Whisky Focus - Review Of The Recently Launched SMWS Two To One Series

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) has kicked off an exciting new series of ultra small-batch releases called ‘Two to One’. Each bottling in this experimental collection marries just two casks of single malt from the same distillery, creating a unique expression that showcases how subtle cask differences can dramatically shape the final whisky.

No two whiskies in the series take the same path from cask to bottle, resulting in a wide spectrum of styles, textures, and flavour profiles.

The first six bottles in the series launched earlier this month. One of the first bottles released was 11 Year Old Society No. 10.284: Ginger Rollmop Sushi Phantasmagoria (£80) which I have got a hold of so you can read my thoughts on it below. It began life in two bourbon hogsheads before being re-racked at five years old—one into a first fill American oak Pedro Ximénez hogshead, the other into a second fill Oloroso hogshead. These casks were then combined to create the final bottling.

All six releases in this first batch of the ‘Two to One’ series are:

• The SMWS Society No. 10.284 – Ginger Rollmop Sushi Phantasmagoria (£80: A 11 Year Old described a Peated whisky which was distilled at Bunnahabhain Distillery on Islay, with notes of treacle scones, pickled sushi ginger and hot smoked salmon, began life in two bourbon hogsheads before being re-racked at five years old—one into a first fill American oak Pedro Ximénez hogshead, the other into a second fill Oloroso hogshead.
   
• The SMWS Society No. 18.76 – Moroccan Pastilla Anyone? (£80): A 15 Year Old described as Spicy & Sweet whisky from Inchgower Distillery, matured in new American Heavy Toast Medium Char (HTMC) and first fill Spanish oak Oloroso casks.
   
• The SMWS Society No. 46.152 – The Fruit Merchant (£90): A Sweet, Fruity & Mellow 16 Year Old Glenlossie, aged in a mix of new American oak HTMC hogshead and first fill American oak Oloroso hogshead.
   
• The SMWS Society No. 70.63 – Interdimensional Patisserie (£85): A 16 Year Old from Balblair, Juicy, Oak & Vanilla in style, matured in a first fill American oak PX hogshead and a new American oak medium toast barrique.
   
• The SMWS Society No. 80.62 – Strawberry Sumac Scones (£80): A Spicy & Sweet 14 Year Old, aged in first fill Spanish oak Oloroso and first fill American oak Oloroso casks.
   
• The SMWS Society No. 95.109 – I’ve Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts (£75): A 14 Year Old tropical surprise from Auchroisk, aged in a refill Trinidadian rum barrel and a new American oak HTMC barrel.

Commenting on the new Two To One series, Head of Whisky Creation at SMWS, Euan Campbell, said: "The concept is straightforward: Two to One means taking two casks of single malt from the same distillery and seeing how they can fit together to create an ultra small-batch bottling. The whiskies could have different ages and have undergone maturation in different wood types before being married and bottled at natural cask strength.

"This is a new adventure for us. The whisky in each bottle has a different journey through a range of cask types to create something unique and delicious. We love the end result and we hope everyone else does!"

If you're not yet familiar with The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, it's known for its outstanding single cask whiskies, bold experimental blends, and a flavour-led philosophy. Members enjoy exclusive access to rare releases, expert curation, and a lively, like-minded whisky community.

The next instalment of Two To One bottling's will be released over the summer months and if one of the first bottling's, The SMWS Society No. 10.284 – Ginger Rollmop Sushi Phantasmagoria, which I have reviewed below, is anything to go by they should be worth seeking out.

For more information and to purchase any of these releases and for SMWS membership visit www.smws.com
 

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