Welcome to Whisky Festival Season! The Scotch Malt Whisky Society was formed to celebrate the joy in sharing exceptional whisky – and there’s nothing like the festival month of May to demonstrate that our founding principle is not only alive and kicking – it’s bigger and more exciting than ever. A lucky few from our global membership will be heading to the different whisky regions in May to take part in tastings, dinners and parties, celebrating the contribution each of these areas has made to the wider world of whisky. We wanted to make sure that as many of our members as possible – whether they are physically present at the festivals or not – could get to share the experience in their glasses, wherever you might be around the globe. With that in mind, our Spirits Master Eaun Campbell created an exclusive collection of ‘Rare Release’ festival bottlings - all small batch single malts -that showcase the very essence of their region. Of note, these are presented in the Society’s international bottle (700ml size) imported in the US for the first time ever.

We kick it all off today by celebrating the Speyside, Scotland’s most prolific whisky-producing region, with four (4) exclusive Society casks! Our headliner was created specifically for The Spirit of Speyside Festival with a beautiful label designed by British artist Michael A. Hill! This small batch single malt hails from a member favourite distillery boasting intensity and richness. Distillery 36 Rare Release A Reward for Patience is a marriage of 10-year-old casks sourced from ex-bourbon and Oloroso wood for a bold and uncompromising exploration of the ‘Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits’ flavour profile!

Our celebratory bottle is joined by three dashing Speyside casks from three different areas - Spey, Deveron and Lossie - that will only add to the flavourful fête and showcase the extraordinary diversity of this wonderful region. With our Distillery 36 Rare Release covering the sherried side of Speyside’s spectrum, we turn now to the nuance of ex-bourbon maturation through first-, second- and refill casks. First-fill barrel aged Cask No. 73.125 A Multiplex of Lush from the Deveron area showcases bountiful oak-derived flavours of vanilla and spices from 10 years of maturation bolstered by rich orchard fruit character. US Exclusive Cask No. 35.303 A Dazzling Displayfrom the Lossie area spent 15 years in a second-fill barrel, offering a lovely balance of barrel activity and distillery make character in the form of tropical fruit, flowers, chocolate and vanilla notes. Cask No. 2.127 A Trustworthy Companion from the Spey River area allows the most distillery character to shine through, framing the profile with accents that provide structure and complexity. Sweet and savoury aromas and flavours coalesce to form a breathtaking malt.

Celebrate Speyside with these four sensational selections and witness the diversity and complexity of a region where the flavour possibilities are endless.  Characterful spirit and characterful casks make for an incredible combination and helps us to continue to expand our horizons!