ABOUT SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP
Since we were formed in 1983, we’ve believed in doing things differently. As unconventional whisky experts we seek out whisky in its purest form, prize flavour above everything else and give each bottling a curious name. We’re united and constant in our passion – to share the world’s best whiskies, to bring them to life, and to make you proud to belong to the world’s best whisky club.
The exploration of flavour and sharing our discoveries is what we’re all about. Our members enjoy exclusive access to whiskies hand-picked by our expert Tasting Panel, from 150 distilleries in Scotland and beyond. We bottle them at cask strength and offer a constant variety. How you drink them is entirely up to you.
We don’t just bring you amazing whisky – we bring our members together to share their passion, at our Members’ Rooms, tasting events, festivals, and our network of partner bars around the world. That makes the SMWS the perfect place to start out on your whisky journey, or take it to the next level.
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A SOCIETY HOME FROM HOME
Our spiritual home is The Vaults in Leith, where we started out in 1983 in a historic building that you can still see at the heart of our Society monogram. As our membership has grown we’ve added Members’ Rooms at 28 Queen Street in Edinburgh’s New Town, at 19 Greville Street in London’s Farringdon district and at 40 Bath Street in Glasgow’s city centre.
BARS WITH STYLE
Wherever you go, you can find a home-from-home in one of our specially selected partner bars around the world. Each one carries a variety of SMWS bottlings, served by fellow whisky enthusiasts and often at discounted prices for members.
TESTIMONIALS
HERE'S WHAT OUR MEMBERS HAVE TO SAY
“Joining the Society is an opportunity to discover your own favourite flavour profile – whether you prefer something lighter, or something deeper and more complex. There are so many options to try out.”
“The Society’s Tasting Notes describe the whiskies in an imaginative way, but as you go through them you understand what they’re talking about and you can identify some of those flavours – it’s a massive learning experience.”
“If you want to try unique drams that you’re not going to get anywhere else, then get in because it’s amazing and it changes every week. Any time I go in there’s always someone there to recommend their current favourite.”
“The Tasting Panel selects the whiskies carefully and the Society offers bottlings you can’t find anywhere else. Plus the Members’ Rooms are very comfortable and great to escape the Scottish weather with a fireside dram!”
“You’ll find people from all walks of life in the Society, but all with the same common interest around whisky. And that’s been the most fun for me, getting to explore a wide range of whiskies with a diverse group of people.”
“There are great Members’ Rooms where you can go and have a dram with very knowledgeable staff, who can all point you in the direction of where you should start your whisky journey.”
“I’ve always taken great enjoyment in talking about the Society and sharing a bottle at home with friends, it always leads to a wonderful evening.”
