SMWS Bottles explained
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, or SMWS, is an independent bottler of single cask whisky and other spirits. For those unfamiliar with the term, an independent bottler is an entity that purchases spirit from third parties and bottles it under their own label.
Unlike most independent bottlers, SMWSā bottles donāt display the names of distilleries from which the whisky was sourced.
There are two reasons for this, both having to do with the off-profile nature of single cask spirits.
- The SMWS doesnāt want members to disregard a whisky based on experiences with official bottlings and preconceived notions of distillery taste profiles.
- In order to retain control over their brand, some distilleries wonāt sell casks of their spirit to independent bottlers or blenders unless the purchaser agrees not to name the distillery on theĀ packaging.
The SMWS Bottle explained
So SMWS came up with a numbering convention compromised of two sets of digits.Ā
- The first set of digits represents the distilleryĀ
- The second digit shows how much number of single casks the SMWS have bottles from that distillery.Ā
SMWS have a tasting pannel that decides what the name of that particular release must be. this will be decided how the whisky tastes and how the panel experience it. This will give it its unique name. This unique name is also an indication of how the whisky will taste.Ā
Some other things to on the bottle that are worth mentioning:Ā
- Because SMWS only buy a couple of single cask from that distillery there will be a limited amount of bottles released. This will be shown on the bottles.Ā
- The whisky will always be natural color and non-chill filtered. This so you will experience the rare and pure from of that distillery.Ā
- It will be bottled at cask strength or stated otherwise.Ā
- The age statement will also be shown on the bottle itself.Ā
SMWS Flavor profile
Ā
So SMWS came up with different kind of colour to show and state their flavor profile.Ā
There are 12 different kind of flavors you can experience started with the sweetest ending with the peatiestĀ
- Young & Spritely
- Sweet, Fruity & Mellow
- Spicy & SweetĀ
- Spicy & DryĀ
- Deep, Rich & Dried FruitsĀ
- Old & DignifiedĀ
- Light & DelicateĀ
- Juicy, Oak & VanillaĀ
- Oily & CoastalĀ
- Lightly Peated
- Peated
- Heavily Peated
SMWS distillery number
SMWS Code | Distillery Name | Whisky Region / Location |
---|---|---|
1 | Glenfarclas Distillery | Speyside |
2 | The Glenlivet Distillery | Speyside |
3 | Bowmore Distillery | Islay |
4 | Highland Park Distillery | Highland |
5 | Auchentoshan Distillery | Lowland |
6 | Glen Deveron / Macduff Distillery | Speyside |
7 | Longmorn Distillery | Speyside |
8 | Tamdhu Distillery | Speyside |
9 | Glen Grant Distillery | Speyside |
10 | Bunnahabhain Distillery | Islay |
11 | Tomatin Distillery | Highland |
12 | Benriach Distillery | Speyside |
13 | Dalmore Distillery | Highland |
14 | Talisker Distillery | Highland |
15 | Glenfiddich Distillery | Speyside |
16 | Glenturret Distillery | Highland |
17 | Scapa Distillery | Highland |
18 | Inchgower Distillery | Speyside |
19 | Glen Garioch Distillery | Highland |
20 | Inverleven Distillery (Demolished) | Lowland |
21 | Glenglassaugh Distillery | Speyside |
22 | Glenkinchie Distillery | Lowland |
23 | Bruichladdich Distillery | Islay |
24 | The Macallan Distillery | Speyside |
25 | Rosebank Distillery | Lowland |
26 | Clynelish Distillery | Highland |
27 | Springbank Distillery | Campbeltown |
28 | Tullibardine Distillery | Highland |
29 | Laphroaig Distillery | Islay |
30 | Glenrothes Distillery | Speyside |
31 | Isle of Jura Distillery | Highland |
32 | Edradour Distillery | Highland |
33 | Ardbeg Distillery | Islay |
34 | Tamnavulin Distillery | Speyside |
35 | Glen Moray Distillery | Speyside |
36 | Benrinnes Distillery | Speyside |
37 | Cragganmore Distillery | Speyside |
38 | Caperdonich Distillery | Speyside |
39 | Linkwood Distillery | Speyside |
40 | Balvenie Distillery | Speyside |
41 | Dailuaine Distillery | Speyside |
42 | Ledaig / Tobermory Distillery | Highland |
43 | Port Ellen Distillery (Mothballed) | Islay |
44 | Craigellachie Distillery | Speyside |
45 | Dallas Dhu Distillery (Closed) | Speyside |
46 | Glenlossie Distillery | Speyside |
47 | Benromach Distillery | Speyside |
48 | Balmenach Distillery | Speyside |
49 | Linlithgow / St Magdalene Distillery (Demolished) | Lowland |
50 | Bladnoch Distillery | Lowland |
51 | Bushmills Distillery | Irish |
52 | Old Pulteney Distillery | Highland |
53 | Caol Ila Distillery | Islay |
54 | Aberlour Distillery | Speyside |
55 | Royal Brackla Distillery | Highland |
56 | Coleburn Distillery (Closed) | Speyside |
57 | Glen Mhor Distillery (Demolished) | Speyside |
58 | Strathisla Distillery | Speyside |
59 | Teaninich Distillery | Highland |
60 | Aberfeldy Distillery | Highland |
61 | Brora Distillery | Highland |
62 | Glenlochy Distillery | Highland |
63 | Glentauchers Distillery | Speyside |
64 | Mannochmore Distillery | Speyside |
65 | Imperial Distillery | Speyside |
66 | Ardmore Distillery | Highland |
67 | Banff Distillery | Speyside |
68 | Blair Athol Distillery | Highland |
69 | Glen Albyn Distillery | Highland |
70 | Balblair Distillery | Highland |
71 | Glenburgie Distillery / Glencraig (Closed) | Speyside |
72 | Miltonduff Distillery (Closed) | Speyside |
73 | Aultmore Distillery | Speyside |
74 | North Port Distillery (Closed) | Highland |
75 | Glenury Distillery | Highland |
76 | Mortlach Distillery | Speyside |
77 | Glen Ord / Glenordie Distillery | Highland |
78 | Ben Nevis Distillery | Highland |
79 | Deanston Distillery | Highland |
80 | Glen Spey Distillery | Speyside |
81 | Glen Keith Distillery | Speyside |
82 | Glencadam Distillery | Highland |
83 | Convalmore Distillery (Closed) | Speyside |
84 | Glendullan Distillery | Speyside |
85 | Glen Elgin Distillery | Speyside |
86 | Glen Esk Distillery (Mothballed) | Highland |
87 | Millburn Distillery (Demolished) | Highland |
88 | Speyburn Distillery | Speyside |
89 | Tomintoul Distillery | Speyside |
90 | Pittyvaich Distillery | Speyside |
91 | Dufftown Distillery | Speyside |
92 | Lochside Distillery | Highland |
93 | Glen Scotia Distillery | Campbeltown |
94 | Fettercairn Distillery | Highland |
95 | Auchroisk Distillery | Speyside |
96 | Glendronach Distillery | Highland |
97 | Littlemill Distillery | Lowland |
98 | Lomond Distillery | Highland |
99 | Glenugie Distillery (Closed) | Highland |
100 | Strathmill Distillery | Speyside |
101 | Knockando Distillery | Speyside |
102 | Dalwhinnie Distillery | Highland |
103 | Royal Lochnagar Distillery | Highland |
104 | Glen Craig Distillery | Speyside |
105 | Tormore Distillery | Speyside |
106 | Cardhu Distillery | Speyside |
107 | Glenallachie Distillery | Speyside |
108 | Allt-aāBhainne Distillery | Speyside |
109 | Mosstowie Distillery | Speyside |
110 | Oban Distillery | Highland |
111 | Lagavulin Distillery | Islay |
112 | Inchmurrin Distillery | Highland |
113 | Braes of Glenlivet Distillery | Speyside |
114 | Longrow Distillery | Campbeltown |
115 | Knockdhu Distillery | Speyside |
116 | Nikka DistilleriesĀ | Japanese |
117 | Cooley Distillery | Irish |
118 | Connemara Distillery | Irish |
119 | Yamazaki Distillery | Japanese |
120 | Hakushu Distillery | Japanese |
121 | Isle of Arran Distillery | Highland |
122 | Croftengea Distillery | Highland |
123 | Glengoyne Distillery | Highland |
124 | Miyagikyo Distillery | Japanese |
125 | Glenmorangie Distillery | Highland |
126 | Hazelburn Distillery | Campbeltown |
127 | Port Charlotte Distillery | Islay |
128 | Penderyn Distillery | Welsh |
129 | Kilchoman Distillery | Islay |
130 | Chichibu Distillery | Japanese |
131 | Hanyu Distillery | Japanese |
132 | Karuizawa Distillery | Japanese |
133 | Westland Distillery | American |
134 | Paul John Distillery | Indian |
135 | Inchmoan Distillery (Loch Lomond) | Highland |
136 | Eden Mill Distillery | Lowland |
137 | English Whisky Company | English |
138 | Nantou Distillery | Taiwanese |
139 | Kavalan Distillery | Taiwanese |
140 | Balcones Distillery | USA |
141 | Fary Lochan Distillery | Danish |
142 | Breuckelen Distillery | New York, USA |
143 | Copperworks Distillery | Seattle, USA |
144 | High Coast Distillery | Swedish |
145 | ? | Swedish |
Ā | Ā | Ā |
GRAIN Whisky | Ā | Ā |
G1 | North British Distillery | North British |
G2 | Carsebridge Distillery | Carsebridge |
G3 | Caledonian Distillery | Caledonian |
G4 | Cameronbridge Distillery | Cameronbridge |
G5 | Invergordon Distillery | Invergordon |
G6 | Port Dundas Distillery | Port Dundas |
G7 | Girvan Distillery | Girvan |
G8 | Cambus Distillery | Cambus |
G9 | Loch Lomond Distillery | Loch Lomond |
G10 | Strathclyde Distillery | Strathclyde |
G11 | Nikka Coffey GrainĀ (Japan) | Japanese |
G12 | Nikka Coffey MaltĀ (Japan) | Japanese |
G13 | ChitaĀ (Japan) | Japanese |
G14 | Dumbarton Distillery | Dumbarton |
G15 | Loch Lomond Distillery (Rhosdhu) | Loch Lomond (Rhosdhu) |
Ā | Ā | Ā |
RUMS | Ā | Ā |
R1 | Port Morant DistilleryĀ | Jamaican |
R2 | Demerara Distillery (El Dorado)Ā | Guyanan |
R3 | Mount Gay DistilleryĀ | Barbados |
R4 | Angostura DistilleryĀ | Trinidad |
R5 | Appleton DistilleryĀ | Jamaican |
R6 | Foursquare | Barbados |
R7 | Hampden DistilleryĀ | Jamaican |
R8 | CompaƱĆa Licorera de NicaraguaĀ | Nicaragua |
R9 | Varela HermanosĀ | Panama |
R10 | Trinadad DistillersĀ | Trinadad |
R11 | Worthy ParkĀ | Jamaican |
R12 | TravellersĀ | Belize |
R13 | CaroniĀ | Trinidad |
Ā | Ā | Ā |
Ā BOURBONS | Ā | Ā |
Ā B1 | Heaven Hill DistilleryĀ | American |
Ā B2 | Bernheim DistilleryĀ | American |
Ā B3 | Rock Town DistilleryĀ | American |
Ā B4 | F.E.W DistilleryĀ | American |
Ā B5 | George Dickle Distillery | American |
Ā | Ā | Ā |
RYE Whisky | Ā | Ā |
RW1 | F.E.W Distillery | F.E.W |
Ā | Ā | Ā |
GIN | Ā | Ā |
GN1 | Glasgow Distillery Company | Scotland |
GN2 | Strathearn DistillersĀ | Scotland |
GN3 | The Borders DistilleryĀ | Scotland |
GN4 | Boatyard DistilleryĀ | Northern Ireland |
Joining SMWSĀ
If youāre thinking you’re thinking you want to get in on the action of buying from a monthly allocation of single casks at cask strength, joining is super easy. Just click on this link smws.com and go through the steps in setting up your profile. Membership is $120 per year.
SMWS doesn’t just do whisky
They bottle single malts, grain whisky, rums, cognac, Armagnac, rye, bourbon, and just recently released their first gin.