The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Australia

Festivals: The Spirit of Five in Sydney
2026-08-01 13:00 - 17:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Royal Automobile Club, 89 Macquarie Street, SYDNEY, NSW, 2000, Australia
Our beloved SMWS mini-festival returns for another year at the RACA where 18 different SMWS Festival Creators Collection bottlings will be tasted and enjoyed in an open format: welcome to Festivals season!
Every year, the five Scotch Whisky regions celebrate the spirit of their own flavours. The Society is uniquely positioned to be able to celebrate all five regions at once; but as Scotch Whisky evolves, we at the Society have to ask: do the regions really matter? There’s only one way to find out! Join as at The Royal Automobile Club of Australia on Saturday the 1st of August for a full afternoon of festival fun!
We will have a spacious and elegant private room with several stands throughout, each with whiskies from their own regions for you to try at your leisure, along with plentiful roaming canapés. What’s on pour? We don’t want to give too much away just yet, but we can ensure you we’ll have:

1x five region blend (an evolution of last year’s incredibly popular Wandering Alchemy)
1x Campbeltown malt
2x Lowland malts
4x Speyside malts
4x Highland malts
6x Islay malts

Plus, the return of the Whisky & Alement rare Islay bar with co-owner Julian White serving some classic and rare whisky from Fèis Ìle experiences of the past, plus some other rare goodies. Drams additional at extra cost on the day.
This will be a fantastic opportunity to try all of the 2026 SMWS Festival malts before you buy, with a renewed focus on regionality; we’re sure some of these will challenge what you know about conventional region characteristics.
Bring some friends along and experience the joy of the Scotch Whisky regions during this afternoon of flavour fun!

When: Saturday, 1st of August, 1:00pm arrival and start
Where: The Royal Automobile Club of Australia; 9 Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000.
What: 18 new SMWS Festival Creators Collection bottlings to taste at your leisures over the course of the afternoon, and roaming canapés. Additional drams from the Whisky & Alement Pop-Up Bar will also be available to purchase on the day.

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RACA Dress Code:
Members and guests must wear business or smart casual attire.
What clothing is not acceptable?
Shorts, T-shirts, flip-flops, and informal headwear are not permitted.
Are jeans allowed?
Yes, jeans are allowed as long as they are clean, unstained, and not torn.
What is the minimum dress requirement for gentlemen?
Gentlemen must wear a collared dress shirt, long trousers, and covered footwear.
What is the dress expectation for ladies?
Ladies should wear attire appropriate to the occasion, such as slacks with a suitable top or a conservative dress.

Hobart: The Spirit of Five Meets the Mediterranean
2026-08-21 18:00 - 21:00 (Australia/Hobart) | Restaurant Maria, Brooke St Pier, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
Every year, the five Scotch Whisky regions celebrate the spirit of their own flavours. The Society is uniquely positioned to be able to celebrate all five regions at once; but as Scotch Whisky evolves, we at the SMWS have to ask: do the regions really matter? There’s only one way to find out!
This year in Hobart, your Ambassador Tom Rofe has gone all out for the Festivals, adding a luxurious and expertly-crafted Mediterranean twist; we’ve teamed up with Restaurant Maria on the Brooke St Pier to deliver a premium five-course meal paired with five of the 2026 SMWS Festival Creators Collection bottlings — one from each region, with an additional five-region blend to welcome you to the evening.
Make no mistake, this is not your average SMWS tasting; a beautiful and luxuriously paired dinner where the liquid gold of the Scotch Whisky regions meet the delight of the Mediterranean’s culinary prowess.

When? Friday, August 21; 5:50pm arrival for a 6pm start.
Where? Restaurant Maria; Brooke St Pier, Hobart 7000
What? 6x SMWS 2026 Festivals Creators Collection drams (five paired + a welcome dram) and a five-course mediterranean dinner.

Members are welcome to purchase member-rate tickets for guests, non-members are also welcome to attend.

Launceston: The Spirit of Five Dinner
2026-08-22 17:30 - 20:30 (Australia/Hobart) | Brisbane Street Bistro, 24 Brisbane St, Launceston, TAS, 7250, Australia
Every year, the five Scotch Whisky regions celebrate the spirit of their own flavours. The Society is uniquely positioned to be able to celebrate all five regions at once; but as Scotch Whisky evolves, we at the SMWS have to ask: do the regions really matter? There’s only one way to find out!
This year in Launceston, your Ambassador Tom Rofe brings you back to the Brisbane Street Bistro for a brilliant three-course meal alongside a selection of six of our incredible 2026 Festival Creators Collection malts. A premium three-course meal with five of the 2026 SMWS Festival Creators Collection bottlings — one from each region, with an additional five-region blend to welcome you to the evening.
Celebrate this year’s Scotch Whisky Festivals in gracious style alongside your fellow Lonnie SMWS members, soak in the flavours of Scotland and what makes each region unique, or, maybe be surprised at something you weren’t quite expecting…

When? Saturday, August 22; 5:45pm arrival for a 6pm start.
Where? Brisbane Street Bistro; 24 Brisbane Street, Launceston TAS 7250.
What? 6x SMWS 2026 Festivals Creators Collection drams (five single casks + a welcome dram) and a three-course dinner.

Members are welcome to purchase member-rate tickets for guests, non-members are also welcome to attend.
