About This Dram

This month, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) in Canada has launched a brand new option for becoming a member. Incredibly, if you have never been a member before, you can now buy any bottle over $180 and your first year of membership will be included in the price. That’s a saving of $125! This includes a quarterly magazine subscription and exclusive access to new bottlings at our Outturn tastings. Bargain of the century. You can learn more about the SMWS here.

We’re taking this month then to showcase two SMWS whiskies over $180 in the Dram Association. If you like your sample, then we invite you to buy a bottle and join the society! We offer discounts on SMWS incredibly rarely – so instead of a discount this month, members will get a free Strath Glencairn Glass.

SMWS Panel Notes

This distillery is more commonly known for sherry maturation these days so the panel was both eager and curious to try this example from refill bourbon maturation. We found a vibrant nose full of mille-feuille, vanilla foam, sliced pineapple, black cherries in brandy, fresh pastries and an eventual slide towards mineralic, gravelly qualities.

Water brought notes of rosehips, Turkish delight, marjoram, lime curd and pink lemonade. The palate revealed notes like crushed Ivy, jelly beans, lavender icing, lychee, young Gewurztraminer and turmeric. Water softens everything and opens up herbal ice cream, tamarind, green oak, toasted mustard seeds and ripe apricot.