SMWS Burns Supper Sydney
2025-01-25 18:00 - 21:30 (Australia/Sydney) | Royal Automobile Club, 89 Macquarie Street, SYDNEY, NSW, 2000, Australia
By popular demand, the Society’s formal Burns Supper is back, celebrating the life and times of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns on his birthday, the 25th of January.
Following multiple requests from last year’s attendees, we’ll be incorporating some more traditional elements of a Burns Supper this year, including live music from the acclaimed celtic band, Kejafi, plus the Toast to the Lassies, and the Lassie’s response. And, of course, we’ll be piping in the Haggis, and hearing the Ode by our local Scot, Anthony Cowie.
Plus other humorous poetry from Burns and beyond. The event is a formal sit-down dinner affair, featuring a four-course meal alongside 5x matched SMWS malts (including the limited launch of our Burns Supper special label bottling Cask 88.32), and a welcome drink.

When? Saturday 25th January 2025 — 6:00pm arrival for a 6:30pm start.
Where? The Royal Automobile Club of Australia, 89 Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000.

Members are welcome to bring guests at member prices. Non-members are encouraged to attend.

Welcome to Memphis Slim's: SMWS Partner Bar Launch
2025-02-05 18:00 - 20:30 (Australia/Adelaide) | Memphis Slim’s House of Blues, Basement level 22 Gilbert Place, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
Join us in welcoming our newest partner bar, Memphis Slim’s House of Blues, for an evening of whisky, food, and blues.
In the heart of Adelaide, this temple of blues and whiskey lies beneath Gilbert Place, serving up American diner classics alongside some of the finest offerings from the American whiskey industry. In December 2024, they joined the Society’s incredible portfolio of Partner Bars across the country (and the world). So why not come down and celebrate this occasion with us?
National Brand Ambassador, Lachlan Watt, will be leading the charge as guests taste through a custom highball on arrival + six SMWS drams (a mix between American and Scottish drams), all whilst enjoying live music and a plate of delicious food from the good folks at the House of Blues.

When? Wednesday, 5 February 2025 — 6:00pm arrival and start.
Where? Memphis Slim’s house of Blues, Basement level 22 Gilbert Place, Adelaide.

Members are welcome to bring guests at member prices. Non-members are also welcome to attend. Please note the venue is downstairs and there is no lift access.
The event will commence at 6pm and officially end at 8:30pm where the bar will open to the public. Members and guests are more than welcome to remain and experience the rest of the bar after the event.

The Grand Tour of Scotland in Orange
2025-02-13 18:30 - 21:00 (Australia/Sydney) | The Hotel Canobolas, 248 Summer Street, Orange, NSW, 2800, Australia
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society comes to Orange for the first time, with our very special whisky tasting, “The Grand Tour of Scotland”.
Join us for a wonderful, entertaining evening of whisky discovery and appreciation as we explore a wide and diverse range of very special single malts from all corners of Scotland. These are Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottlings: Cask-strength, single cask, single malts with no chill-filtration or colouring, bottled straight from the cask — not available commercially, and unlike anything you’ll find at your local bottle shop.
Your host for the evening will be Andrew Derbidge — Chairman of the SMWS and one of the country’s most knowledgeable and entertaining presenters with over 25 years in the industry. He’ll take you on a journey of flavour and a virtual tour of Scotland & its distilleries as you taste your way through the many different styles of single malt whisky on offer.
This event will appeal to all lovers of Scotch whisky — from beginners to experts, there’ll be something for everyone; some delicious spirit; a wee bit of education; and a lot of laughs. Book in now to avoid disappointment.
A light canape supper will be served during the evening.

When? Thursday, 13 February 2025 — 6:30pm arrival and start.
Where? The Hotel Canobolas, 248 Summer Street, Orange NSW 2800.

Exploring Elgin: A Look into the Modern Cult of Distillery 35
2025-03-04 18:30 - 21:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Whisky & Alement, 270 Russell St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
An extensive Distillery vertical with one of the most diverse spirits in the industry.
Whisky from Distillery 35, located in the town of Elgin, has enticed and bewildered us over the past few decades, building a cult following within the Society. This distillery produces a highly versatile spirit that adapts well to a variety of cask types and maturation lengths, which is why we see Distillery 35 represented across such a broad range of our flavour profiles.
Join SMWS Australia’s National Ambassador, Lachlan Watt, for a flavour-packed deep dive into Distillery 35 upstairs at Melbourne Partner Bar Whisky & Alement, and discover why members get so damn excited for this incredible spirit! Your ticket includes 6x SMWS 35 drams + a welcome dram on arrival, and light snacks. Limited seats to go around — jump in quick to avoid missing out!

When? Tuesday, 4 March 2025 — 6:30pm arrival for a 7:00pm start.
Where? Whisky & Alement Upstairs — 270 Russell Street, Melbourne VIC 3000.

Members are welcome to bring guests at member prices. Non-members are also welcome to attend.

Tickets go on sale Monday, February 10, midday AEDT.

An Evening with Glenfarclas' Ian McWilliam
2025-03-07 18:30 - 21:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Royal Automobile Club, 89 Macquarie Street, SYDNEY, NSW, 2000, Australia
Returning to Australia for the first time since 2019, our good friend and colleague, Mr Ian McWilliam, Marketing Executive at Glenfarclas Distillery, is back in the country as part of a promotional tour through Australasia.
Accordingly, we felt it appropriate to once more enjoy… an evening with Glenfarclas! It is, after all, Distillery No 1. Ian is a legend of the industry, he’s a Keeper of the Quaich, and has worked at Glenfarclas for over 34 years! He’s seen and done it all — initially starting in the warehouse, then moving into production as a brewer, then a distiller, and then working as the Distillery Manager before moving into sales and looking after 30 countries as one of the distillery’s two international Brand Ambassadors.
He’s done pretty much everything you can do in the industry, and has incredible insights into not just the whisky, but the amazing history and stories behind it all. Join us as we celebrate this incredible distillery — one of the last independent distilleries in Scotland, still in family hands after 185 years — and enjoy some wonderful Speyside drams (both SMWS and commercial/OB Glenfarclas) while hearing Ian’s wisdom. A light canapé supper will be served during the evening.

When? Friday 7th March 2025 — 6:30pm arrival for a 7:00pm start.
Where? The Royal Automobile Club of Australia, 89 Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000.

Members are welcome to bring guests at member prices. Non-members are encouraged to attend.

Japanese Distillery Launch: Private Omakase Experience Night 1
2025-03-19 17:00 - 23:30 (Australia/Sydney) | Bar Besuto, 3 Underwood St, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
Join us for an intimate omakase dinner as we introduce Distillery 159 and 160 from Japan!
In 2008, Japanese whisky exploded onto the global market (after many years of limited success), despite having only 80 years of production behind it. Since then, we have seen an exponential growth in both distilleries and consumption of Japanese whisky. The Scotch Malt Whisky Society got on the lift early doors, with the first single cask released in 2002, cask 116.1 Coconut peapods and tropical hothouses. Since then, the Society’s releases have expanded to include highly sought-after casks from distilleries 119, 120, 124, 130, 131 and 132.
With the rise of new distilleries since 2008, the chance to share these exciting new whiskies with the Society has grown. We are delighted to invite you to an intimate dinner at Besuto Omakase, where we will explore two of the newest Japanese distilleries to join the Scotch Malt Whisky Society — Cask 159.1 and Cask 160.1 — along with a special surprise from the past! Our very own Lachlan Watt, and Joel Best from Besuto Omakase will take you on a journey through a series of 8x courses, 4x Japanese whiskies, and a custom highball on arrival.
This event will take place over two sessions (one session per person limit). This will also be an opportunity to order Cask 159.1 and Cask 160.1 before they’re released to the public (limited bottlings available for pre-order).

When? Wednesday 19th March 2025
Session 1: 5pm
Session 2: 8:15pm
Guests are welcome to arrive early and enjoy drams at the bar prior to or after their booked session.
Where? Bar Besuto, 3 Underwood St, Sydney NSW 2000.

This is a members-only event. Due to the extremely limited availability of seats, unfortunately it will not be possible to bring guests to these events. One session per member. Due to the nature of the event, one week cancellation notice is required.
Please note that this is for the first evening of sessions — Wednesday, 19th of March.
For the Thursday 20th sessions, please click here.

Japanese Distillery Launch: Private Omakase Experience Night 2
2025-03-20 17:00 - 23:30 (Australia/Sydney) | Bar Besuto, 3 Underwood St, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
Join us for an intimate omakase dinner as we introduce Distillery 159 and 160 from Japan!
In 2008, Japanese whisky exploded onto the global market (after many years of limited success), despite having only 80 years of production behind it. Since then, we have seen an exponential growth in both distilleries and consumption of Japanese whisky. The Scotch Malt Whisky Society got on the lift early doors, with the first single cask released in 2002, cask 116.1 Coconut peapods and tropical hothouses. Since then, the Society’s releases have expanded to include highly sought-after casks from distilleries 119, 120, 124, 130, 131 and 132.
With the rise of new distilleries since 2008, the chance to share these exciting new whiskies with the Society has grown. We are delighted to invite you to an intimate dinner at Besuto Omakase, where we will explore two of the newest Japanese distilleries to join the Scotch Malt Whisky Society — Cask 159.1 and Cask 160.1 — along with a special surprise from the past! Our very own Lachlan Watt, and Joel Best from Besuto Omakase will take you on a journey through a series of 8x courses, 4x Japanese whiskies, and a custom highball on arrival.
This event will take place over two sessions (one session per person limit). This will also be an opportunity to order Cask 159.1 and Cask 160.1 before they’re released to the public (limited bottlings available for pre-order).

When? Thursday 20th March 2025
Session 1: 5pm
Session 2: 8:15pm
Guests are welcome to arrive early and enjoy drams at the bar prior to or after their booked session.
Where? Bar Besuto, 3 Underwood St, Sydney NSW 2000.

This is a members-only event. Due to the extremely limited availability of seats, unfortunately it will not be possible to bring guests to these events. One session per member. Due to the nature of the event, one week cancellation notice is required.
Please note that this is for the second evening of sessions — Thursday, 20th of March.
For the Wednesday 19th sessions, please click here.

Passion and Artistry: Paired Whisky Dinner in Canberra
2025-03-26 18:30 - 21:30 (Australia/Sydney) | Vincent, 48 Macquarie St, Barton, ACT, 2600, Australia
An elegant evening of paired drams and fine food as we return to Vincent Restaurant.

CBR SMWS Ambassador Drew McKinnie has prepared quite the evening for guests this coming March as the Society returns to the stylish and upbeat modern wine bar that is Vincent for an evening of charming tasting plates inspired by the delightful Society whiskies they’re paired with. Featuring a stunning array of Society bottlings from across our extensive range, guests will enjoy a multi-course paired arrangement that will leave you satisfied and content, all whilst surrounded by the incredible Society members and friends that make this club so fantastic.
Plus, our National Brand Ambassador Lachlan Watt will be flying over to CBR to co-host with Drew — an evening not to be missed!
Your ticket includes 5x Society drams paired with 6x custom-made dishes served in the private dining space of Vincent, plus a welcome drink on arrival.

When? Wednesday 26th of March 2025 — 6:30pm arrival for a 6:45pm start.
Where? Vincent Restaurant, 3/48 Macquarie St, Barton ACT 2600.

Members are welcome to bring guests at member prices. Non-members are encouraged to attend.
Please note that due to the nature of this event, ticket sales will be closing on the 20th of March.

Autumnal Society Dinner in the 'Gong
2025-03-28 18:30 - 21:00 (Australia/Sydney) | The Fraternity Club, 11 Bourke St, Fairy Meadow, NSW, 2519, Australia
It’s back to the Frat Club for a Society feast with Mr Fred Apolloni!

Join your fellow Society members and comrades at the Fraternity club this coming March for an Autumnal dinner with some new and remarkable whiskies from the Society’s catalogue! Your local Ambassador Fred Apolloni will be leading the charge on another memorable tasting! Guests will enjoy five SMWS malts (including a 32-year-old Vaults Collection), a two-course dinner, and a welcome drink all in the familiar surrounds of the cosy Frat Club.
Don’t miss this golden opportunity to share some new and exciting Society drams with your fellow Illawarra Society members at Wollongong’s inaugural tasting of 2025.

When? Friday the 28th of March, 6:30pm for a 7:00pm start.
Where? Upstairs at The Fraternity Club, 11 Bourke St, Fairy Meadow, 2519.

Members are welcome to bring guests at member pricing. Non-members are also welcome to attend.

Some Eirinn Heresy in Melbourne
2025-04-10 18:30 - 21:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | P.J. O’Brien’s Irish Pub, 12-16/3 Southgate Ave, Southbank, Victoria, 3006, Australia
It’s time to don a touch of green as we celebrate a belated St Patrick’s Day — and what better way to do so than with the release of our Irish Heresy bottling, a pint of Guinness, and a feast at P.J. O’Brien’s!
Long-time Society members will remember the regular casual feasts we enjoyed at P.J. O’Brien’s Irish Pub. Well, we’re returning to the famed venue this April to celebrate a belated St Paddy’s Day with a stellar line-up of Heresy releases! Guests can expect a fun and festive evening kicking off with a dram of Shimmering silk — our newly-released and first-ever Irish Heresy bottling produced in collaboration with Dunville’s Whisk — and a pint of Guinness on arrival, before sitting down to enjoy a curated line-up of 5x SMWS small-batch Heresy releases, both classic and new, with a hearty, two-course meal from the P.J’s kitchen.
Your local VIC Society Ambassador Alex Moores will be taking guests through the history of Irish whisky with the SMWS as well as the purpose of our clear-bottle ‘Heresy’ range of whiskies. Guests can expect a casual evening of great whisky, tasty food and fantastic company as we return to P.J. O’Brien’s in Southbank.

When? Thursday 10th of April 2025 — 6:30pm arrival for a 7:00pm start.
Where? P.J. O’Brien’s Irish Pub, Shop G12-16, Southgate Restaurant & Shopping Precinct, Southbank VIC 3006.

Members are welcome to bring guests at member prices. Non-members are encouraged to attend and see what the Society is all about.

The Sweetest May Outturn Preview
2025-04-30 18:00 - 21:00 (Australia/Perth) | Terrarium, 99 St Georges Terrace, Perth, WA, 6000, Australia
Members and friends, it’s been far too long, but we’re ready to tantalise your senses once more with a special May Outturn preview…with a sweet twist!

Join your State Ambassador David Stucken at Society Partner Bar Terrarium in Perth CBD for a Wednesday evening flavour fiesta. Guests will enjoy a curated selection of 5x drams from the unreleased May Outturn, in addition to a custom-made JG Thomson Sweet highball on arrival. Plus, we’ve teamed up with a local chocolatier to turn up the flavour and will be pairing each dram with a chocolate.
This is a casual, cocktail-style event where guests will have a chance to mingle between and during drams — a fun, laid-back occasion to come down and celebrate some incredible whiskies before they’re released (plus the opportunity to purchase bottling ahead of other members).

When? Wednesday 30th of April 2025 — 6:00pm arrival for a 6:30pm start.
Where? Terrarium Bar, 99 St Georges Terrace (Howards St Entrance), Perth WA 6000.

Members are welcome to bring guests at member prices. Non-members are encouraged to attend and see what the Society is all about. This venue is wheelchair accessible.

SMWS Cocktail Party: Leah Dunnigan x W&A Takeover
2025-05-19 18:00 - 21:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Whisky & Alement, 270 Russell St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
Australia’s #1 Bartender Comes to Whisky & Alement!

We’re super excited to be joining up with Melbourne Partner Bar Whisky & Alement to bring Leah Dunnigan — Australian T25 Bartender of the year and QLD Partner Bar Savile Row’s Bar Manager — down to Melbourne for one night of cask-strength Society cocktails and fun!
Leah will create four unique cocktails, each hero-ing a different cask-strength Society release; plus, there’ll be a break-even dram of Rare Release 53 Honeysuckle petrichor (one of Leah’s top 10 drams tasted for 2024) available.

When: Monday 19th of May 2025 — 6pm – 9pm
Where: Whisky & Alement, 270 Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3072.

No bookings required!
This is not a formal event. Just rock up and enjoy some great, unique Society cocktails with friends. Make sure to bring your Society membership card as members will receive discounts on the 4x cocktails for the duration of the pop-up.

Single Cask Spirits Spotlight
2025-05-30 18:30 - 21:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Whisky & Alement, 270 Russell St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
Beyond single malt, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society also experiments with Single Cask Spirits — each bottle a love letter to the other spirits whose character truly shines when bottled in single cask form, and we’d love to share some new releases with you.
Join us upstairs at Whisky & Alement for a Friday night of Single Cask Spirits as we spotlight a different type of SCS release from the Society catalogue — most of which have not yet been released in Australia! This intimate tasting will be led by your local VIC Society Ambassador Alex Moores and will encompass Society Armagnac (.1 from a new code), Cognac, Rum, Bourbon, Rye Whiskey, and, of course, a single malt to top things off.
This is an intimate showcase event and an opportunity to try some unreleased drams and learn more about the Society’s Single Cask Spirit range. 6x drams and shared cheeseboards. Tickets are limited, so grab yours when they go on sale Thursday, 15th of May at midday.

When? Friday, 30 May 2025 — 6:30pm arrival for a 7:00pm start.
Where? Whisky & Alement Upstairs — 270 Russell Street, Melbourne VIC 3000.

This event is available only to members of SMWS Australia; members may purchase an extra ticket for a guest, though.

Tickets go on sale Thursday 15th of May at midday.

Whisky Wanderers Festivals Lands in Perth
2025-06-12 18:00 - 21:30 (Australia/Perth) | Terrarium, 99 St Georges Terrace, Perth, WA, 6000, Australia
The Whisky Wanderers Festival has arrived on our shores, making it the perfect time to celebrate together in Perth through the medium of full-flavoured Society whisky!

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has long celebrated the regions, provenance, casks, and flavours of whisky, and this year, we invite you to embark on a journey through flavour with our own take on the classic festivals — The Whisky Wanderers. Building on the Rare Releases of previous years, the Society has unveiled a series of specially selected and carefully matured casks globally to mark the inaugural Whisky Wanderers Festival. We’re lucky enough to be receiving 14 of them in Australia (including the highly anticipated five-region blended malt Wandering Alchemy).
Join SMWS Australia National Ambassador, Lachlan Watt and local Ambassador Xander Stucken for a special evening tasting through 8x of these incredible Whisky Wanderers casks, accompanied by snacks and small plates at the ever-incredible Terrarium Bar. This is a casual free-roam event (think of it like a mini-festival) where guests will have the opportunity to taste through the whiskies at their own in their own order; it will also be a unique opportunity to try a brand new Society distillery code — Distillery 162!

When? Thursday 12th of June 2025 — 6:00pm arrival for a 6:30pm start.
Where? Terrarium Bar, 99 St Georges Terrace (Howards St Entrance), Perth WA 6000.

Members are welcome to bring guests at member prices. Non-members are also welcome to attend.

Flavourful Wonders for Whisky Wanderers Adelaide
2025-06-19 18:00 - 21:30 (Australia/Adelaide) | Spier & Wright, U1/151 King William Road, Unley, South Australia, 5061, Australia
The Whisky Wanderers Festival has arrived on our shores, making it the perfect time to celebrate together in Adelaide through the medium of full-flavoured Society whisky!

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has long celebrated the regions, provenance, casks, and flavours of whisky, and this year, we invite you to embark on a journey through flavour with our own take on the classic festivals — The Whisky Wanderers. Building on the Rare Releases of previous years, the Society has unveiled a series of specially selected and carefully matured casks globally to mark the inaugural Whisky Wanderers Festival. We’re lucky enough to be receiving 14 of them in Australia (including the highly anticipated five-region blended malt Wandering Alchemy).
Join SMWS Australia National Ambassador, Lachlan Watt, for a special evening tasting through 6x of these incredible Whisky Wanderers casks, accompanied by curated cheese and grazing plates at our esteemed Partner Bar, Spier and Wright. This is an intimate and casual evening of flavour and excitement, and will also be a unique opportunity to try a brand new Society distillery code — Distillery 162!

When? Thursday, 19 June 2025 — 6:00pm arrival for a 6:30pm start.
Where? Spier & Wright, 1/151 King William Rd, Unley SA 5061.

Members are welcome to bring guests at member prices. Non-members are also welcome to attend.

Melbourne Whisky Wanderers Festival 2025
2025-06-21 14:00 - 18:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | The Kelvin Club, 14-30 Melbourne Pl, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
The Scotch Whisky Festivals are a time for celebrating the great uisge beatha (water of life) that we enjoy; to celebrate locally, we’re bringing our hugely successful afternoon festival back to the Kelvin Club for a second year!
For 2025, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is hosting the Whisky Wanderers festival, our iteration of the popular Scotch Whisky Festivals in which each Scotch region celebrates their history and flavour. This year, the SMWS has produced multiple cask-strength expressions to celebrate the Whisky Wanderers festival, and Australia is receiving 14x of them! All 14 casks will be on pour for this festival hosted at our beloved Partner Venue — The Kelvin Club — encompassing two floors of flavour and entertainment.
Tickets include unlimited pours of the 14x new 2025 Whisky Wanderer bottlings, canapés, and the option to add on complimentary micro masterclass sessions. We’ll have several whisky stations set up and guests can visit each to taste the drams on offer, with canapés roaming during this cocktail-style event. You’ll also have the chance to chat with SMWS Australia’s core team including Managing Director Matt Bailey who will be returning to Australia briefly to attend the festival.
Whisky & Alement will also be hosting their Historic Islay bar once again, which will feature Fèis Ìle and Islay releases from yesteryear (both older rare SMWS releases and non-SMWS releases), as well as the Never-Ending peated cask! Your ticket will entitle you to 1x complimentary Never-Ending Cask dram from the Whisky & Alement stand, with additional drams available for purchase on the day.
This is a huge free-roam event and an opportunity to try some of the exclusive whisky festivals casks coming into the country at similar times as they’re being tasted in the UK.

What to expect on the day:

A full festival featuring all 14 of the 2025 Whisky Wanderer Festival bottles from the SMWS and a range of bonus single-cask, cask-strength SMWS malts — all pours included with your ticket!

Micro-masterclasses every hour with our National Brand Ambassador Lachlan Watt.

Historic Islay bar by Whisky & Alement serving past Fèis releases and rare Islay drams, as well as the SMWS never-ending cask (first dram of which is complimentary with your ticket). Please note that extra drams on the Whisky & Alement stand are available as additional purchases on the day.

Billiards tables available downstairs.

Cold beer, food and more…

When? Saturday 21st of June 2025 — 2pm – 5pm
Where? Kelvin Club, 14-30 Melbourne Pl, Melbourne VIC 3000.

This event is available to both members and non-members — if you are not a member of the SMWS, we encourage you to come along and see what it’s all about. You can also purchase our ticket + membership option to receive 12 months of membership at a discounted rate.

Launceston's Wondrous Festivals Experience
2025-06-26 18:30 - 21:00 (Australia/Hobart) | Nomy Bar & Kitchen, 91 George St, Launceston, TAS, 7250, Australia
The fèis spirit returns to Tassie shores this June as we celebrate the wondrous 2025 SMWS Scotch Whisky festivals casks.

Join us at Nomy Bar & Kitchen in Launceston for an evening of drams and food to celebrate the 2025 Scotch Whisky festivals! 2025 marks the year the Society returns to single-cask releases across the board for the festivals for a full fèis flavour experience. We’ll be indulging in 5x of the single-cask whisky releases spanning the Scotch Whisky regions + a welcome drink and two-course dinner covering Nomy’s finest dishes, all led by your local Tassie Society ambassador Mr Tom Rofe.
This will be an exclusive opportunity to sample some of the official 2025 Scottish Whisky Festivals bottlings in Tasmania at similar times as they’re being enjoyed in the UK — a real treat!

When? Thursday 26th of June 2025 — 6:15pm arrival for a 6:30pm start.
Where? Nomy Bar and Kitchen, 91 George St, Launceston TAS 7250.

Members are welcome to bring guests at member prices. Non-members are encouraged to attend and see what the Society is all about.

Single Cask Whisky Dinner at The Ternary
2025-06-26 18:30 - 21:30 (Australia/Sydney) | The Ternary, 100 Murray St, Darling Harbour, NSW, 2000, Australia
The Ternary together with The Scotch Malt Whisky Society will host a luxury collaborative dining experience for one night only on Thursday 26 June 2025 at 5:45pm.
Hosted by The Ternary at Novotel Darling Harbour, the Society will once again be teaming up with Chef Anthony Flowers for a carefully prepared whisky dinner with each dram paired to a dish. Hosted by branch Director Matt Bailey, who will be returning briefly to Australia for a series of events, this evening promises to be a wonderful, curated flavour experience.
Tickets are limited and available via The Ternary’s website here.

Sydney Whisky Wanderers Festival 2025
2025-06-28 14:00 - 18:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Royal Automobile Club, 89 Macquarie Street, SYDNEY, NSW, 2000, Australia
The Scotch Whisky Festivals are a time for celebrating the great uisge beatha (water of life) that we enjoy; to celebrate locally, we’re bringing our hugely successful afternoon festival back to the Royal Automobile Club of Australia for a second year!
For 2025, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is hosting the Whisky Wanderers festival, our iteration of the popular Scotch Whisky Festivals in which each Scotch region celebrates their history and flavour. This year, the SMWS has produced multiple cask-strength expressions to celebrate the Whisky Wanderers festival, and Australia is receiving 14x of them! All 14 casks will be on pour for this festival hosted in the RACA’s iconic Victoria room.
Tickets include unlimited pours of the 14x new 2025 Whisky Wanderer bottlings, canapés, and the option to add on complimentary micro masterclass sessions (hosted in the Pioneers Room). We’ll have several whisky stations set up and guests can visit each to taste the drams on offer, with canapés roaming during this cocktail-style event. You’ll also have the chance to chat with SMWS Australia’s core team including Country Director Matt Bailey who will be returning to Australia briefly to attend the festival.
Whisky & Alement will also be hosting their Historic Islay bar once again, which will feature Fèis Ìle and Islay releases from yesteryear (both older rare SMWS releases and non-SMWS releases), as well as the Never-Ending peated cask! Your ticket will entitle you to 1x complimentary Never-Ending Cask dram from the Whisky & Alement stand, with additional drams available for purchase on the day.
This is a huge free-roam event and an opportunity to try some of the exclusive whisky festivals casks coming into the country!

What to expect on the day:

A full festival featuring all 14 of the 2025 Whisky Wanderer Festival bottles from the SMWS and a range of bonus single-cask, cask-strength SMWS malts — all pours included with your ticket!

Micro-masterclasses every hour with our National Brand Ambassador Lachlan Watt in the Pioneers room

Historic Islay bar by Whisky & Alement serving past Fèis releases and rare Islay drams, as well as the SMWS never-ending cask (first dram of which is complimentary with your ticket). Please note that extra drams on the Whisky & Alement stand are available as additional purchases on the day.

Cold beer, food and more…

When? Saturday 28th of June 2025 — 2pm – 6pm
Where? Royal Automobile Club of Australia, 89 Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000.

This event is available to both members and non-members — if you are not a member of the SMWS, we encourage you to come along and see what it’s all about. You can also purchase our ticket + membership option to receive 12 months of membership at a discounted rate.

Whisky Festivals Dinner Extravaganza in Hobart
2025-06-28 18:30 - 21:30 (Australia/Hobart) | Ball & Chain Grill, 87 Salamanca Pl, Battery Point, TAS, 7004, Australia
The fèis spirit returns to Tassie shores this June as we celebrate the wondrous 2025 SMWS Scotch Whisky festivals casks.

Join us at Ball & Chain in Hobart for an extravagant evening of drams and a multi-course dinner to celebrate the 2025 Scotch Whisky festivals! 2025 marks the year the Society returns to single-cask releases across the board for the festivals for a full fèis flavour experience. We’ll be indulging in 5x of the single-cask whisky releases spanning the Scotch Whisky regions + a welcome drink and a carefully prepared three-course dinner, all led by your local Tassie Society ambassador Mr Tom Rofe.
This will be an exclusive opportunity to sample some of the official 2025 Scottish Whisky Festivals bottlings in Tasmania at similar times as they’re being enjoyed in the UK — a real treat!

When? Saturday 28th of June 2025 — 6:15pm arrival for a 6:30pm start.
Where? Ball & Chain, 87 Salamanca Pl, Battery Point TAS 7004.

Members are welcome to bring guests at member prices. Non-members are encouraged to attend and see what the Society is all about.

Brisbane's (Mini) Whisky Wanderers Festival
2025-07-05 14:00 - 17:00 (Australia/Brisbane) | Savile Row, 667 Ann St, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, 4006, Australia
The Whisky Wanderers Festival has arrived on our shores, making it the perfect time to celebrate together in Brisbane through the medium of full-flavoured Society whisky!

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has long celebrated the regions, provenance, casks, and flavours of whisky, and this year, we invite you to embark on a journey through flavour with our own take on the classic festivals — The Whisky Wanderers. Building on the Rare Releases of previous years, the Society has unveiled a series of specially selected and carefully matured casks globally to mark the inaugural Whisky Wanderers Festival. We’re lucky enough to be receiving 14 of them in Australia (including the highly anticipated five-region blended malt Wandering Alchemy).
Join SMWS Australia Marketing Manager Adam Ioannidis and local Ambassador Scott Mansfield for a special afternoon tasting through 8x of these incredible Whisky Wanderers casks, accompanied by snacks and small plates at the dashing and cosy Partner Bar Savile Row. This is a casual free-roam event (think of it like a mini-festival) where guests will have the opportunity to taste through the whiskies at their own pace in their own order; it will also be a unique opportunity to try a brand new Society distillery code — Distillery 162!

When? Saturday 5th of July 2025 — 2:00pm – 5:00pm.
Where? Savile Row, (Behind the orange door) 667 Ann St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006.

Members are welcome to bring guests at member prices. Non-members are also welcome to attend. Please note that the bar will open to the public at 5pm, guests are encouraged to stay on and enjoy further drinks from the bar.

Canberra's Whisky Wanderers Dinner (with a Canadian Twist)
2025-07-10 18:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Caribou Kingston, Green Square, 44 Jardine St, Kingston, ACT, 2604, Australia
The Whisky Wanderers Festival has arrived on our shores, making it the perfect time to celebrate together in Canberra through the medium of full-flavoured Society whisky!
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has long celebrated the regions, provenance, casks, and flavours of whisky, and this year, we invite you to embark on a journey through flavour with our own take on the classic festivals — The Whisky Wanderers. Building on the Rare Releases of previous years, the Society has unveiled a series of specially selected and carefully matured casks globally to mark the inaugural Whisky Wanderers Festival. We’re lucky enough to be receiving 14 of them in Australia (including the highly anticipated five-region blended malt Wandering Alchemy).
Where better to return on a cold winter’s night in our nation’s capital than Caribou at Kingston — our favourite Canadian Sports Bar known as the friendliest waterhole in the lakeside precinct? Our Canadian friends are offering a convivial night, tasty warming foods, maple-flavoured fun, accompanied by a selection of 6x Winter Wanderers Festival malts and a cocktail on arrival. Escape from the mad pressures of life and instead enjoy friendship, hospitality and fantastic flavours.

When? Thursday 10th of July 2025 — 6:00pm arrival for a 6:30pm start.
Where? Caribou — 44 Jardine St, Kingston ACT 2604 (Green Square).

Members are welcome to bring guests at member prices. Non-members are also welcome to attend. The public bar will also be open for those wishing to purchase additional beverages.

The Australian Malt Whisky Tasting Championship 2025
2025-07-19 18:30 - 23:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | The Grandy Hyatt, Melbourne, 123 Collins St, Melbourne, Vic, 3000, Australia
That’s right, for the first time in AMWTC’s 36-year history, the Whisky Champs will be held in Melbourne City. We’ve teamed up with the Grand Hyatt and will be taking over two distinct spaces for the competition portion and afterparty, ensuring the 19th of July to be an unforgettable evening for all involved.
The Australian Malt Whisky Tasting Championship (AMWTC) is Australia’s longest-running whisky championship, starting in 1989, and running to today. It’s a huge night with a tasting competition that will see someone crowned the champ. Huge prizes, huge night, and all drinks and food included with every ticket.
On the night, you sit down in front of eight core-range malt whiskies, we give you the answers plus one red herring, and then you pick out which one is which within 30 minutes. Easy enough! Then we party into the night with the SMWS single cask bar, cocktail bar, and more…
Can you tell the difference between a Bruichladdich and a Balvenie? How about between a Springbank and a Starward? If so, test, tempt, and delight your senses at the biggest whisky competition in Australia as the Australian Malt Whisky Tasting Championship is back for a huge, fun night in 2025.
Unlike any other competition on earth, this momentous event will see someone crowned the Australian Malt Whisky Tasting Champion based on their sensory prowess. Will you be Australia’s next whisky champ?
We’ll once again be partnering with Humanitix for the ticketing as 100% of their booking fee profits are donated to charities. In 2023, we were pleased to have reached $1,565,13 in donations towards various charities. You can read more about Humanitix’s partner charities here.

Tickets will go on sale Monday, April 7, at midday AEDT via Humanitix.com.

An Evening with Tamdhu
2025-07-31 18:30 - 21:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Royal Automobile Club, 89 Macquarie Street, SYDNEY, NSW, 2000, Australia
Join us for a small and intimate tasting with the acclaimed international ambassador for Ian Macleod Distillers, Gordon Dundas, as we enjoy an evening with Tamdhu.
Tamdhu Distillery is one of the quiet achievers on Speyside but lays claim to being the only distillery in Scotland to fill 100% into sherry casks for its production. Fans of sherried whiskies will not want to miss this!
Recently elevated to the rank of Master by the Keepers of the Quaich, Ian has had a storied career in the industry and has long been a friend of the Society. (Members may recall he presented a tasting for us in Sydney back in 2014 when he looked after a different brand.) Currently holidaying in Australia, Andrew Derbidge has convinced him to take a night out of his leave to give us his wisdom, insights, and humour into all things Tamdhu.
We’ll be tasting a combined line-up of Tamdhu whiskies from their official stable, plus several SMWS single cask releases from Distillery 8 that we’ve had express-flown to Sydney just for this event.
Bottled just in the last few months, these Society casks have not even been released in Europe yet, so this will be quite the sneak peek!
Please note this event is a Members-only exclusive with room for just 20 people. A light supper will be served during the night.

When? Thursday the 31st of July, 6:30pm for a 7:00pm start.
Where? Royal Automobile Club of Australia, 89 Macquarie Street, Sydney.

A Frosty Dram-fair in the 'Gong
2025-08-01 18:00 - 22:00 (Australia/Sydney) | The Fraternity Club, 11 Bourke St, Fairy Meadow, NSW, 2519, Australia
Warm your soul at the Frat with a Society dinner amongst good company and fine food.
Join your fellow Society members and comrades at the Fraternity club this coming August for a warming winter dinner with some new and remarkable whiskies from the Society’s catalogue! Your local Ambassador Fred Apolloni will be leading the charge on another memorable tasting! Guests will enjoy five SMWS malts, a multi-course dinner, and a welcome drink all in the familiar surrounds of the cosy Frat Club.
Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy another memorable experience and share some new and exciting Society drams with your fellow Illawarra Society members at the Frat!

When? Friday the 1st of August, 6:00pm for a 6:30pm start.
Where? Upstairs at The Fraternity Club, 11 Bourke St, Fairy Meadow, 2519.

Members are welcome to bring guests at member pricing. Non-members are also welcome to attend.

Whispers of Spring Creators Collection Launch — Melbourne
2025-09-13 18:30 - 23:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | The Australian Club, 110 William St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
Join us at The Australian Club in Melbourne for an exclusive whisky dinner launching our latest Creators Collection series — The Whispers of Spring.
Two private rooms and a balcony overlooking William St will be the setting for the launch of our next Creators Collection — The Whispers of Spring; which captures the subtle, yet powerful, energy of the season where life stirs from its slumber. Each bottle is a chapter in a story of renewal, awakening the senses and offering a fresh perspective on timeless traditions. These whiskies invite members to rediscover the depth and diversity of Scotch, with each distillery contributing a unique expression of rebirth and transformation.
On the night, you can expect:

A three-course meal + sides;
5x 30ml drams: one of each of the four Whispers of Spring Creators Collection whiskies, plus a dram of Cask 53.495 Peat bloom to finish;
Free flowing basic beer/wine/soft drinks; and
A chance to mingle and relax post-dinner in the Library room and Domino room balcony.

All of this in the private surroundings of the prestigious Australian Club.
This will be a chance to try the new bottlings before they’re released to the wider membership, and learn about their provenance from our Ambassador Alex Moores and Country Director Matt Bailey.
Please note: all males will be required to wear a blazer and tie (compulsory for entry to the Australian Club), female members will be required to wear similar formal dinner attire.

When? Saturday the 13th of September, 6:30pm arrival.
Where? The Australian Club, Domino room and Library; 110 William St, Melbourne VIC 3000.

This is strictly a members-only event (members may purchase a ticket for 1x guest). Very limited tickets available.

SMWS x OCD x Bar 26: Smokey & Salty Degustation Dinner
2025-09-16 18:00 - 21:30 (Australia/Sydney) | Bar 26, Unit 2, 26 Halloran St, Lilyfield, NSW, 2040, Australia
Hosted by our wonderful friends and NSW Partner Bar 26 of Otter Craft Distilling — indulge in an exquisite SMWS-paired seafood degustation dinner…
Join us at Bar 26 (the speakeasy style tasting bar for OCD) for a bold & beautifully curated night of SMWS whisky, seafood, and sensory storytelling!
The night will begin with an SMWS whisky highball welcome cocktail, and a delicate amuse-bouche, before diving into a six-course seafood degustation created by Chef Flynn McLennan — where Japanese-inspired flavours meet native Australian ingredients in a truly unforgettable menu!
Each course will be perfectly paired with hand-picked SMWS whiskies, including exclusive new outturn casks, with tasting insights led by Andrew Derbidge — Chairman, Director & NSW Manager of SMWS Australia.

When? Tuesday the 16th of September, 6:00pm arrival and start, 9:30pm finish.
Where? Bar 26; 26-30 Halloran St, Lilyfield NSW 2040.

$280 per person
Only 20 seats available
No menu substitutions available

Secure your tickets here

Hosted by Andrew Derbridge (SMWS Australia)
Co-hosted by Eduard Otter (Co-owner & Head Distiller, OCD + Bar 26)

Please note that this event is hosted and ticketed by Otter Craft Distilling — tickets can be purchased by getting in touch with them via their website and reserving your spot.

Whispers of Spring Creators Collection Launch — Sydney
2025-09-19 18:30 - 22:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Grana Privato at Hinchcliff House, 5-7 Young St, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
Join us at Grana Privato at Hinchcliff House in Sydney’s Circular Quay for an exclusive whisky dinner launching our upcoming Creators Collection series — The Whispers of Spring.
Introducing The Whispers of Spring, our upcoming Creators Collection which captures the subtle, yet powerful energy of the season where life stirs from its slumber. Each bottle is a chapter in a story of renewal, awakening the senses and offering a fresh perspective on timeless traditions. These whiskies invite members to rediscover the depth and diversity of Scotch, with each distillery contributing a unique expression of rebirth and transformation.
Sydney members will have an exclusive opportunity to taste these exquisite whiskies alongside an array of expertly-prepared dishes amongst the company of fellow flavour enthusiasts. Your ticket includes a shared four-course dinner (with sides) expertly prepared by the Grana Privato kitchen, and 5x SMWS drams: one of each of the four Whispers of Spring Creators Collection whiskies, plus a welcome dram.

All of this in the opulence of a private dining room at Grana Privato…
This will be a chance to try these new bottlings (the youngest of which is 27-years-old) bottlings and learn about their provenance from our Branch Chairman and NSW Ambassador Andrew Derbidge.

When? Friday the 19th of September, 6:30pm arrival for a 7pm start.
Where? Grana Privato at Hinchcliff House; 5-7 Young St, Sydney NSW 2000.

Tickets to this event are strictly limited, and available to members only.

On sale Now!

Brisbane Single-Cask Whisky Dinner with Chef Myles Hartley
2025-09-20 18:30 - 21:30 (Australia/Brisbane) | The Mailman, 2 Bluebell Street, Alexandra Hills, QLD, 4161, Australia
Brisbane — prepare yourself for an evening of exceptional food and fine single-cask spirit pairings with this SMWS x Chef Myles Hartley collaboration!
This coming September, we’re teaming up with Chef Myles Hartley (formerly of The Euro/Urbane & Head Chef at Ocean View Estate Winery) to deliver an exceptional evening of flavour indulgence.
Join us at The Mailman in Alexandra Hills for a carefully prepared three-course meal, paired with 5x SMWS spirits — including TWO unreleased bottlings (one of which is a beautiful 9-year-old Jamaican rum) and a 28-year-old Cognac — plus a welcome dram. All of this hosted by your local SMWS Ambassador Scott Mansfield and Chef Myles Hartley, who will be walking you through each dish as it’s presented.
This event is strictly limited in capacity and is a fantastic opportunity to get together with fellow Society friends in a sit-down (yet still relaxed) setting and enjoy the versatility of our exceptional spirits.

When? Saturday the 20th of September, 6:30pm for a 7:00pm start.
Where? The Mailman, 2 Bluebell Street, Alexandra Hills, QLD 4161.

Members are welcome to bring guests at member pricing. Non-members are also welcome to attend.
Please note that due to the nature of the event, some dietary requirements may not be able to be catered for, please send us an email if you have any concerns.

Spicy & Sweet: Flavour Deep Dive
2025-09-23 18:30 - 21:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Whisky & Alement, 270 Russell St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
Spicy & Sweet — it’s a flavour profile we come across often in the SMWS range, but how well do we really understand it?
Known for its warmth, boldness, and complexity, this profile offers far more than first meets the nose. While it’s common to see ex-Bourbon cask bottling, the real interest comes from the wide variety of different cask types, distilleries, and styles they represent. Join State Ambassador Alex Moores this September for a bespoke tasting, guiding you through a selection of Spicy & Sweet bottlings (current and unreleased) that shows just how diverse and surprising this popular profile can be — a reminder of why flavour is always at the heart of what the Society does.
5x Spicy & Sweet drams + a welcome drink, and grazing plates included in your ticket — discover the Society’s most popular flavour profile amongst good friends this coming September.

When? Tuesday the 23rd of September, 6:30pm arrival for a 7pm start.
Where? Whisky & Alement; 270 Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000.

Members are welcome to bring guests at member pricing. Non-members are also welcome to attend.

This is one of two flavour masterclasses we’ll be running at the end of September; be sure to check our Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits masterclass for further flavour discovery.
