SMWS Bottlings and the Codes They Use
We spoke of the brief history of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) in our previous article, and today, we are exploring the way they choose their casks as well as the interesting codes of their bottles. If you noticed the unique codes for each SMWS bottling and wonder what it all means, let us explore that together.
The SMWS’ Way of Choosing a Cask
Before we delve into codes, let us first look at how SMWS chooses its casks. SMWS appoints a “Tasting Panel” to select what casks to buy and bottle. The society acquires casks only after the tasting panel approved of the cask. In other words, the bottles that we bought off the website are tried and tested by the experts from the tasting panel.
The tasting panel consists of Society representatives who are either directly involved in the whisky industry or those who proved their knowledge of whisky. Besides tasting and approving casks to buy, the tasting panel also gives each expression an unusual and descriptive name. After their 25th anniversary in 2008, SMWS added mouth-watering tasting notes to depict the flavours of the whisky. An example of the unique name will be “Drunken Cherry Coconut Ice Cream”. Someone who is drinking this expression is likely to find cherry and coconut notes in the whisky, and the liquid will be creamy to taste.
The Unique Codes of SMWS’ Bottling
After choosing the cask, the society bottles it and give the outturn of each expression an unique two-part numerical “identity code”. The first part of the code represents the distillery and the second part indicates the number of cask bottled from the said distillery. For example, 54.45 means the 45th cask acquired from distillery number 54. Every society bottling uses this numerical system. The reason behind this system is simple. Every single cask is different, and SMWS did not want whisky lovers to link the whisky to the distillery’s general profile before drinking it. By using a code, drinkers are more willing to try it without judging and in a way, makes every sip a blind tasting.
It is worthy to note that SMWS bottles grain whiskies as well as single malt whiskies. The grain whiskies are denoted by the prefix “G” in their cask number. There is also rum with the prefix “R” as well as American whiskey with the prefix “B”.
The List of SMWS’ Distillery Codes
The list of distillery codes grows ever longer with every new distillery that SMWS adds to its embrace. Here is a list of the codes that we know of.
Single Malts
| Single Malt Whisky | SMWS Code |
| Glenfarclas Distillery | 1 |
| Glenlivet Distillery | 2 |
| Bowmore Distillery | 3 |
| Highland Park Distillery | 4 |
| Auchentoshan Distillery | 5 |
| Macduff Distillery (Glen Deveron) | 6 |
| Longmorn Distillery | 7 |
| Tamdhu Distillery | 8 |
| Glen Grant Distillery | 9 |
| Bunnahabhain Distillery | 10 |
| Tomatin Distillery | 11 |
| Benriach Distillery | 12 |
| Dalmore Distillery | 13 |
| Talisker Distillery | 14 |
| Glenfiddich Distillery | 15 |
| Glenturret Distillery | 16 |
| Scapa Distillery | 17 |
| Inchgower Distillery | 18 |
| Glen Garioch Distillery | 19 |
| Inverleven Distillery | 20 |
| Glenglassaugh Distillery | 21 |
| Glenkinchie Distillery | 22 |
| Bruichladdich Distillery | 23 |
| Macallan Distillery | 24 |
| Rosebank Distillery | 25 |
| Clynelish Distillery | 26 |
| Springbank Distillery | 27 |
| Tullibardine Distillery | 28 |
| Laphroaig Distillery | 29 |
| Glenrothes Distillery | 30 |
| Isle of Jura Distillery | 31 |
| Edradour Distillery | 32 |
| Ardbeg Distillery | 33 |
| Tamnavulin Distillery | 34 |
| Glen Moray Distillery | 35 |
| Benrinnes Distillery | 36 |
| Cragganmore Distillery | 37 |
| Caperdonich Distillery | 38 |
| Linkwood Distillery | 39 |
| Balvenie Distillery | 40 |
| Dailuaine Distillery | 41 |
| Tobermory Distillery (Ledaig) | 42 |
| Port Ellen Distillery | 43 |
| Craigellachie Distillery | 44 |
| Dallas Dhu Distillery | 45 |
| Glenlossie Distillery | 46 |
| Benromach Distillery | 47 |
| Balmenach Distillery | 48 |
| St. Magdalene Distillery | 49 |
| Bladnoch Distillery | 50 |
| Bushmills Distillery | 51 |
| Old Pulteney Distillery | 52 |
| Caol Ila Distillery | 53 |
| Aberlour Distillery | 54 |
| Royal Brackla Distillery | 55 |
| Coleburn Distillery | 56 |
| Glen Mhor Distillery | 57 |
| Strathisla Distillery | 58 |
| Teaninich Distillery | 59 |
| Aberfeldy Distillery | 60 |
| Brora Distillery | 61 |
| Glenlochy Distillery | 62 |
| Glentauchers Distillery | 63 |
| Mannochmore Distillery | 64 |
| Imperial Distillery | 65 |
| Ardmore Distillery | 66 |
| Banff Distillery | 67 |
| Blair Athol Distillery | 68 |
| Glen Albyn Distillery | 69 |
| Balblair Distillery | 70 |
| Glenburgie Distillery | 71 |
| Miltonduff Distillery | 72 |
| Aultmore Distillery | 73 |
| North Port Distillery | 74 |
| Glenury Royal Distillery | 75 |
| Mortlach Distillery | 76 |
| Glen Ord Distillery | 77 |
| Ben Nevis Distillery | 78 |
| Deanston Distillery | 79 |
| Glen Spey Distillery | 80 |
| Glen Keith Distillery | 81 |
| Glencadam Distillery | 82 |
| Convalmore Distillery | 83 |
| Glendullan Distillery | 84 |
| Glen Elgin Distillery | 85 |
| Glenesk Distillery | 86 |
| Millburn Distillery | 87 |
| Speyburn Distillery | 88 |
| Tomintoul Distillery | 89 |
| Pittyvaich Distillery | 90 |
| Dufftown Distillery | 91 |
| Lochside Distillery | 92 |
| Glen Scotia Distillery | 93 |
| Old Fettercairn Distillery | 94 |
| Auchroisk (Singleton) Distillery | 95 |
| Glendronach Distillery | 96 |
| Littlemill Distillery | 97 |
| Inverleven Distillery (Lomond) | 98 |
| Glenugie Distillery | 99 |
| Strathmill Distillery | 100 |
| Knockando Distillery | 101 |
| Dalwhinnie Distillery | 102 |
| Royal Lochnagar Distillery | 103 |
| Glenburgie Distillery (Glencraig) | 104 |
| Tormore Distillery | 105 |
| Cardhu Distillery | 106 |
| Glenallachie Distillery | 107 |
| Allt-a-Bhainne Distillery | 108 |
| Miltonduff (Mosstowie) | 109 |
| Oban Distillery | 110 |
| Lagavulin Distillery | 111 |
| Loch Lomond Distillery (Inchmurrin) | 112 |
| Braeval Distillery (Braes of Glenlivet) | 113 |
| Springbank Distillery (Longrow) | 114 |
| Knockdhu Distillery (An Cnoc) | 115 |
| Yoichi Distillery | 116 |
| Cooley Distillery (unpeated) | 117 |
| Cooley Distillery (peated) | 118 |
| Yamazaki Distillery | 119 |
| Hakushu Distillery | 120 |
| Isle of Arran Distillery | 121 |
| Loch Lomond Distillery (Croftengea) | 122 |
| Glengoyne Distillery | 123 |
| Miyagikyo Distillery | 124 |
| Glenmorangie Distillery | 125 |
| Springbank Distillery (Hazelburn) | 126 |
| Bruichladdich (Port Charlotte) | 127 |
| Penderyn Distillery | 128 |
| Kilchoman Distillery | 129 |
| Chichibu (Japan) | 130 |
| Hanyu (Japan) | 131 |
| Karuizawa (Japan) | 132 |
| Westland Distillery (USA) | 133 |
| Paul John (India) | 134 |
Grain Whisky
| Grain Whisky | SMWS Code |
| North British Distillery | G1 |
| Carsebridge Distillery | G2 |
| Caledonian Distillery | G3 |
| Cameronbridge Distillery | G4 |
| Invergordon Distillery | G5 |
| Port Dundas Distillery | G6 |
| Girvan Distillery | G7 |
| Cambus Distillery | G8 |
| Loch Lomond Distillery | G9 |
| Strathclyde Distillery | G10 |
| Nikka Coffey Grain (Japan) | G11 |
| Nikka Coffey Malt (Japan) | G12 |
| Chita (Japan) | G13 |
| Dumbarton Distillery | G14 |
American Bourbon Whiskey
| American Bourbon Whiskey | SMWS Code |
| Heaven Hill | B1 |
| Bernheim | B2 |
| Rock Town | B3 |
| F.E.W Distillery | B4 |
Rum
| Rum | SMWS Code |
| Port Morant (Jamaica) | R1 |
| Demerara El Dorado (Guyana) | R2 |
| Mount Gay (Barbados) | R3 |
| Angostura (Trinidad) | R4 |
| Appleton (Jamaica) | R5 |
We hope the list will help you to know more but do remember, do not judge the whiskies by the general characteristics of their distilleries, as it can be very different from what you expect. Instead, read the tasting notes and taste the whisky to find out if you love it!
