Scotland: The Single Malt Whisky Experience
Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s collections in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London boast a remarkable selection from more than 150 different distilleries.
By Eli Siegel (Posted 6/7/25)
Scotland has much to recommend it. At a glance: gorgeous landscapes, outdoor activities, Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, the National Museum, Isle of Skye and Loch Ness.
But the country offers something more: the single-malt whisky trail.
Speyside, the area surrounding the River Spey in the north east of the country, offers tours of famous distilleries, such as Glenfiddich, Glenlivet and Macallan and Cardhu, the first distillery to be officially pioneered by a woman. Or, check out the Highlands distilleries, including Dalwhinnie, Tomatin, Glen Ord, Dalmore, Balblair and Clynelish.
There is a lot to see — and learn about — and the best place to begin is the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Started in Edinburgh in 1983, SMSW is considered a top curator of the finest whiskies. And its member rooms — and tasting venues — in Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as London, are a key stop for enthusiasts.
Any serious whisky lover should visit SMWS’s private clubhouse, The Vaults, a stone building in Edinburgh that dates back to the 12th century.
U.S. members pay an annual membership fee of $100 for access to the Society’s rotating selection of single cask whiskies. An average of 20 different ones are released each month and made available to members on a first-come, first-served basis. (Don’t worry if you can’t make the trip, all whisky can be ordered from its online shop or by phone.)
SMSW offers single malt, single cask whisky, including from distilleries that are not open to visitors. It has spent decades hand-selecting individual whisky casks from more than 150 different distilleries. Single malt whiskies are typically made in small batches, making them rarer, and presented in their purest form. For SMSW, flavor is paramount. “We celebrate the fact that no two casks are ever alike. Just like a work of art, it’s a one of a kind,” said the society’s Ben Diedrich.
The single-cask subcategory of Scotch whisky represents less than 1 percent of the volume produced in Scotland each year, but is regarded as premium fare. Single malt Scotch whisky is made from 100% malted barley and comes from a single distillery, using copper pot stills. They must be produced in Scotland and matured in oak casks for a minimum of three years.
SMWS’ tasting experience.
Each distillery’s production process contributes to the distinct taste of its single malts. A plus for Americans: the SMWS offers members an opportunity to experience whisky that would otherwise be unavailable in the U.S.
Elhan Orhon, a member based in Chicago, suggests: reaching for a “10- to 15-year-old whisky that’s full of flavor but not too aggressive if you want a good dram and great conversation. But if you’re here to explore, if the whisky is the moment, consider different tasting paths. You might organize a flight from younger, more robust drams to older, more elegant ones — from floral, unpeated styles to bold, smoky/peated expressions, sweet bourbon cask maturations to wine-finished whiskies. Line up four to six drams and suddenly, all of Scotland is in your glass!”
With a presence in Europe, Scandinavia, Asia, Australia and India, SMWS has chapters in more than 20 countries and just over 40,000 members. It hosts lively members-only tasting events at notable whisky bars in the U.S., including New York, LA, Tampa, Denver, Boston, Chicago, Washington, D.C. and Seattle.
Mark Twain said it best: “Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.”
For more information
Scotch Malt Whisky Society, www.smwsa.com or follow @smwsamerica on Instagram. U.K. site: https://smws.com/venues
SMWS Members Rooms
28 Queen Street, Edinburgh’s New Town
40 Bath Street, Glasgow
19 Greville Street, London