December Outturn 2024 Editor’s Corner
It’s been a wild ride this year. From our first-ever full-blown fèis experiences in Melbourne and Sydney, to our country Director’s appointment to SMWS Europe (Matt’s still looking out for us from afar), and just the staggering amount of releases we’ve put out over the last 12 months. We’ve also welcomed a new team member onboard: Lachlan Watt comes in as our new Brand Ambassador and if you haven’t already, you will most likely see him around some tastings and festivals throughout 2025.
December Outturn is always an interesting issue as it comes so soon after the massive November release; where could we possibly go from the sheer awesomeness that is November Outturn?
Well, I’m so glad you asked.
For starters, this month’s Malt of the Month (a gloriously herbal, Spicy & Dry 39) will be familiar to some as the second Winter Series bottling (part of the same set as November’s Cask 115.33). Many people were asking in the Outturn chat on our Facebook Group (if you haven’t joined, feel free to jump in for all things Society) whether or not we were getting the Winter Series bottlings — well here’s #2!
Plus, we welcome back Distillery 130 to Australian shores with the 8th ever Society bottle from this Japanese distillery, made with concerto barley (like the .7 we saw earlier this year was)…this is certainly not one to be missed as you never know when the next Distillery 130 release will be.
However, most exciting in this issue, is the first reveal from our new range coming in 2025 — the Creators Collection series, which is the evolution of our Vaults Collection and Premium range of bottlings.
Each Creators Collection is carefully curated to tell a story through the maturation, region, flavours, and art of each bottling. We are immensely excited to be able to offer up the first ever Creators Collection to our Society members: Peat Plants, a collection of four peated whiskies, available individually or as a set in limited quantities.
It’s been a terrific year with some truly memorable experiences all around the country and believe me when I say that 2025 is going to top it. Big things are in the works, the first of which you’ll already see in this issue with the Peat Plants bottlings, but it won’t stop there.
Thank you to all who joined us for the non-stop rollercoaster that was 2024, the local team and I cannot wait to share with you the spectacular plans ahead.
Until then, please enjoy December Outturn, slàinte.
Adam Ioannidis
Marketing Manager & Outturn Editor
SMWS Australia
This article is featured in December 2024 Outturn — bottles will be available to purchase on Friday the 6th of December at midday AEDT exclusively to members of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Not a member? Click here to learn more about the world’s most colourful whisky club.
