SMWS New Year Release: A Toast to 2026 Taste
Toast to 2026: SMWS Launches "Cup of Kindness" New Year Bottling to Capture Seasonal Magic
Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) has proudly unveiled its special New Year bottling—Cask No. 59.85, titled "We’ll take a cup of kindness yet," to welcome the upcoming 2026. This Highland Single Malt Whisky symbolizes a fresh beginning and continues the journey of the previously released Winter Series, capturing the festive atmosphere and flavors from Halloween to Christmas, Hogmanay, and Burns Night.
Tasting Notes: From Nostalgic Aromas to Sweet Toasted Layers
The tasting profile of this whisky reveals extraordinary depth. On the nose, it offers unique notes of Lino cuts, putty, and model compound—aromas that often evoke vivid childhood memories. This evolves into sweet sugared almonds and heavily buttered rich tea biscuits, accompanied by the rich fragrance of cinnamon toast and toasted malt.
On the palate, it displays intense sweetness and nuttiness, blending chocolate hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, praline, and flaked almonds. One can even taste coffee-flavored chocolate honeycomb bars and the richness of maple syrup. With a drop of water, the aroma turns "jammy," presenting flavors of chocolate Swiss roll, strawberry jam brioche, and chocolate ice cream, accented by subtle hints of champagne and old books.
In the final stages, the mouthfeel becomes smoother and rounder, showcasing bourbon biscuits, raspberry coconut chocolate bars, and vanilla milkshake, with a delicate touch of wood and spice in the finish. Cask No. 59.85 perfectly embodies the SMWS pursuit of capturing specific moments and seasonal flavors, while the other three expressions in the Winter Series also return to provide a diverse seasonal selection.
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📅 Release Date: 2025-12-29
🔗 Source: https://www.whiskyintelligence.com/2025/12/scotch-malt-whisky-society-a-new-year-is-on-the-way-heres-a-new-whisky-to-celebrate-scotch-whisky-news/