SMWS Outturn April 2025 goes live on Friday 4th April 2025
Whisky With The WOW Factor – The Scotch Malt Whisky Society releases (outturn) several single cask bottlings of Scotch, Whisk(e)y, Rum and Gin, to name a few, usually on the first Friday of every month.
See below the full list of bottles being released for the April 2025 outturn. If you are not a member, Don’t worry you can join the SMWS here but be quick several of the bottlings sell out as quickly as the day they are released.
(Here is a quick link to last month’s SMWS Outturn: SMWS March 2025 outturn).
Whisky With The WOW Factor April 2025 Outturn bottles:
4.357 – Sphagnum and Heather
62.2% ~ 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel ~ 12yo ~ Highland ~ £77.00
The Panel noted crystallised exotic fruits, sea air, lanolin and soft, medicinal embrocations at first, with green fruit teas, citrus oils and a subtle, peaty tang in the background. A little water revealed a lovely umami peat-smoke profile, with frying bacon, beach flowers, sand and a highly evocative coastal aspect. To taste, this one was all on beautiful Orcadian peat smoke with herbal and mineral oil qualities, plus soot, medicines, natural tar and chalky beach pebbles….read more
5.140 – Fluffylump
58.0% ~ 2nd Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel~ 11yo ~ Lowland ~ £68.50
The Panel’s initial impressions of this one were that it was “bright and fluffy”! We found clear impressions of fluffy pink marshmallow, toasted coconut, yellow gorse flower and a suggestion of golden syrup. Water brought out a more cereal side and the marshmallows switched from pink to white. We also noted citrus marmalades, frozen lime margaritas and hints of orange peel and bayleaf. The neat palate was playfully sweet and fruity, with bubblegum, jelly beans and pineapple rings, plus kiwi, vanilla fudge and teacakes…read more
9.301 – One to Shout from the Rooftops
57.2% ~ 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel ~ 21yo ~ Speyside ~ £120.00
Be patient, be kind, be gentle and you will be rewarded. What this whispered in our ears was lemon-vanilla wafers layered and made with indulgent hazelnut cream as well as passion fruit and lime cream pots. On the palate, we rustled up a panna cotta with strawberry and mango coulis delicately spiced with thandai powder. With a drop of water it turned into a very sophisticated, classy old fino sherry in the classic Jerez style. The aroma was that of almonds, dried Mediterranean herbs, apricots and hints of sweet bread… read more
10.284 – Ginger Rollmop Sushi Phantasmagoria
59.1% ~ 2nd Fill Oloroso Hogshead ~ 11yo ~ Islay ~ £80.00
Treacle scone topped with hot-smoked salmon: that was the first impression of the Panel! This quickly evolved to include raw ginger cake batter, sauna wood, smoked almonds and shellfish broiled with seaweed. Water brought pickled sushi ginger, smoked sea salt and a sharp, mineral edge, plus lots of Asian vibes such as soy sauce, eel sushi, bonito flakes and wasabi. The neat palate detonated with wakame, balsamic, smoked prawns, ginger biscuits, barbecue-charred plums and seared beef… read more
18.76 – Moroccan Patillia Anyone?
55.4% ~ 1st Fill Spanish Oak Oloroso Hogshead ~ 15yo ~ Speyside ~ £80.00
The aroma conjured up memories from a well-known American sitcom where a Thanksgiving beef trifle (half a British trifle and half a shepherd’s pie) was prepared. On the palate it turned out to be more like an American favourite, key lime pie. Following dilution, we stepped into a humidor to eat spatchcock poussins with orange, sage and ginger. The starting point for this small batch was two bourbon hogsheads of single malt Scotch whisky… read more
26.225 – Varnishing a Wildcat
60.7% ~ 1st Fill HTMC Barrel ~ 12yo ~ Highland ~ £79.00
This distillery’s usual trademarks were notably subdued at first nosing. Instead, we found a whole heap of shoe polish, sawn pinewood, camphor, orange cordial and honey lozenges. Some water revealed heather honey, bramble jam, fig marmalade and a subtle mix of banana chips and gorse flower. The neat palate opened with the bold richness of heather ales, sweet liquorice and spiced dark fruit compotes, along with marzipan, bourbon biscuits and condensed milk…. read more
46.152 – The Fruit Merchant
51.6% ~ 1st Fill Amercian Oak Oloroso Hogshead ~ 16yo ~ Speyside ~ £90.00
In the auction house of a fruit exchange, a cocktail of banana, raisins, tropical fruit salad and cherries meandered through the air. Smooth on the palate, like leaving a cube of Turkish delight to melt on the tongue, we found red wine and blackcurrant jam on toasted rye bread, joined by an exotic woody seasoning from a spice merchant’s leather apron. Water introduced apple and refiners syrup on the nose, with coconut, raspberry and cinnamon following on the palate…. read more
55.79 – Ham Jam
59.0% ~ 1st Fill Ex-PX Hogshead ~ 13yo ~ Highland ~ £79.00
Aromas of smoked mint, menthol and camphor balm and dry-roasted peanuts were initially recorded by the Panel, ahead of frying pancetta, leaf mulch and hardwood resins, with a wee touch of floral honey and rosewater. Some reduction brought out simmering woody spices, hot cross buns, vanilla latte and freeze-dried strawberries. When neat, the palate was sooty up front, with lemon cough drops, spiced dark teas and bitter shilling ales, all washed down with a glug of creamy custard…. read more
70.63 – Interdimensional Patisserie
54.7% ~ New American Oak Medium Toast Barrique ~ 16yo ~ Highland ~ £85.00
Unbound by physics, we became omnipresent in the pantries of pastry chefs everywhere. Skolebrød mingled with dolly mixtures and cassia bark, woody ginger gave way to rhubarb and gorse flowers, and macarons tussled with crushed soor plooms. The starting point for this small batch was two bourbon barrels of single malt Scotch whisky. They were each transferred to new casks at 14 years old: one cask was a first-fill American oak PX hogshead, while the other was a new American oak barrique with a medium toast and toasted heads… read more
71.111 – Interdimensional Store Cupboard
57.5% ~ 1st Fill Ex-Oloroso Hogshead ~ 13yo ~ Speyside ~ £80.00
Taking an interdimensional stroll, we glitched between an artist’s store cupboard and a cook’s pantry. Our noses found watercolour paints, a jar of sequins, almonds, sultanas, dried forest mushrooms and lemon blossom. The palate was tempura mushroom, glazed with hot honey and toffee sauce, with a side of cherry pie served on cedar. Water introduced oil paints and lime cheesecake to the nose, while the palate was a gin martini stirred with a stick of frozen butterscotch dipped in raspberry jam… read more
73.173 – Malt and Tonic
55.2% ~ 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel ~ 13yo ~ Speyside ~ £69.00
On first nosing the Panel detected such varied aromas as melted butter, tinned pineapple, lemon pastilles, beeswax and candied lemon peel. A splash of water revealed a waxier and fuller profile, with apple peel, sage leaves, caramel wafers and polished hardwood. The neat palate was full of warming ginger spice, apple schnapps, caramel shortbread, dried papaya and a hint of limoncello. Reduction brought a mellower and fruitier profile that was altogether more playful, with fun notes of fizzy citrus sherbet along with dried herbs, more buttery sweetness… read more
78.70 – Sping-Back Serrano
58.4% ~ 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Hogshead ~ 10yo ~ Highland ~ £60.00
The Panellists noted modern gentleman’s aftershave, crisp linen and spring-back leather gloves on the nose. It was buttery, sweet and with hints of black peppercorns, lentils and carrot cake on the palate. Anise followed. Water introduced serrano ham, toasted ciabatta and sundried tomatoes in olive oil. The palate became delicate, with a light citrus, a touch of peppercorn and gooseberries… read more
80.62 – Strawberry Sumac Scones
58.1% ~ 1st Fill American Oak Oloroso Hogshead ~ 14yo ~ Speyside ~ £80.00
We imagined stirring spiced, boozy prunes and rum-soaked raisins into an apricot yoghurt. On the palate we discovered a real dichotomy between sweet cinnamon heat and fierce chilli spice as well as vanilla bean custard with sour cherry sauce. Following dilution, we made raspberry and apricot jam in a farmhouse kitchen while we ate strawberry sumac scones, combining the lovely fruity sweetness with that zestiness from the Middle Eastern spice… read more
95.109 – I’ve Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts
62.4% ~ New American Oak HTMC Barrel ~ 14yo ~ Highland ~ £75.00
Ready to embrace your taste for adventure? That’s what the Society is all about – and now our Whisky Team has created a series of Two to One ultra small-batch bottlings to take members on flavour journeys they won’t find anywhere else. These cask strength offerings are bottled in our traditional green bottles and follow the usual Society bottle code format… read more
113.76 – Bubblegum Spore on am Earthen Floor
59.4% ~ 1st Fill Ex-Oloroso Hogshead ~ 15yo ~ Speyside ~ £90.00
The neat nose opened with sweet bubblegum fruitiness, cocoa bitters, sweet rice wine, hothouse flowers and camphor. A full and vibrant profile, we all agreed. With water it became more mentholated, delivering vapour rubs, cloves, tea tree oil and cedarwood boxes full of unlit cigars. The neat palate began with generous flavours of heather honey, mead, malt loaf, raisins and bergamot. These were followed by a nicely building earthy richness… read more
121.115 – Island Hopping
62.1% ~ 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel ~ 9yo ~ Highland ~ £55.00
Initial nosing suggested crushed citrus fruits, sea shells, ripe kiwi, buttered popcorn, baled hay and heather flower. Everything we love about this charming, modern island malt was on display here. With water the nose evolved a sharper, more pronounced green-fruit acidity, with yet more kiwi, alongside gooseberry, then lemon barley water, apples and citra-hopped IPA. The palate opened with vanilla cream, lime cordial, lemon bonbons, wintergreen herbal qualities, crushed sea shells and granny smith apple sharpness… read more
163.3 – Hay-Smoked Duck Breast
58% ~ 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel ~ 6yo ~ Highland ~ £85.00
The panel hiked deep into the woods for an autumnal barbecue on a conker-littered forest floor that smelt of woody embers. Next a feast of tuna, mackerel and capers with pork sausages. To finish: coffee beans, apple cider and burnt vanilla pods on tea cakes. Reduced the panel were divided, one side favouring sweetness while the other found notes of maritime salinity. There were oyster shells, smoked kippers and anchovies while on the flip side, vanilla pods, tropical fruits and toffee buttons… read more
Wandering Alchemy
58.4% ~ Bourbon, Oloroso, PX & HTMC Hogsheads ~ 10yo ~ Various ~ £70.00
What witchcraft and molten japery is this? At least, that’s what our raised eyebrows and throaty musings queried. Surely this dram was much older and much more ‘old style’ that it had a right to be? We detected deep and enticing notes of soft, heathery peat smoke. Then encroaching medicinal charms, pine wood, camphor, cooling bonfire embers and tendrils of seaweed! Water dialled up the charm vibes to ‘Roger Moore’: elegant wood smoke, fragrant phenolics, old herbal and tar liqueurs and a kiss of cask-aged mead… read more