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Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) Codes 2024 | Whiskipedia

SMWSID Distillery Origin Region Status
1 Glenfarclas Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
2 Glenlivet Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
3 Bowmore Scotland Islay Whisky Active
4 Highland Park Scotland Island Whisky Active
5 Auchentoshan Scotland Lowland Whisky Active
6 Glen Deveron Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
7 Longmorn Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
8 Tamdhu Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
9 Glen Grant Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
10 Bunnahabhain Scotland Islay Whisky Active
11 Tomatin Scotland Highland Whisky Active
12 Benriach Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
13 Dalmore Scotland Highland Whisky Active
14 Talisker Scotland Island Whisky Active
15 Glenfiddich Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
16 Glenturret Scotland Highland Whisky Active
17 Scapa Scotland Island Whisky Active
18 Inchgower Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
19 Glen Garioch Scotland Highland Whisky Active
20 Inverleven Scotland Lowland Whisky Closed
21 Glenglassaugh Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
22 Glenkinchie Scotland Lowland Whisky Active
23 Bruichladdich Scotland Islay Whisky Active
24 Macallan Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
25 Rosebank Scotland Lowland Whisky Closed
26 Clynelish Scotland Highland Whisky Active
27 Springbank Scotland Campbeltown Whisky Active
28 Tullibardine Scotland Highland Whisky Active
29 Laphroaig Scotland Islay Whisky Active
30 Glenrothes Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
31 Isle of Jura Scotland Island Whisky Active
32 Edradour Scotland Highland Whisky Active
33 Ardbeg Scotland Islay Whisky Active
34 Tamnavulin Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
35 Glen Moray Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
36 Benrinnes Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
37 Cragganmore Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
38 Caperdonich Scotland Speyside Whisky Closed
39 Linkwood Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
40 Balvenie Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
41 Dailuaine Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
42 Tobermory (Ledaig) Scotland Island Whisky Active
43 Port Ellen Scotland Islay Whisky Active
44 Craigellachie Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
45 Dallas Dhu Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
46 Glenlossie Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
47 Benromach Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
48 Balmenach Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
49 St. Magdalene Scotland Lowland Whisky Closed
50 Bladnoch Scotland Lowland Whisky Active
51 Bushmills Ireland Active
52 Old Pulteney Scotland Highland Whisky Active
53 Caol Ila Scotland Islay Whisky Active
54 Aberlour Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
55 Royal Brackla Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
56 Coleburn Scotland Speyside Whisky Closed
57 Glen Mhor Scotland Highland Whisky Closed
58 Strathisla Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
59 Teaninich Scotland Highland Whisky Active
60 Aberfeldy Scotland Highland Whisky Active
61 Brora Scotland Highland Whisky Active
62 Glenlochy Scotland Highland Whisky Closed
63 Glentauchers Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
64 Mannochmore Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
65 Imperial Scotland Speyside Whisky Closed
66 Ardmore Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
67 Banff Scotland Speyside Whisky Closed
68 Blair Athol Scotland Highland Whisky Active
69 Glen Albyn Scotland Highland Whisky Closed
70 Balblair Scotland Highland Whisky Active
71 Glenburgie Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
72 Miltonduff Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
73 Aultmore Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
74 North Port Scotland Highland Whisky Closed
75 Glenury Royal Scotland Highland Whisky Closed
76 Mortlach Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
77 Glen Ord Scotland Highland Whisky Active
78 Ben Nevis Scotland Highland Whisky Active
79 Deanston Scotland Highland Whisky Active
80 Glen Spey Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
81 Glen Keith Scotland Speyside Whisky Closed
82 Glencadam Scotland Highland Whisky Active
83 Convalmore Scotland Speyside Whisky Closed
84 Glendullan Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
85 Glen Elgin Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
86 Glenesk Scotland Highland Whisky Closed
87 Millburn Scotland Speyside Whisky Closed
88 Speyburn Scotland Highland Whisky Active
89 Tomintoul Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
90 Pittyvaich Scotland Speyside Whisky Closed
91 Dufftown Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
92 Lochside Scotland Highland Whisky Closed
93 Glen Scotia Scotland Campbeltown Whisky Active
94 Old Fettercairn Scotland Highland Whisky Active
95 Auchroisk (Singleton) Scotland Highland Whisky Active
96 Glendronach Scotland Highland Whisky Active
97 Littlemill Scotland Lowland Whisky Closed
98 Inverleven (Lomond) Scotland Lowland Whisky Closed
99 Glenugie Scotland Highland Whisky Closed
100 Strathmill Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
101 Knockando Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
102 Dalwhinnie Scotland Highland Whisky Active
103 Royal Lochnagar Scotland Highland Whisky Active
104 Glenburgie (Glencraig) Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
105 Tormore Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
106 Cardhu Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
107 Glenallachie Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
108 Allt-a-Bhainne Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
109 Miltonduff (Mosstowie) Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
110 Oban Scotland Highland Whisky Active
111 Lagavulin Scotland Islay Whisky Active
112 Loch Lomond (Inchmurrin) Scotland Highland Whisky Active
113 Braeval (Braes of Glenlivet) Scotland Speyside Whisky Active
114 Springbank (Longrow) Scotland Campbeltown Whisky Active
115 Knockdhu (An Cnoc) Scotland Highland Whisky Active
116 Yoichi Japan Active
117 Cooley (unpeated) Ireland Active
118 Cooley (peated) Ireland Active
119 Yamazaki Japan Active
120 Hakushu Japan Active
121 Isle of Arran Scotland Island Whisky Active
122 Loch Lomond (Croftengea) Scotland Highland Whisky Active
123 Glengoyne Scotland Highland Whisky Active
124 Miyagikyo Japan Active
125 Glenmorangie Scotland Highland Whisky Active
126 Springbank (Hazelburn) Scotland Campbeltown Whisky Active
127 Bruichladdich (Port Charlotte) Scotland Islay Whisky Active
128 Penderyn Wales Active
129 Kilchoman Scotland Islay Whisky Active
130 Chichibu Japan Active
131 Hanyu Japan Active
132 Karuizawa Japan Active
133 Westland Distillery America Active
134 Paul John India Active
135 Loch Lomond (Inchmoan) Scotland Highland Active
136 Eden Mill Scotland Lowland Active
137 St. George's (The English Whisky Co.) England Active
138 Nantou Taiwan Active
139 Kavalan Taiwan Active
140 Balcones America Texas Active
141 Fary Lochan Denmark Active
142 Breuckelen Distilling America New York Active
143 Copperworks Distilling Co. America Washington Active
144 High Coast Distillery (formerly Box Whisky) Sweden Active
145 Smögen Whisky Sweden Active
146 Cotswolds England Active
147 Archie Rose Australia Active
148 Starward Australia Active
149 Ardnamurchan Scotland Highland Whisky Active
150 West Cork Distillers Ireland Active
151 Mackmyra Sweden Active
152 Shelter Point Canada Active
153 Thy Whisky Denmark Active
154 Mosgaard Whisky Denmark Active
155 Milk & Honey Distillery Israel Active
156 Glasgow Distillery Scotland Lowland Whisky Active
G1 North British Scotland Lowland Whisky Active
G2 Carsebridge Scotland Lowland Whisky Closed
G3 Caledonian Scotland Closed
G4 Cameronbridge Scotland Lowland Whisky Active
G5 Invergordon Scotland Highland Whisky Active
G6 Port Dundas Scotland Lowland Whisky Active
G7 Girvan Scotland Lowland Whisky Active
G8 Cambus Scotland Lowland Whisky Closed
G9 Loch Lomond (Grain) Scotland Highland Whisky Active
G10 Strathclyde Scotland Lowland Whisky Active
G11 Nikka (Coffey Grain) Japan Active
G12 Nikka (Coffey Malt) Japan Active
G13 Chita Japan Active
G14 Dumbarton Scotland Lowland Whisky Closed
G15 Loch Lomond (Rhosdhu) Scotland Highland Whisky Active
G16 Glasgow Distillery Scotland Lowland Whisky Active
B1 Heaven Hill America Kentucky Active
B2 Bernheim America Kentucky Active
B3 Rock Town America Arkansas Active
B4 FEW Spirits America Illinois Active
B5 Cascade Hollow (George Dickel) America Tennessee Active
B6 Finger Lakes Distilling America New York Active
B7 MGP (Midwest Grain Products) America Indiana Active
RW1 FEW Spirits America Illinois Active
RW2 Finger Lakes Distilling America New York Active
RW3 New York Distilling Co. America New York Active
RW4 Peerless Distillery America Kentucky Active
RW5 MGP America Indiana Active
CW1 Heaven Hill Distillery America Kentucky Active

What is the Scotch Malt Whiskey Society (SMWS)?

The Scotch Malt Whiskey Society (SMWS) is the largest whisky club and independant bottler in the world, founded in Edinburgh in 1983. Its history goes back further to the 1970s, when the whisky lover Pip Hills and a group of friends began to purchase individual casks directly from the distilleries to divide them among themselves. Although single malts were a growing category at the time, single cask whiskies were a largely unknown entity. As single cask whisky spread through the Edinburgh art scene more and more people wanted to try the bottlings. The SMWS was officially founded in 1983 and now has over 26,000 members in the UK and around the world. In recent years the SWMS has been releasing other spirits such as rum, cognac etc. you can find details of these on our other SMWS spirits page

Understand the label

Because the SMWS sources a large number of whiskies, often from distilleries that do not want to be explicitly named bottles are labelled under a unique system. The most complex part of which is the numbering system which the above table details.

  • The number - Each bottle is marked with 2 numbers seperated by a decimal point. The first number indicates the distillery from which the whiskey was sourced, the second number indicates the number of single casks that the Society has already bottled from this distillery
  • The name - A highlight of every label, The character and aromas of the whiskey are accurately described in just 3 to 5 words
  • The Tasting Note - Each bottle is adorned with an individual, often entertaining tasting note
  • Age - The age of the whiskeys at the time of bottling. Unlike a vatting this represents not the youngest whisky, but is an accurate age of all of the liquid within the cask
  • The cask type - Information about the previous cask content and the number of uses of this keg is also published

The label will also detail the number of bottles filled from the cask (as these been have bottled from an individually maturing cask the’re is an absolute limit of around 1,000 bottles, in reality this is typically far lower at 200-350), the rough flavor profile and the filling date.

Cask strength whiskies without colouring or chill-filtration

Those who enjoy a Scottish single malt often do not even realize that they actually have a blend (or vatting) in their glass. Single malts are often mixed from hundreds of barrels in a distillery with the goal of creating a uniform character and taste in their whisky. You can imagine it like a choir in which high and low voices all sing a song together. If you were to pick a soloist from this choir, you would have a single cask: a single barrel in the warehouse, exposed to the influences of the climate. Its whisky which reacts with the barrel walls and gains new aromas, breaks down other notes.

Bottled at cask strength

While most single malts are diluted with water before bottling to reduce alcohol strength to 40%-46%, the SMWS does not do this. Every whiskey is bottled at cask strength - depending on the maturation time in the cask, this can be, for example, 54.7% or 63.9% alcohol by volume (ABV). This high strength makes the SMWS whiskeys particularly interesting for more advanced connoisseurs: because flavour molecules are soluable in different alcohol levels these complex and varied notes can be carefully explored by adding water.

Bottled without chill filtration

A large number of single malts, wirtually any bottled at the minimum 40% ABV, is chilled a low temperature (around 0C, sometimes even lower) and then passed through a filter to pick up tiny particles. This process, known as chill filtration removes ethyl esters of long-chain fatty acids, and larger alkyl esters formed during the making of the whisky to prevent hazing of the whisky. Unfortunately these esters are flavour carriers, happily the SMWS aso bottles their single malts without chill filtration preserving these flavour carrying esthers. Lastly the SMWS fills all bottles without adulkteration from E150 spirit caramel.

A vast range of whiskies

Hardly any other independent bottler has such a large variety as the SMWS, the club stores over 10,000 barrels of whiskey in its own warehouse. Single casks from over 130 distilleries mature there and are gradually bottled by the Society. SMWS bottlings offer the opportunity to try whiskeys from somewhat less known distilleries, and even on occasion long lost distilleries. Around 20 single casks whiskies are released for bottling monthly by the SMWS.

When was the SMWS founded?

The SMWS was founded in 1983 with the goal of introducing whisky drinkers into the best and most interesting world of single malt whisky. In 2014 the Society was still owned by Glenmorangie, before ownership changed to private investors in 2015. Since then there have been many innovations and upheavals and the Society is “reinventing” itself. Even the contracts with the sales partners in Germany have been terminated and the focus is now on self-distribution. So it’s time to take a closer look at the “new” SMWS!

History of the SMWS

The club’s history began in the late 1970s when a whiskey lover named Pip Hills drove to Speyside in his Lagonda north of Edinburgh to buy a barrel of single malt Scotch whiskey straight from a distillery. Pip shared this barrel with his friends and the enthusiasm was great. So they got together and decided to buy another barrel. Others followed, and a group of friends founded the SMWS Club in 1983 to purchase additional casks and share the whiskey with like-minded people. In 2004, the Society was acquired by Glenmorangie before being given to private investors in 2015.

An international whisky society

From Australia to Austria, the SMWS is currently represented in 19 countries around the world and supplies over 26,000 members via partner bars and their own branches with their famous green, eye-catching bottles and the single cask whiskey they contain. The club is based in Edinburgh, where the Society operates two so-called member rooms where members can meet, in Leith Vaults and on Edinburghs busstling Queen Street. There is another members room in London. The partner bars in which the SMWS whiskey is served are selected exclusively by the Society.

A unique approach to bottling

Each of the single cask whiskeys must first satisfy the trained noses and demands of selected experts. Only when all the experts are of the opinion that the whiskey meets the quality criteria and the optimal degree of ripeness has been reached, the whiskey is bottled. The experts did not have any information about age, barrel type, etc. during the tasting. This is to ensure that sensation alone decides! Finally, the tasting notes are published on the label on the bottles. These are usually highly entertaining and creative tasting notes. Philosophers must be at work here.