Joining a whisky club should be straightforward, with regular releases, familiar names, and predictable favorites. The Scotch Malt Whisky Society offers none of that. Instead, it’s a club built on curiosity, exploration, and an uncompromising approach to flavor.
Every bottle is a single cask, every label a mystery, and every dram a new experience. It’s not for everyone, and that’s the point. So, in the spirit of full disclosure, here are thirteen reasons not to join SMWS America… unless, of course, you’re ready for something a little different.
Reason 1: Don’t join if you want to drink the same whisky twice
Every Society bottling is a one-off single cask. When it’s gone, it’s gone. That means no core range, no second chances, just the thrill (and heartbreak) of truly unrepeatable drams.
Reason 2: Don’t join if you’re loyal to one distillery
SMWS sources from over 150 distilleries worldwide, but you won’t see their names on the labels. If brand loyalty matters more than flavor, this might not be your kind of adventure.
Reason 3: Don’t join if you think “scotch” should mean scotch only
Despite the name, the Society’s curiosity goes far beyond Scotland. From grain whisky to bourbon to rum, the range is broad, bold, and borderless. Purists may struggle, but explorers thrive.
Reason 4: Don’t join if choosing gives you anxiety
Each new outturn brings a wave of options, peated, unpeated, sherry, bourbon, wine casks, and more. For the undecided, it’s a challenge. For the curious, it’s a monthly gift.
Reason 5: Don’t join if you like to know what to expect
Preconceptions won’t help you here. A Speyside might be smoky, an Islay might be floral. The only thing you can count on is surprise, and that’s exactly the point.
Reason 6: Don’t join if distillery names matter to you
Every bottle comes with a numerical code instead of a distillery name. It’s not about branding, it’s about blind tasting and trusting your palate. If logos are your compass, you’ll feel lost.
Reason 7: Don’t join if quirky names annoy you
“Riding a duck bareback up Mount Etna” isn’t a joke, it’s a whisky. Every Society bottling comes with a creative name and vivid tasting notes. Serious whisky, yes, but never too serious.
Reason 8: Don’t join if you prefer your whisky tamed
There’s no softening here. Every bottle is cask strength, untamed, and full of character. If you’re used to 40% ABV and easy sipping, brace yourself.
Reason 9: Don’t join if you need your whisky filtered and polished
No chill filtration. No added color. Just whisky as it came from the cask, cloudy if cold, unpredictable in appearance, and full of raw, unedited flavor.
Reason 10: Don’t join if you want to pick up a bottle at the shop
You won’t find these on retail shelves. SMWS releases are for members only, often sold exclusively through the Society’s own channels. No membership, no access.
Reason 11: Don’t join if you want to drink alone
This isn’t just a club, it’s a community. Tastings, festivals, partner bars, and Members’ Rooms bring people together over shared passion. If you prefer whisky in solitude, this might feel overwhelming.
Reason 12: Don’t join if you plan to stop at one bottle
Many join for “just one dram.” Months later, they’re quoting cask codes and scheduling their day around new releases. It’s not a collection, it’s a commitment.
Reason 13: Don’t join if you’re content with ordinary
Once you’ve tasted a few exceptional single casks, the usual suspects start to fall flat. The Society has a way of quietly raising your standards, and making everything else feel a little less exciting.
SMWS America: For the Curious, the Bold, and the Thirsty
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society isn’t for everyone, and proudly so. It’s for those who value flavor over familiarity, exploration over routine, and character over conformity. If that sounds like your kind of whisky journey, you might just feel right at home.
To learn more about SMWS America, upcoming releases, and how to join, visit smwsa.com
Read the full article at 13 Reasons Not To Join The SMWS America
