We're back with the Scotch Malt Whisky Societies March 2025 outturn review. This month has a more curated selection of 19 new whiskies. A few double distillery releases this month, although featuring different cask types or peating levels.
Not all bottles from the outturn were available at the preview, but check out our social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) to get an updates on any missing bottles and heads up on our other reviews.
The scores below are based on our initial impressions. For full disclosure, we won't spend as much time with a dram as we usually do for a full review, but we hope you'll find the scores useful.
- 10 - Perfection. One in a million
- 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
- 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
- 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
- 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
- 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
- 4 - Below average. Passable.
- 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
- 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
- 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.
Onto the bottles...
6.81 - Macduff Distillery
Name: The Well Shod Gardener
Flavour Profile: Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits
Region: Highland
Cask Type: 1st fill American oak ex-oloroso hogshead
ABV: 56.9%
Age: 16
Price: £96.00
The nose is … empty. There’s a slight caramel waferness here, cocoa powder, mellow coffee with vanilla syrup. It’s tight, there’s aromas here but they’re all mushed together and muted. The palate has caramel, candied ginger, brown sugar, chocolate.. but all thin, insipid, and a bit flat. There’s some raisins and prunes of the finish but it’s just a bit lacking.. not offensive but not something we’d rush to drink.
Score: 6/10
Value: A few quid cheaper would have been appreciated.
9.270 - Glen Grant Distillery
Name: Ginger Pear Puff Pastry Tarts
Flavour Profile: Spicy & Sweet
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel
ABV: 61.3%
Age: 14
Price: £80.00
The nose is quite malty, cooking chocolate, caramac bars, toffee crisp bars, lemon water and buttery gingerbread. There’s a slight fizziness, apple strudel, but sour green apples. The palate has some texture, creamy vanilla, with a fair whack of spice.. chili heat for us. We’re also finding pear drops, haribo gummy bears, and green apple.. it’s a fairly artificial sweetness for us. It’s a bit hot but there’s enough flavour behind this for us to quite enjoy it.
Score: 6.5/10
Value: Society Glen Grants feel a little pricey these days.
10.280 - Bunnahabhain Distillery
Name: Ice Cream Beach Barbecue
Flavour Profile: Heavily Peated
Region: Islay
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon hogshead
ABV: 56.7%
Age: 11
Price: £75.00
The nose opens with salt water, iodine, wet pebbles, Arbroath smokies, caramelised vanilla and whipped cream. The alcohol is present but well integrated, and we’re also finding sponge fingers and seaweed. The palate has a viscous, greasy, mouthfeel, vanilla candyfloss, earthy peatsmoke, wet dirt, roasted hazelnuts and tar. The finish has more of a coffee ground and bitter chocolate flavour, and lasts a reasonable length. It’s definitely heavily peated, that dominates the palate, but it’s a good dram, maybe a bit simple though.
Score: 7/10
Value: Cadenhead is releasing a 15yo Bunnahabhain this week for £75.
10.282 - Bunnahabhain Distillery
Name: Sweetness & Darkness
Flavour Profile: Spicy & Sweet
Region: Islay
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-oloroso hogshead
ABV: 61.3%
Age: 11
Price: £85.00
The nose has a real rum funk, rubber tires, Jamaican ginger cake, vanilla essence, cherry coulis and sticky date caramel. There’s a bit of alcohol on the nose but it’s relatively well balanced. The palate has a bit of a disappointing texture, but we’re getting tinned pineapple, flambed banana, white chocolate, more cherries, maraschino this time, and sweetened dough. There’s a lot of cask coming through, we’ve lost any semblance of Bunnahabain character. It’s a basic whisky, but interesting in the way that the sherry has influenced the spirit.
Score: 7/10
Value: See our comment in today's other 10. Poorly priced vs the competition.
11.57 - Tomatin Distillery
Name: Writing Desk Transposition
Flavour Profile: Juicy Oak & Vanilla
Region: Highland
Cask Type: Heavy toast medium char, New Oak Hogshead
ABV: 59.7%
Age: 9
Price: £60.00
The nose opens with warm crystalised ginger, it's creamy, with strawberries dusted in sugar, dusty shelves, with some cake pops with a bit of white chocolate surrounding. There’s a bit of fire behind it, although it's not overly alcoholic. The palate has lots of cherry.. cherry flavoured cough sweets, ginger juice, lemon cream, more sponge cake and a bit of pineapple and brown sugar too. Again, not too warm but there’s a spice here. The mouthfeel is alright, and the finish lingers with more cherry and a bit of chocolate. Really quite pleasant, we enjoyed the last Tomatin we had from the SMWS and this follows suit.
Score: 7.5/10
Value: This is £5 more than the last 9yo release.
60.43 - Aberfeldy Distillery
Name: Compote in the Caribbean
Flavour Profile: Spicy & Sweet
Region: Highland
Cask Type: 2nd fill hybrid oak hogshead
ABV: 58.9%
Age: 10
Price: £75.00
The nose has some tinned mango, lemon posset, and something slightly off, it’s not sulphur but it’s something a bit funky. It’s almost like a vase of decayed flowers. A little must, caster sugar, and green grapes. The palate has a thin mouthfeel, with dark caramel, mocha and warm cherry jam on the finish. There’s a bit of pink peppercorn spice, blitzed strawberry with a bit of sweetened yoghurt. The finish is decent, but there’s a bit too much youthful spirit poking through the cask. It’s alright, quite interesting.
Score: 6.5/10
Value: We appreciate the secondary cask maturation is adding to the cost but this feels too expensive.
64.156 - Mannochmore Distillery
Name: Ye Olden Flavours of Loveliness
Flavour Profile: Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-oloroso hogshead
ABV: 56.6%
Age: 16
Price: £92.50
The nose has cinnamon, aloe, menthol.. more minty than expected. We’re also getting warm butter, brown butter actually, along with some dried ginger. The palate has more of an acidic quality, Coca Cola, citric acid, caramel, artificial sweetness, infact you could add coke to this and you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. That pretty much sums up the dram.. flat Coca Cola.
Score: 6/10
Value: The price on this has creeped up since the last 16yo release.
64.159 - Mannochmore Distillery
Name: The Perfumery's Orchard
Flavour Profile: Sweet, Fruity & Mellow
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 2nd fill #4 char hogshead
ABV: 56.5%
Age: 12
Price: £65.00
The nose has a real perfumed quality, rosewater, lily-scented fabric softener, really quite floral, but more of an artificial florality. We’re also getting pear skin and some light orange. The palate has an ok texture, and we’re finding a continuing with the floral character, alongside some stone fruits and light spice. The vanilla and apple come through in a French pastry type of way. It’s a decent dram, good bourbon cask with a bit of extra char to keep it interesting.
Score: 7/10
Value: Not a bad price given the distillery, cask and age.
71.109 - Glenburgie Distillery
Name: A Nordic Cranachan
Flavour Profile: Sweet, Fruity & Mellow
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel
ABV: 54.3%
Age: 15
Price: £83.00
The nose has a .. weirdly peaty quality, it’s not smokey but there’s a definite earthiness there. We’re also getting playdough, vanilla essence and a sort of thickness/viscosity to the nose. It’s fairly unique. There’s also some slow stewed onions with a squeeze of lemon juice. The palate has a fair bit of coffee, lemon, earth, cocoa beans and grapefruit juice. It’s much drier than expected, we’re finding ourselves chewing through the dram as it moves onto the finish. The mouthfeel is alright and the finish is a reasonable length, with a bit of pineapple and ginger coming through. Quite funky, quite unique. Interesting.
Score: 7/10
Value: A few quid cheaper would have been appreciated.
80.61 - Glen Spey Distillery
Name: Summer Garden Party
Flavour Profile: Juicy Oak & Vanilla
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon hogshead
ABV: 57.5%
Age: 13
Price: £69.00
The nose opens with peaches and cream, apples and pears, light brown sugar, milk chocolate filled with caramel.. overall super sweet, super fruity, with a light peppery alcohol behind. There’s also a touch of gooseberry jam and something slightly floral too. The palate is fairly sweet, but with a fair amount of lemony citrus, tinned pineapple, caster sugar and a bit of astringent alcohol as it progresses into the finish. There’s a bit of a grapey, grappa-esque flavour here too. The mouthfeel is fine but the finish doesn’t last too long, with mostly grapefruit skins, cocoa nibs and a little oak spice. It’s not too hot though, the alcohol is in good balance. Better on the nose than palate for us, but a reasonable bourbon cask Speysider.
Score: 6.5/10
Value: Pretty good price for the cask type and distillery.
88.33 - Speyburn Distillery
Name: Think Pink
Flavour Profile: Sweet, Fruity & Mellow
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-port barrique
ABV: 53.6%
Age: 15
Price: £90.00
The nose has a real red berry aroma, along with dark caramel, Irn Bru, brown sugar, vanilla fondant and currant jam. The palate has more berries, strawberries now, with a hint of raspberry jam, mellow cherry and a bit of a brown sugar. The finish has a sweetness but then dries out towards the end of the finish, darker chocolate flavours come through. The mouthfeel is a bit thin, but there’s a fair amount of flavour. A simple dram, not overly complex but quite pleasant. It feels like a 1 dram a night sort of whisky.
Score: 6.5/10
Value: Not a terrible price, but other IBs would definitely be more competitive on pricing.
95.78 - Auchroisk Distillery
Name: Beer Flower Loaf
Flavour Profile: Spicy & Sweet
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 2nd fill ex-oloroso hogshead
ABV: 56.1%
Age: 15
Price: £86.00
The nose is fairly tight, but getting deeper we’re finding apple and blackcurrant cordial, elderflower, a bit of fudge and fresh grass. The alcohol is fairly well balanced too. The palate has more of that apple and blackcurrant juice, moving into a bit of chocolate before petering off. The mouthfeel is thin, but there’s a floral note here that we can’t quite pick up. There’s also apple flesh and a bit of oak spice too. It’s fine, not nearly as much sherry influence as we’d expect. Palatable but not exceptional.
Score: 6/10
Value: We'd like this cheaper, but is not bad given the age and the finish.
95.102 - Auchroisk Distillery
Name: Like Snow White's Apple- Dangerously Seductive
Flavour Profile: Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-oloroso hogshead
ABV: 59.5%
Age: 11
Price: £64.50
The nose is full of cherries, raisins, red apple, raspberry jam, some maple syrup too. This must be American oak, there’s a real vanilla sweetness begins this. There’s also toffee fudge and caramel. Simple. Sweet. The palate has Irn Bru, vanilla sponge cake, apple skin, dairy milk hot chocolate powder, and lots of chili spice as it moves into the finish. This is a quintessential sherry finish for us, the spirit is fighting a little with the cask but it’s quite sweet, palatable… it’s fine.
Score: 6.5/10
Value: Like todays other 95 this isn't bad given the age and the finish.
122.77 - Loch Lomond (Croftengea) Distillery
Name: Bacon Seaweed Baguette
Flavour Profile: Heavily Peated
Region: Highland
Cask Type: 2nd fill ex-oloroso hogshead
ABV: 58.3%
Age: 8
Price: £62.50
The nose opens with sweaty socks, candied nuts, red kola, cold butter, menthol, oregano, and mint leaves. It’s also got a meatiness, smoked bacon, charcoal and a little brown sauce. The palate has sweet ketchup, maple syrup, smoked bacon and seaweed. There’s some bisto gravy and fresh chopped tomatoes, it’s a meal in a dram. Some will love the savouriness, but it feels a bit overpowering for us. It’s not a bad dram though.
Score: 6.5/10
Value: We're not really sure why this is more expensive than today's other 122.
122.78 - Loch Lomond (Croftengea) Distillery
Name: Divide And Conquer
Flavour Profile: Peated
Region: Highland
Cask Type: 2nd fill ex-oloroso hogshead
ABV: 59.3%
Age: 8
Price: £57.00
The nose has briney shellfish, kippers, warm coals, roasted nuts, red kola, rancio, sour cherry, and ketchup. The palate has a savoury, warm relish flavour, iodine, tomato salsa, basil and oregano, its very savoury. There’s also some chili heat here, alongside a fairly herbal and savoury smoke that underpins the whole dram. The mouthfeel is good but it’s just overpowering in a lot of ways. One for some but not necessarily us.
Score: 6.5/10
Value: It’s definitely worth opting for this 122 over the other to save a few pounds if you’re interested in them.
149.8 - Ardnamurchan Distillery
Name: The Fable of the Tortoise and the Hare
Flavour Profile: Juicy Oak & Vanilla
Region: Highland
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel
ABV: 61.3%
Age: 8
Price: £79.00
The nose opens with a casual quality, seaweed, candied orange jelly sweets, potpourri, soft peach and lemon zest. There’s a fair amount of bourbon cask sweetness here too. The palate has a reasonable mouthfeel with lemon cream and dark chocolate sprinkled with sea salt. The finish is a bit astringent with lots of grapefruit peel and juice. Even with the coastal quality, it’s not typical Ardnamurchan for us, and the palate is a bit rougher than the nose led us onto believe. It’s a decent dram but not our favourite Ardnamurchan.
Score: 6.5/10
Value: The price on this has come down a few pounds since the last release.
153.3 - Thy Whisky Distillery
Name: Dynamical Botanicals
Flavour Profile: Lightly Peated
Region: Denmark
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel
ABV: 59.7%
Age: 7
Price: £135.00
The nose has a lot of menthol, chemically, dried plant matter, rubber gloves, beech wood, disinfectant, surgical masks, clean but chemical. There’s something that’s akin to Eastern European Raki here. The palate has juniper, aniseed, cinnamon, root beer, chili heat and sugar water. The finish has a sweetness but a burnt aroma punching through it. There’s a herbaceousness which is nice but this dram is like marmite - some will love it, some will hate it. We’re in the middle.
Score: 6.5/10
Value: In line with what we'd expect from the distillery.
163.2 - Isle of Harris Distillery
Name: Distressed Tranquility
Flavour Profile: Lightly Peated
Region: Highland
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel
ABV: 58.1%
Age: 6
Price: £85.00
The nose is fairly medicinal, light with grape compote, rubber gloves, a little mint, menthol and dusty shelves. The alcohol is a tad warm but feels relatively well integrated. The palate has wet cardboard, a fairly medicinal, herbal smoke, with grass, ash and a fairly long finish. The mouthfeel is good, with lemon peel and bruised mint leaves. It’s a bit hot, the peat is overpowering the spirit for us and we hoped for more. The nose is better than the palate.
Score: 6.5/10
Value: The same as the .1 price which wasn't bad the for the distillery.
Batch 29 - Caramel Cascade
Name: Caramel Cascade
Flavour Profile: Deep Rich & Dried Fruits
Region: Northern Ireland
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon & Palo Cortado hogshead
ABV: 50.0%
Age: 12
Price: £85.00
The nose has some aged alpine cheese, red kola, cherry jam, blackberries, menthol, cranberry and something akin to dried earth, maybe sage even. The alcohol is a bit punchier than expected for the 50% ABV. The palate has a reasonable mouthfeel with cherry cola, a little bit of aniseed.. tarragon, cinnamon chewing gum, with cherries and blackcurrants too. The finish peters off quite quickly, and we’re left with dry oak and gingery spice. There’s also a bit of fresh strawberry and grapefruit here too. It’s fine, not one we’re going to revisit anytime soon.
Score: 6/10
Value: Seems on the pricey side, but hard to judge without knowing what is in the bottle.
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