’re pourin’ SMWS drams!):

INTRODUCING PYXIS

At Compass Box, we’ve always encouraged people to drink creatively – to explore flavour, try new serves, and enjoy whisky in whatever way feels right to them. We love sharing the tools that make that exploration easier, whether it’s cocktail ideas, insights from our Whiskymakers, or the inspirations behind our blends.

Today, we’re excited to share something new that brings all of this to life in a fresh way.

Introducing Pyxis – our multilingual, AI-powered whisky guide. Trained by our Whiskymaking team, Pyxis helps you explore flavour, understand our whiskies, and discover bottles you might enjoy – all through a simple conversation. Whether you’re curious about cask types, looking for a cocktail idea, or choosing a gift, Pyxis is here to guide you.

A few words from Racheal, who leads Marketing at Compass Box:

“For 25 years, we’ve led with flavour and imagination, using clear, familiar language to help people explore Scotch in a way that feels open, intuitive, and genuinely enjoyable. Pyxis continues that mission – it’s a digital extension of our blending philosophy, meeting people wherever they are on their whisky journey.” 

It adapts to each user’s level of whisky knowledge – from first-time explorers to seasoned Scotch lovers, and will be updated with information on Limited Editions and new releases over time.

So, if you’ve ever wanted a friendly flavour guide at your fingertips, we hope Pyxis becomes a welcoming way to explore the world of Compass Box.

TALK TO PYXIS

West Midlands Distillery Rowielia – Lightly Peated English Single Malt Whisky

Rowielia is the second release from West Midlands Distillery, a lightly peated single malt crafted from two casks: first fill Heaven Hill bourbon and an Islay quarter cask.

Bottled at 51.6% ABV, it retains the distillery’s bold, thick spirit character while introducing gentle peat that opens into rich fruit notes. Designed as an inviting “gateway” style, it balances smoke with sweetness, celebrating the coal, stone and heritage of Rowley Regis from which it takes its Anglo-Saxon name.

With only 412 bottles produced and each hand-painted, this is a distinctive and highly limited English whisky release.

70cl · 51.6%ABV

£ 79.95

ADD TO BASKET

A (Sensory) Date for January?

We all know January can feel… long. After all the festivities, who wouldn’t welcome an indulgent day to lift the spirits? The Certificate in Sensory Appreciation (16 January), is all about flavour and having fun with it. Teachers Vic Cameron and Gordon Steele will lead four hands-on workshops, delicious samples and plenty of sensory surprises. Get ahead and book two spots for the perfect gift or treat yourself solo to a day your senses won’t forget!

📖 Learn More

THREE ‘banger’ peated scotch whiskies for 2026

THE VIDEO

Rare Find unveils extraordinary 42-year-old Caol Ila single cask release

Landmark whisky bottled to celebrate culmination of 10th anniversary year 

Rare Find, the acclaimed independent bottler, marks the end of its 10th anniversary year with the release of a 42-year-old single cask, single malt Scotch whisky from Caol Ila Distillery.  Drawn from refill hogshead #1288, this exceptional Islay whisky pays homage to the company’s journey – fittingly returning to Caol Ila, the source of Rare Find’s very first bottling.

This milestone single malt release is a celebration of time, craftsmanship, and the Rare Find ethos: of producing whiskies that are “rare by design.” Aged for over four decades and with 42 bottles bottled at a natural cask strength of 51.7% ABV, the Rare Find Caol Ila 42- year-old offers aromas of Cuban cigars and candied tropical fruits alongside delicate, earthy peat smoke. The palate offers vibrant banana and lemon together with minerality and elegant, ethereal smoke, leading to a finish that is exceptionally long and contemplative.

The anniversary release has an RRP of £999 and will be available from select Rare Find stockists from 12th December 2025 .

The Caol Ila 42-year-old not only embodies Rare Find’s founding vision of creating whiskies that are truly rare by design but also marks a milestone in the brand’s 10th anniversary, celebrating a decade of growth and its reputation as one of the most trusted names in the whisky world.

Speaking of the release, Founder Derek Mair said: “Our Caol Ila 42-Year-Old is a whisky of distinction – remarkable not just for its lineage, echoing the spirit of our very first release, but for embodying the essence of everything we pursue: profound depth, genuine authenticity and singular character. Decades of patient maturation have sculpted this venerable spirit into an archetype of what Rare Find represents – whiskies defined by character that are pure enjoyment in every sip.”

Like all Rare Find whiskies, the Caol Ila 42-Year-Old is bottled without compromise – natural cask strength, natural colour, and no chill filtration – ensuring the whisky’s integrity is preserved from cask to bottle.

Caol Ila 42-year-old

Drawn from refill hogshead #1288

51.7%, 42 bottles only

RRP £999

Available from selected retailers from 12th December 2025 

Nose: Cuban cigars, camphor and earthy peat smoke join candied tropical fruits, sea spray and cold ashes.

Palate: Vibrant fruits – banana and preserved lemons – sit alongside ethereal, maritime peat smoke – whilst chiselled minerality, chamois leather and eucalyptus are supported by honey and orange oil.

Finish: Lingering beach bonfire and light medicinalness are tempered by fading tropical fruit juices.

About Rare Find

Each Rare Find release is an unrepeatable, limited-edition whisky sourced from sought-after distilleries. With every bottle, we celebrate liquid excellence – meticulously selecting, maturing, and finishing in the highest quality casks to deliver whisky that’s rare by design.

From the millions of casks maturing in Scotland, only a small percentage are destined for single malt bottlings, and from those, only the best become a Rare Find.

Is it too early to be putting “festive” in an email header? On the one hand we’re only just in December, on the other I’ve already had grief for the lack of mince pies round my gaff…

As I mentioned last time, plans for the final bit of 2025 went a bit, shall we say, shonky, but we have ended up with quite a fitting line-up to see the year out. There’s hopefully something for everyone with this trio, and the prices have worked out pretty keen too.

Right, here we ho-ho-go:

First up we have a 15-year-old Linkwood. I was heartened by how many people seemed excited by news of this one – a distillery with a growing fanbase it seems!

On the nose – an elegant sort of fruitiness, with white peach, apple and lime, backed up with some buttery pastry and a lightly mineralic feel in the background. It’s very clean and direct, but with lots of little subtleties: touches of liquorice wood, beeswax, clay and orange cream.

On the palate – a big arrival, with green apple sweets, cherry drops, Ricola, and fab waxy citrus. There’s a long development with peach, herbs, pink grapefruit, and almost a salty tang in the finish.

With a drop of water: fatter, more exuberantly (and inappropriately) summery, with ripe yellow peaches, light honey, spearmint. Gorgeous.

Poised, restrained, elegant. A fruity Speysider for grown-ups!

This ex-bourbon hogshead produced 277 bottles at 57.5%, and they are available for £77.50 each.

Next up we have a 14-year-old Auchroisk, fully oloroso-matured. We might still be in Speyside, but we’re a million miles away from the Linkwood.

On the nose – rum & raisin, hazelnut syrup, peanut brittle and melted milk chocolate. Little touches of plummy fruitiness, coffee, liquorice, malted milk, and dried orange peel.

On the palate – treacle toffee, Daim bar, peanut M&Ms, tiramisu, and that danger point when you make caramel and get a puff of smoke. That adds a nice bitter-sweetness that carries through the finish, with dark cocoa, toasted nuts, a drop of Cointreau, and toffee.

Old-school sherry, this, rich but never cloying. Darkly sweet, really, and Christmas is saved, basically.

This oloroso hogshead produced 255 bottles at 58.4%, and they are available for £69.50 each.

Last, but by no means least, we have a 21-year-old Highland. This is undisclosed heavily-peated Jura. Quite a rare old bird, I believe.

On the nose – imagine a really sweet, ripe red apple … but it’s somehow been peat-smoked. Fruit gums, orange, herbs on the BBQ, spearmint, leather, and light smoke and coal tar drifting around in the background.

On the palate – really rich and viscous in texture, with smoked honey, crystalised orange, and a drop of tar stirred through custard. The development is creamy, with baked pineapple jelly and herbal pastilles, leading into a lingering finish with sweet wisps of peat smoke, tar and pine needles.

This is ace, with mellow smoke, and a fruity richness that you wouldn’t expect from Jura. It doesn’t quite resemble any other peated whisky either, but the result is deliciously idiosyncratic.

This refill barrel produced only 198 bottles at 54.5%, and they are available for £125 each.

A quick note

The lift to my storage unit has, with wonderfully helpful timing, broken down and I’m currently having to lug boxes by hand down several flights of stairs. This is slowing me down a bit (although I’m sure it’s great cardio) so please bear with me if it takes an extra day or two to dispatch orders.

And…

…that’s it for now. I’ll be back in 2026 with new whiskies (and new labels!). There’s some great stuff lined up, and of course please do feel free to get in touch if I can be of assistance in the meantime.

Thank you, as ever, for your support of this rickety old jalopy that I call Chorlton Whisky through another year. It really does mean a lot.

Cheers!

David

A whisky tasting and live music gig with The Rhythm and Booze Project!

Sometimes an event comes along that shouldn’t be missed; this is one of those times.

SMWS Canada is beyond thrilled to welcome to Vancouver The Rhythm & Booze Project, a blues duo out of the UK which incorporates whisky tastings into their roots, folk, and blues live music gigs. Blending infectious showmanship with their high-energy music, you’re in for an amazing evening of fantastic music and delicious SMWS whiskies.

Tuesday, January 20th

Heritage Hall – 3102 Main Street, Vancouver

Doors open at 7:00pm for a 7:30pm start (should wrap up around 9:30pm)  $65

GET TICKETS HERE

Here’s a little teaser of what to expect (ignore the whiskies in the video; we’re pourin’ SMWS drams!):

Thompson Bros.

Aldunie Blended Scotch Whisky

ABV: 52.5% 70 cL

£180.00

SPRINGBANK 10YO LOCAL BARLEY

The next edition of our Springbank Local Barley series is a 10 year old single malt distilled from bere barley which was grown at the Clochkiel Farm, roughly five miles from the Springbank Distillery. 8,000 bottles are available worldwide.

NOSE Notes of fig rolls, date syrup, plums and star anise kick off this year’s Local Barley.

PALATE A savoury element becomes more pronounced on the palate, with notes of burdock, shiitake mushrooms, tamari soy sauce and liquorice.

FINISH Notes of camp campfire ash and treacle molasses come to the forefront in the finish.

55.2% ABV

UK RRP £90 – £95