The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) has unveiled its first blended Scotch whisky, marking a significant milestone for the whisky club known for its single-cask, single-malt releases. Named SMWS – The Blender’s Notebook, the limited-edition expression is bottled at 50% alcohol by volume (ABV) and combines mature malt and grain whiskies to create a complex, Sherry-influenced blend.
The 18-year-old blended Scotch whisky is built around a 20-year-old whisky matured in a single Sherry butt, complemented by 27-year-old grain whisky and malt whiskies aged approximately 18 years. Its composition draws on whiskies matured in Bourbon casks, American oak Pedro Ximénez (PX) Sherry casks, and Spanish oak Oloroso Sherry barrels and hogsheads, bringing together different maturation influences.
The release is Batch 44 in the Society’s Heresy range, introduced in 2017 to give its whisky team greater freedom to experiment with blends, unusual cask combinations and spirits beyond traditional Scotch whisky conventions. The range received further recognition at The Spirits Business Scotch Whisky Masters 2026, where all three of its entries won gold medals.
According to the official tasting notes, The Blender’s Notebook opens with aromas of linseed oil, apricot jam tarts and greengage plums. The palate develops with honeyed melon, Madeira cake and candied pecans, reflecting the influence of mature Sherry casks alongside the underlying malt and grain components. The blend is designed to combine depth and richness with the softer texture contributed by American oak and aged grain whisky.
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The concept originated with outgoing SMWS Whisky Director Kai Ivalo, who envisioned a high-malt-content blend with an old-school character and mature whisky pedigree. Julien Willems, Whisky Quality and Sensory Panel Manager at SMWS, described the Heresy range as a space for experimentation, adding that the quality of the component whiskies and the way their flavours interact are central to the new expression.
Limited to 1,092 bottles, SMWS – The Blender’s Notebook is available through the Society’s website at a recommended retail price of £80. The launch expands the club’s portfolio while demonstrating its approach to blending mature malt and grain whiskies with distinctive cask influences.
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