SMWS Outturn August 2025 goes live on Friday 3rd October 2025
Whisky With A Taste For Flavour – 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 October 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 September 2025 outturn).
Whisky With A Taste For Flavour October 2025 Outturn bottles:
1.299 – Jazz Porridge
60.1% ~ 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel ~ 11yo ~ Speyside ~ £79.00
We encountered a lovely and extremely attractive neat aroma full of heather honey, robust maltiness, green pepper, aniseed, pine resin, freshly cut flowers and wafts of tomato vines. Water made everything seem very syrupy and honeyed, with wormwood and camphor notes and some barley sugar. When neat, the palate was full bodied and robust, in typical fashion for this wormtub distillate… read more
8.50 – This Cow Enjoys Swimming
61.7% ~ 1st Fill Ex-PX Butt ~ 8yo ~ Speyside ~ £65.00
Initial nosing revealed beef bourguignon, camphor, pineapple cubes and old-school boiled fruit sweeties. We also got tonka beans, cinnamon sticks and sweet beef jerky. Some water enhanced these meaty vibes and brought out some further notes of wood varnish, cola cubes, orange zest and herbal extracts. The neat palate was robust and punchy. Up front, notes of grape must, fruit syrups, cinnamon and baking spices mingled with toasted fennel seeds, buttery popcorn and toffee sauce…read more
9.304 – Citric Synthesis
57.0% ~ 2nd Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel ~ 17yo ~ Speyside ~ £93.00
The nose started with Danish oil, washback pine and light oak, flirted with strawberry, vanilla and raspberry frangipane, then reached a citric synthesis of cloudy lemonade, lemon tart and lime sweets. The palate had a voluptuous texture which, left in the mouth, became entertainingly spritzy – tingly sherbet and orange sorbet; then cherries, apricot jam, marzipan and honey vied with lemon, lime, ginger, pepper and gentian root. The reduced nose found apple strudel, ‘Wisley Vanilla’ nemesia, and bellinis… read more
11.67 – Intense Sherry – Be Warned!
61.0% ~ 1st Fill Ex-Oloroso Hogshead ~ 9yo ~ Highland ~ £65.00
This cask has bestowed intense sherry character: be warned! The nose had the nutty sweetness of dried dates, maple syrup, halva, almond biscotti and Spanish polvorónes, plus black cherry compote and raspberry jam. The palate hinted at jamón serrano but again had that rich, sweet depth – fig jam and prunes, molasses cake, hard caramel, brown sugar and dried apricots – before finishing with leather, nutmeg and sherry spilled on oak… read more
16.98 – Meaty Wallop
57.0% ~ Re-Fill Toasted Oak Butt ~ 12yo ~ Highland ~ £74.00
This was evidently going to be a meaty dram upon first nosing. The Panel immediately detected brisket burnt ends, beef jerky and Philly cheesesteak sandwich vibes. We also noted a farmyard tang, vapour rubs, cola syrup, peat-smoked cherries and hot paprika crisps. Water brought seafood charring on a barbecue, smoked butter, burning hay, molten butterscotch and the umami qualities of yeast extract. The neat palate was one big wallop of dense, sweet, tarry smoke, with inclusions of antiseptic, chip-shop saveloy sausages, peppered mackerel and chorizo jam…. read more
18.79 – Fairytales of New York
56.4% ~ 1st Fill Ex-Oloroso Hogshead ~ 17yo ~ Speyside ~ £92.50
One Panellist walked through Central Park towards Spanish Harlem, nicknamed El Barrio, with a brown bag full of toasty, roasted, crunchy cinnamon-sugared peanuts just bought from one of the many street vendors. To taste, we stayed in New York with a Reuben sandwich of bacon, fat-fried rye bread, thousand island aioli, honey mustard-glazed corned beef, peppered bacon, melted Emmental cheese and sauerkraut….read more
26.229 – Singest of Summer in Full-Throated Ease
54.6% ~ Re-Fill Ex-Bourbon Hogshead ~ 14yo ~ Highland ~ £95.00
The nose represented a canvas of sweet buttery shortbread with random floral flicks and citric smears (lemon, marmalade); patience discovered earthier notes of crispy sage leaves, apricot jam and charred oak. The palate had good depth, attractive sweetness and that characteristic waxy mouthfeel, creating impressions of honeycomb, buttered toast, crème brûlée and pineapple cubes, before finishing with lingering menthol and pepper heat… read more
28.107 – Fresh from the Lathe
57.8% ~ 1st Fill American Oak STR Barrique, New Toasted Heads ~ 12yo ~ Highland ~ £75.00
The neat nose quivered with the savoury richness of freshly baked brown bread, plus rye spice, bitter cocoa, roasted chocolate malt and dark, spiced winter ales. We also noted big aromas of clove oil, mustard powder and freshly ground black pepper. Water brought resinous exotic hardwood notes, warm lathe shavings and the inside of a freshly made acoustic guitar. We also detected hints of furniture waxes, lamp oil and hessian… read more
39.296 – Fruit Shop, Flower Shop, Confectioner’s
51.5% ~ 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel ~ 16yo ~ Speyside ~ £88.00
The nose wafted us with freshly cut flower meadows, oranges and pears in cardboard boxes, lemon bonbons and vanilla custard slice. The palate was slightly floral (parma violets and spring barley fields) and beautifully sweet (honey, midget gems and danish pastries), with hints of spearmint and gentle spice towards the end. The reduced nose just seemed like a “fruit shop, flower shop, confectioner’s” classic Speyside – pear sweets, lemon juice drizzled over green apple slices and American cream soda… read more
41.185 – Dancing Dirty
57.1% ~ 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Hogshead ~ 12yo ~ Speyside ~ £65.00
The cotton-fresh nose came splashed with a dirty gin martini, vanilla milkshake, and twists of grapefruit and bergamot. The palate offered the silky textures of espresso dancing in toffee sauce, accompanied by a scoop of vanilla soft-serve ice cream and mulling syrup. Water gave the nose nutmeg-forward craft cola initially, followed by lemons, toasted marshmallows and orange ice lollies… read more
46.157 – On a Beach Boardwalk
53.2% ~ 1st Fill EX-Oloroso Hogshead ~ 14yo ~ Speyside ~ £80.00
We imagined walking on a traditional American beach boardwalk, chewing saltwater taffy and strawberry kisses as we queued to buy candyfloss. To taste, we got a delicious hit of frozen strawberry fromage frais together with a tangy sweet tangerine-sugarcane-pineapple juice. Water added salted nuts with lashings of chunky black pepper next to juicy strawberries while we prepared a sticky toffee pudding. On the palate, back on that boardwalk, we sat on a bench and enjoyed sticky glazed ribs, snacked on salted pretzels and finished with strawberry jam ripple ice cream… read more
53.508 – Astral Projection
56.7% ~ 1st Fill Port Barrique ~ 14yo ~ Islay ~ £99.00
After 10 years in ex-bourbon wood, this was then transferred into a first fill port barrique – but regardless of that, the spirit (typically) transported us to an Islay beach, with bonfire smoke and grilling sweet sausages over the flames. Someone also imagined a fireman eating a jam sandwich. On the palate, those sausages became German currywurst grilled over a peat fire, then marshmallows retrieved from the embers and candy-coated liquorice… read more
59.105 – Flower Displays
52.9% ~ 1st Fill Ex-bourbon Hogshead ~ 12yo ~ Highland ~ £64.00
The neat nose was sweet, fruity and easy; we found lots of notes of gorse flowers, vanilla pods, sandalwood, some peppery watercress and crushed hazelnut. Water brought out the green sharpness of granny smith apple, stem ginger, fruit pastilles and some earthy petrichor. The palate was a little drier than expected, with some soft oaky tones, pine nuts and crushed green herbs, as well as an elegant waxy and olive oil impression… read more
63.120 – A Pinch and a Punch
61.7% ~ 1st Fill STR, Oloroso Seasoned Barrique ~ 15yo ~ Speyside ~ £105.00
We were barbecuing piña colada-grilled pineapple skewers using white rum, brown sugar, coconut yoghurt and honey, plus a pinch of pink peppercorn seasoning. There was a definite spiciness on the palate to start with, but that quickly moved towards fresh strawberries, stewed plums with cinnamon, and mulberry ice cream studded with cardamom oat crisps. After reduction we got thick American-style pancakes with maple syrup served alongside a chai tea… read more
112.144 – Almost Angelic
57.7% ~ 1st Fill EX-Bourbon Barrel ~ 9yo ~ Highland ~ £55.00
The initial whiff of nail polish remover soon faded as fruits galore – gooseberries, kiwi, green grapes, melon, apples and banana, all doused in strong peach schnapps – came to the fore. This was mouth puckering, like a spicy Thai chicken stir fry, with the sweet fruitiness of mango and serrano ham in the finish. The addition of water caused some perplexion as the aroma changed completely and we found ourselves walking down a fragrant jasmine blossom-framed garden pathway on a moonlit night… read more
64.164 – Quince Charming
43.8% ~ 2nd Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel ~ 28yo ~ Speyside ~ £195.00
A gorgeous nose of quince, candied chestnuts and redcurrant jelly sat atop a sweet biscuit base, coated with oozing sticky honey. On the palate, a more fragrant refrain introduced hibiscus tea, mint and marmalade, with further suggestions of quince jelly. Juiciness prevailed with the addition of water, encouraging gooseberries, blackcurrants, and sliced red apple to dance alongside oaty biscuits and maple syrup flapjacks. A twist of lemon induced a fresh tang as it swirled into melting butter… read more
68.132 – One Warm, Sunny Autumn Day
58.2% ~ 2nd Australian Muscat Barrique ~ 14yo ~ Highland ~ £79.00
We found ourselves on a beautiful Indian summer’s autumn day wandering through a forest, with the coloured leaves gliding through the air as we stopped to forage for some blackthorn berries. The mouthfeel was fruity and syrupy: tinned peaches, apricot iced tea and pickled ginger made with apple cider vinegar and coconut sugar. After reduction, we reached a waterfall on this warm autumn day, sat down, opened a flask of rooibos tea and unwrapped chewy coconut granola bars… read more
72.123 – Big Moves and Subtle Details
58.7% ~ HTMC New Oak Barrel ~ 15yo ~ Speyside ~ £83.00
At first nosing the Panel detected such things as treacle, ink, bergamot and dried exotic fruits. The cask evidently had a lot to say but the fruitier notes were balancing it very well. With water we got sweet red fruit jams, plum wine, aniseed, marzipan and fruity cough sweets. The neat palate was quite powerfully medicinal, with cherry cough syrup, then baked apple pie, red liquorice, herbal cocktail bitters and ruby winter ales. Some water brought out cedarwood cigar boxes, wood spices, clove oil, dried mint, camphor and tarragon… read more
80.55 – Rum and Raisin Espresso Martini
59.6% ~ 1st Fill Ex-Oloroso Hogshead ~ 12yo ~ Speyside ~ £69.50
On the neat nose we found ginger snaps and chocolate cinnamon balls next to Sumatra coffee beans with that typical earthy aroma often described as humus. On the palate we all sipped a rum and raisin espresso martini – Jamaican rum, PX sherry, coffee liqueur and freshly made hot espresso. After reduction, the scent of butterscotch, fig rolls and clafoutis appeared alongside a full-bodied Barolo wine with those distinct flavours of sweet black cherries, herbs and leather… read more
82.83 – The Clever Taste of Warehouse Witchcraft
61.7% ~ 2nd Fill Ex-Oloros Hogshead ~ 14yo ~ Highland ~ £95.00
The neat nose was aromatically diverse, suggesting peppermint tea, tangy dark fruit chutney, balsamic reduction, herbal toothpaste and treacle tart. Some lovely, well-integrated sherry cask influence was also on display. With water it developed a lovely, broad honey-and-fruit combination, with impressions of fruit salad juices, pineapple rings, jasmine flowers and orange cocktail bitters. The neat palate presented us with notes of young bual madeira, camphor, brown seed bread, Dundee cake and export-strength Irish stout… read more
128.33 – Toffees in the Hedgerow
58.3% ~ 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Hogshead ~ 11yo ~ Wales ~ £84.00
Hailing from a forward thinking and truly modern Fife distillery, this unique small batch single malt is a delicious peaty potion. We elected to blend two styles of single malt produced there, one unpeated and the other heavily peated. We married the resulting blend in first fill PX and oloroso sherry butts for around 18 months before bottling at a lovely point in the maturation where oranges, raisins and fragrant smoke meet. The neat nose was wonderfully vibrant, full of medicinal tinctures, smouldering heather, zinc oxide and lanolin cream… read more
149.16 – Funk on Tiptoes
63.3% ~ 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel ~ 9yo ~ Highland ~ £85.00
The neat nose suggested swimming pools, mineral oils, lemon barley water, waxes, putty, white stone fruits and earthy dunnage warehouse must. A big, characterful dram we all agreed. With water we found fruit salad notes emerging with richly malty and cereal tones underneath. It also delivered some coastal fresh air, along with sharp gooseberry and green apple notes. The palate opened with a rich, oily texture and big flavours of sweet cereals, buttered oatcakes, muddled green herbs, starched linens and mineral oils, plus some funky farmhouse cider vibes… read more
G17.1 – Shades of Green
60.9% ~ 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Hogshead ~ 11yo ~ Lowland ~ £49.50
The neat nose suggested swimming pools, mineral oils, lemon barley water, waxes, putty, white stone fruits and earthy dunnage warehouse must. A big, characterful dram we all agreed. With water we found fruit salad notes emerging with richly malty and cereal tones underneath. It also delivered some coastal fresh air, along with sharp gooseberry and green apple notes. The palate opened with a rich, oily texture and big flavours of sweet cereals, buttered oatcakes, muddled green herbs, starched linens and mineral oils, plus some funky farmhouse cider vibes… read more