SMWS Distillery 29 Rare Release Sm oak Laphroaig 1998 25 Year Old

SMWS “Sm’oak!” is a remarkable 25-year-old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky released as the Society’s Distillery 29 Rare Release for the 2024 Islay Whisky Festival. Distilled on 29 April 1998, the whisky combines spirit matured in refill bourbon hogsheads and first-fill STR Oloroso barriques. Bottled at cask strength at 56.3% ABV, only 513 bottles were produced. SMWS classifies it as Heavily Peated, with mature oak, powerful smoke, maritime character, dark fruit and savoury spice defining this rare expression. 

Food Pairing: Pair with smoked beef brisket, venison, barbecue ribs, smoked mackerel, grilled langoustines, charred mushrooms, dark chocolate or strongly flavoured mature cheese.

Tasting Notes: Intensely smoky and oak-driven, combining mature Islay peat with tobacco, charred wood, dark fruit, savoury meat, maritime notes and warming spice.

Nose: Tobacco, burnt toast, venison and roasted peanuts mingle with plums, coal tar and mature oak, backed by dense Islay smoke.

Palate: Powerful peat smoke leads into hickory-smoked beef, ancho chilli and savoury flavours, while medicinal and maritime notes remain underneath. Water reveals smoked olive oil, barbecue, black cardamom and seafood.

Finish: Long, smoky and savoury, with persistent peat, charred oak, tar, spice and coastal character.

Serve: Enjoy neat initially to experience its full cask-strength character, then gradually add water to open the smoky seafood, spice and savoury dimensions.