OUR 12 FLAVOUR PROFILES

You may have noticed that the SMWS whiskies don't disclose the distillery that produced the whisky. Due to the nature of single cask releases, the distillery is often not the best indication of what it might taste like.

We believe the best way to enjoy the whisky is to focus on its flavour and not where it’s from. For that reason, the Society has developed a unique colour-coded flavour profiling system, to help our members navigate our releases, and find whiskies best suited to their palate.

SWEET, FRUITY & MELLOW

Watermelon
Pimms
Apricot
Turkish
Delight
Orange
Muscat
Lemon meringue pie
Candied orange slices
Rhubarb and custard sweets
Lime marmalade
Piña colada
Apple pie
Peach
Melba
Sherbet

SPICY & SWEET

Gingerbread
Garam masala
Hot cross buns
Cinnamon
Danish Balsamic strawberries
Thai sweet chilli crisps
Seville orange marmalade
Dark chocolate ginger biscuits
Fresh oak
Spice market
Fruit cake
Mulled wine
Cardamom
Star anise

SPICY & DRY

Clove
Tree bark
Charred stave
Sandalwood
Liquorice stick
Chilli chocolate
Rum and raisin
Toasted coconut
Nutmeg
Peppercorns
Pipe tobacco
Creme brillee
Pencil shavings

DEEP, RICH & DRIED FRUITS

Rum truffles
Treacle toffee
Demerara
Sherry trifle
Black bun
Mincemeat pies
Salted caramel
Sticky toffee pudding
Balsamic glaze
Cinder toffee
Marmalade
Burnt toffee
Orange peel
Prunes

OLD & DIGNIFIED

Honeycomb
Cigar box
Scented candles
Maple syrup
Armagnac
Mango
Pineapple cubes
Dark chocolate orange
Polished wood
Antique shop
Old books
Brandy snaps
Perfumed pear
Apple strudel
Lychees

LIGHT & DELICATE

Fresh laundry
White pepper
Peach
Banana chips
Lemon drizzle cake
Honeydew melon
Flower meadows
Coconut ice-cream
Pine
Green tea
Blossom
Patisserie
Breakfast cereal

JUICE, OAK & VANILLA

Oiled wood
Toasted oak
Coriander seed
Pineapple sorbet
Dunnage warehouse
Carpenter's workshop
Millionaire's shortbread
Chocolate-coated cherries
Root ginger
Banana split
Passion-fruit
Honeysuckle

OIL & COASTAL

Tarry ropes
Oysters
Marmite
Olive oil
Harbour walls
Beach bonfire
Salted caramel
Barbecued prawns
Fish boxes
Seaweed
Boatyard
Driftwood
Pebble beach

LIGHTLY PEATED

Garden bonfire
Vintage cars
Burnt twigs
Wood ash
Smoked salmon
Lapsang Souchang tea
Toasted marshmallows
Dentist's waiting room
Incense
Rock pools
Sea breeze
Parma violets
Pata negra

PEATED

Lavender smoke
Heather moor-burn
Bonfire embers
Ship's engine room
Hospital laundry room
Smoky bacon crisps
Roast rosemary lamb
Perfumed pipe smoke
Kippers
Clean tar
First aid box
Phenolic
Coal tar soap
Herbal smoke

HEAVY PEATED

Steam train
Chimney soot
Carbolic
Coal sacks
Fireman's gloves
Smoked mackerel
Wood burning stove
Euthymol toothpaste
Gunpowder
Cigar butts
Burnt pastries
Burning ships
Farmyard

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