|
Introducing
The SMWS Skooshy Stroopwaffel, the 30th
release in the Scotch Malt Whisky
Societys experimental small-batch Heresy
range, an undisclosed 10 Year Old
Speyside single malt which was initially
matured for 8 years in American Bourbon
Hogshead casks then finished for 2 years
in four fresh European oak sherry butts
from Spain’s renowned Juan Pino
cooperage.
Happy New Year
all and our first foot in the Whisky
News section for 2025 is a new release
from The Scotch Malt Whisky Society and
as always from The SMWS the whisky's
name is as creative as the whisky
itself. The SMWS has announced the 30th
release in its experimental small-batch
Heresy range, a testament to the Whisky
Team’s expertise in secondary maturation
and their commitment to crafting unique
flavour experiences for whisky
enthusiasts.
Skooshy Stroopwafel, an 11 Year Old
single malt Scotch whisky, stands out as
a rarity in the Heresy line-up, which
typically focuses on blends. This
exceptional single malt highlights the
transformative effects of double
maturation, starting in bourbon
hogsheads and finishing in European oak
sherry butts.
The whisky's journey began on April 8,
2013, at a Speyside distillery, where it
spent eight years in bourbon hogsheads,
developing vibrant fruitiness, soft
cereal notes, and the sweetness of stone
fruits. Seeking richer, darker flavours,
Head of Whisky Creation Euan Campbell
transferred the spirit to four fresh
European oak sherry butts from Spain’s
renowned Juan Pino cooperage. These
casks had been seasoned for 13 months
with Pedro Ximénez sherry in the heart
of Spain’s sherry triangle, Jerez.
The SMWS Whisky Team frequently visits
Jerez to sample the sherry in their
casks, allowing them to fine-tune their
understanding of the flavours these casks
impart. For Skooshy Stroopwafel, the
choice of butts over hogsheads was
intentional. European oak sherry
hogsheads offer an intense maturation,
while the larger volume of sherry butts
enables a gentler wood influence that
still delivers a signature sherry
character. After 32 months of additional
maturation, the four butts displayed
remarkably consistent profiles and were
combined to create this single bottling.
The result they tell me is a whisky that
beautifully balances the richness of
bourbon and sherry cask influences. The
SMWS Tasting Panel described it as both
intricate and inviting, evoking the
sensory delights of a Belgian fair.
Expect flavours of lotus biscuits,
muscovado sugar, whipped cream (or
“skooshy cream” in Scottish parlance),
and stroopwafels, accented by subtle
hints of pumpkin spice frappuccino.
"This release perfectly demonstrates our
commitment to exploring the interplay
between spirit and wood to create a
unique adventure in flavour,” says
Julien Willems, Whisky Quality Manager
at SMWS. “While our Heresy range is
known for innovative blends, we
occasionally find single malts that
embody the experimental spirit of the
series. The decision to use sherry butts
rather than hogsheads allowed us to
enhance rather than overwhelm the
distillery’s fruity character."
The Society’s Heresy range is dedicated
to selecting and blending casks to
deliver maximum flavour impact. Launched
in 2017 with a 10 Year Old blend called
Exotic Cargo, the range has since
included standout releases such as Peat
Faerie—an innovative blend combining
peated and unpeated whiskies—and Battle
Axe, crafted exclusively from Islay
whiskies.
Unlike the SMWS’s iconic dark green
bottles, Heresy releases are presented
in clear bottles, each featuring a
unique label designed specifically for
the batch. Each still has a creative
name which is in some way descriptive of
the whisky in the bottle but they do not
have a code number like you would find
on the SMWS single cask bottling.
More Heresy releases are on the horizon
this year, with the next bottling set to
debut in March to celebrate St.
Patrick’s Day. Meanwhile you can get
hold of the SMWS Skooshy Stroopwaffel 10
Year Old Small Batch Heresy Range
bottling from
www.smws.com
|
