The Scotch Malt Whisky Society And The Top 5 Reasons I Joined
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- Опубліковано 17 сер 2023
- Recently I made the decision to finally join one of the oldest and largest whisky clubs in the world known for its single cask single malt scotch whiskies, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Joining the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, or SMWS, is something I had considered for a number of years and only recently finally decided to try. In this video I give a shirt background on the SMWS and then countdown my Top 5 reasons for joining the SMWS after all of this time. Is it worth the annual membership fee? Let's talk about it! Cheers!
#scotch #singlemalt #whisky #whiskey #scotchwhisky #singlemaltwhisky #smws #Scotchmaltwhiskysociety #top5
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I'm in my second year of membership and I'm really enjoying it! I do live just outside Edinburgh with members rooms a short train ride away, which of course helps in terms of easy access to member rooms. The whisky is truly phenomenal, I buy a bottle for myself from each outturn (currently 16 smws bottles.) One added benefit I hadn't thought of though, is the ability to buy unique gifts for others, and not just whisky lovers! I have bought tremendous and unique rum and gin for friends, which has gone down a treat.....so a wee added benefit to think about! Great video, I'm looking forward to seeing whether you renew!
I had been toying with membership for ages. But have just seen that they have now opened a member’s room in my home city. So will definitely be joining now.
Honestly, if there's a members room near you a membership is a no brainer. I enjoyed my visit to the vaults in Leith but am sad not having a members room close by to me. Cheers John! 🥃
Matt, your journey in becoming a member mirrors my own. I joined in June, during a new member promotion, after being offered several samples of their out turns. I'm heading to Scotland in November, so I thought it would be a great time to join and be able to visit the member's bars.
Membership is a bit expensive, and shipping costs high, but so far it's worth it.
Thanks.
Sounds like it's been a nice start with the SMWS for you. as you pointed out we seem to be in synch on joining the SMWS! Glad you'll be able to take advantage of visiting some of the members rooms, my experience at the Vaults location was excellent and I was made to feel very welcome. Like you my only reticence in renewing could come from it being a bit pricier. But so far it's very worth it. Cheers 🥃
You really can’t go wrong with SMWS bottles. It’s a great way to try a bunch of different distilleries. The names and their tasting notes are always fantastic and outlandish. You will get a bunch of very good bottles and a few outstanding ones, too. I have never heard someone say they were unhappy with one. Good choice to join up! Cheers!
Outlandish is a great way to describe the names. I feel Like Angus has done the same with his names for Whisky Sponge releases. I am very happy with joining so far! Cheers Sheldon 🥃
I joined just over a year ago. I had bought a total of 5 bottles in year one and was able to visit the member room in London this past March. The member room was amazing. I renewed my membership just a couple of weeks ago. I was on the fence about renewing because my shelves are full and the high prices for the ones I want, but then the US August outturn came out with a bottle I tasted in London, but couldn’t buy there as they didn’t have any available. The bottle was a 19 year old Cragganmore. Once I saw that bottle I immediately renewed my membership and bought it along with another bottle that had just won a competition and that sold out in the first couple hours after release. Unfortunately there are no member rooms or tastings close to me. If there was I would likely become a lifelong member, but for me it will likely be a year to year decision. Great video! Keep up the good work!
Oh man, sorry Madtown, this comment got "held for review" by UA-cam and I missed it.
Good to hear your experience with SMWS. The member rooms really are what makes being a member a no brainer. But if you aren't traveling then it really does come down to the bottles on offer. I've only had 2 IB Cragganmore as it seems rare around these parts, but what I have had has been astounding. A 19 year old Cragganmore, at a fair price is strong motivation. Makes sense to be strategic and rejoin when a bottle truly compels you! Thanks for the kind comments and the feedback. Cheers 🥃
Great video idea Matt! One of the liquor stores here has a great selection of SMWS bottles. Have been thinking of joining myself.
Thanks! I'm guessing that store is the Strath? If so, Adam does a great job with their outturn tastings. Cheers 🥃
Nice Matt, good summary of the feelings involved in joining. When I was in Edinburgh last September as a non member at the Queen St. my wife being my biggest whisky enabler pushed me to join. I don't live in the UK but I do travel a lot to it due to family and every time I visit a members room, join a tasting or even just follow the online activities it makes me happy. To be able to purchase the bottles at the venues is a big plus as well. The staff is always friendly, whichever outlet you're in and they do let you try before you buy which is fantastic. So yeah, I actually renewed my membership till the end of 2024, there was an offer to renew early and made my sister a member too since she lives in London :) Cheers my friend, I think it was a good decision!
We all need that kind of whisky enabler! Kyla does the same for me. When I waver on a purchase she often points out why I should. Sounds like with your travel your have a good number of opportunities to visit embers rooms. The SMWS bottles do seem to be at a premium in my area but it's hard to quibble with the quality of their whisky. Glad it was worth renewing! Excited to hear your thoughts on the Talisker Parley. Cheers man 🥃
I'm glad to know we're both very very lucky in our life partners because there are some absolute horror stories out there with bottle hidings and separate credit cards 😅 @@whiskyonthewestcoast
When I thought of "whisky widow" horror stories I think of the review FoodQuig did while his ex was moving out in the background. We are truly lucky sir!
Ah man I didn't know about that video but I have watched it now! That is brutal man @@whiskyonthewestcoast
SMWS introductory offer is great. Especially if you are able to visit the member rooms. Their bottlings are very high quality, but quite expensive. I dropped out after 3 years during Covid due to being unable to travel and visit members rooms. Plus the wealth of great new releases coming from OB and IB releases in Ab. I couldn’t afford to buy everything I wanted so I focused on IB & OB releases by Agencies who supported #reddeerwhiskyclub and #uwscotchclassic. I might renew if I have a trip to Scotland
That all makes sense to me Lars. Supporting those who support local always seems like a good starting point. The vast array of IB's that are available in Alberta is something that gave me pause as well. Why pay when so many are available without that requirement? The free trial on the intro offer made it make sense before my trip. Cheers 🥃
I was pretty turned off to the goofball or pretentious bottle names and find the lack of info transparency in the industry a real bummer. Then I watched Neal Patrick Harris naming some bottles and that was fun enough to help pull the stick out of my____. I’d be interested in joining IF I lived near a member room, retail partner, or could even partake of online tastings, but with their increased pricing and high output, I’ll probably forestall adding any more FOMO to my life…at least until I finally visit Scotland!
Lol, I could see the silly names being a stumbling block. Similarly sometimes I think the cartoon labels on Boutique-y Whisky Company bottles suffer the same drawback. I'm gonna have to find that Neil Patrick Harris video haha. Yeah lack of tasting lounges nearby and the inability to easily purchase, let alone afford, the bottles would be a deal breaker for me. Perhaps when you visit the U.K. a friend might already be a member and can bring you into the members room rather than you sign up. Cheers Marc 🥃
Man, sounds like you scored big with the SMWS! The trip, the promo bottle and the virtual tastings are slam dunks.
Honestly, if I had the storage capacity like Scott or if I had your 1.5 hour drive to find interesting bottles it's a no-brainer.
Reality is I have limited space and (at the most) 45 minute access to decent retail in all directions.
You can never argue with cask strength bottles. The prices are generally high so I always look at under 12 years. Really great to be able to taste an expensive bottle before you buy. I find I would rather get 3 for $250 instead of risking it all on one that may be disappointing.
Something about my kids college,IDK
Yeah, it was a no brainer right time for me to join I think. Good point about pricing on bottles over 12 years. That does seem to be a point where they start to hit a premium with SMWS. And if you're not tasting before you buy I agree that 3 lower price "lottery ticket" bottles is lower risk than one big purchase. College fund, dental work, toys for Christmas and whisky: one of these things is not like the others haha. Priorities... Cheers 🥃
@@whiskyonthewestcoast I was kinda being negative in my assessment because anything under $125 USD is pretty young.
If I was really still buying lots of bottles, say more than 1 or 2 or month, the constant availability that SMWS offers is possibly the best feature.
During 2020 and 2021 I would travel once or twice a week and hit every store on Google maps to get my collection.started. Now, if I go east for a 40 minute drive it's about 90 days in-between trips to hit the 2 good shops where I've frequently scored random Campbeltown unicorns at retail prices.
2 weeks ago I had the urge to drive out there and a found a KK8 sherry for low retail. Which is the single bottle that made it "cool" to drink really young CS whisky.
An independent bottle is pure chance. I do a little internet shopping and finding anything similar to what SMWS has to offer is just not happening. The couple of websites I surf have the same wholesaler so the have similar inventory and I can compare prices. Bourbon matured Ben Nevis from Inglered is very popular with ages 13, 14, 16, 17 and 18
@@jackthepickledhoundCurious what u think about those Inglereds? My fav retailer Roma in NYC recommended them but I passed bec abit expensive, hardly any reviews to be found, and so many other things I want!
@@marclambert8596 I bought a 2021 17 year old 54.2% for less than $10/ year. So that was a beautiful thing. I like a 53-58 but it was my first 700ml so that sucked. They had 1 of these and a few of a 14 year old. Now they have a 13, 14 , 17 and 18. Looks kinda silly on the shelf to my mind, but I'm not in the sales department, I'm in the buying department.
It's a meaty vanilla and spice dram. I think I'm getting some oak tannins as it goes into the finish. Maybe a 14 or 15 year would be ok.
BTW these are about 50 miles north, up the Thruway
I'm with the Australian branch, and the SC's are great, but where I live, there's no partner bar. It may be a deal breaker when my membership lapses.
Neat to hear you're a SMWS member too! I totally understand the hesitance to renew without partner bar nearby, as it was a big reason I joined for my trip. It really is a big advantage when one is reasonably close by. Cheers 🥃
I wonder how many SMWS members have kickass UA-cam shows.
Haha, I think quite a few actually, but thanks buddy. I appreciate the support. Cheers 🥃
Glad you had a nice deal with this purchase, and also a big time in Leith ! I'll tell you my thoughts in DM some day (if not done yet), Cheers !
Can't wait to hear them Grégoire. I feel like the SMWS can be quite...polarizing. The idea of paying a fee for the right to purchase bottles is still feeling quite odd to me. anyways, like I said, I'm looking forward to it. Cheers 🥃
As a member...$99 yearly membership plus $40 to ship one bottle to Inglewood..🤣
Ouch! Yeah, I struggle with the membership costs not being able to get to a members room where I live. The high shipping adds to the problems. Cheers eh! 🥃
Mileage definitely varies if you can pick up your samples and bottles in person and not pay shipping. But for me , even if the price of the membership amortizes across only my samples, the price of samples becomes $55CAD a month - for 6-7 mostly amazing, mostly cask-strength, mostly whisky samples. =D Once I start purchasing bottles, the price of the membership just dissolves to $3-$4 per item I buy during the year. No brainer XD
Shipping is definitely hurting my value proposition a little bit, but you have a good point about spreading the cost not only over bottles but also tastings. I've picked up a second SMWS bottle now so I'm 2 bottles in, we'll see what September brings us :) Also, I opted for the G&M HP 27 year over the SMWS 29.289 once KWM had them on preorder again. I tried a sample of the HP and knew if I had a shot I had to take it. Cheers 🥃
I’m in my second year of being a member but have not bought one bottle from SMWS yet and have only been in the Edinburgh club once so not using the membership to its fullest.
Hopefully you get to put the membership to its fullest use in good time. The members room visit at the Vaults certainly made me feel like it was a worthy investment. Cheers 🥃
I wish it wasn’t a private membership and you could join without upfront fees. Obviously they want the subscription to prompt more product purchase but with the general cost of bottles being well north of $100 this is a nonstarter for me
Yeah that is a pretty valid stance to take. And now that you mention it, that trying to prompt enough bottle purchases to make it worthwhile may be waht they are trying to do. I'm happy with it so far but I do wonder how I'll feel about a $120 renewal fee next year. Cheers 🥃
SMWS is the best 🥃🥃
I'm certainly a fan of them so far! Glad you are too. Cheers 🥃