If you’re lucky enough to own a bottle (or multiple bottles) of a Scotch Malt Whisky Society single cask or are looking at purchasing one via auction, you may be wondering what the numbers on the label mean. Well, we’re here to help!

The numbers are SMWS codes. The codes are made up of two parts – the first part being the distillery which produced the spirit and the second part being a reference to the number of releases from that distillery.

Using an example to illustrate this, if the bottle in question had the society cask number of 47.3 printed on the label, this would mean that it’s the third bottling from the Benromach distillery. A full list of distillery codes can be found below.

About the Scotch Malt Whisky Society

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (or SMWS for short) was founded by Pip Hills in Edinburgh back in 1983. It all started when Pip discovered that it was possible to buy casks as a domestic customer directly from distilleries. Although now commonplace, back then this was almost unheard of. He and a few friends clubbed together to buy a quarter cask of a 10 year old Glenfarcas. Before long, Pip was receiving calls asking where people could get hold of some for themselves and the rest is history. The Society went on to source and release many more single cask bottlings and today has an international presence with branches all across the world.

For the full story, have a listen to this interview with Pip, it’s a fascinating and lovely account of how the SMWS started.

For more information about becoming a SMWS member, visit the membership page of their website.

What are Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) Codes?

When the Society decided to release their first bottling, Glenfarcas wouldn’t allow them to include the distillery name on the label so instead, they decided to use a coding system. This worked extremely well with the Society being more about the individual flavour profile of a whisky as opposed to the specific distillery or region it came from. When you explore whisky by its characteristics as opposed to the branding on the label, it encourages you to try a more diverse range of Scotch.

Full List of SMWS Distilleries

So, onto the list. It’s worth mentioning at this point that the codes are subject to change and the data isn’t from the SMWS so should be used for reference only.

Distillery	SMWS Code
Glenfarcas Distillery	1
Glenlivet Distillery	2
Bowmore Distillery	3
Highland Park Distillery	4
Auchentoshan Distillery	5
Glen Deveron (Macduff) Distillery	6
Longmorn Distillery	7
Tamdhu Distillery	8
Glen Grant Distillery	9
Bunnahabhain Distillery	10
Tomatin Distillery	11
Benriach Distillery	12
Dalmore Distillery	13
Talisker Distillery	14
Glenfiddich Distillery	15
Glenturret Distillery	16
Scapa Distillery	17
Inchgower Distillery	18
Glen Garioch Distillery	19
Inverleven Distillery	20
Glenglassaugh Distillery	21
Glenkinchie Distillery	22
Bruichladdich Distillery	23
Macallan Distillery	24
Rosebank Distillery	25
Clynelish Distillery	26
Springbank Distillery	27
Tullibardine Distillery	28
Laphroaig Distillery	29
Glenrothes Distillery	30
Isle of Jura Distillery	31
Edradour Distillery	32
Ardbeg Distillery	33
Tamnavulin Distillery	34
Glen Moray Distillery	35
Benrinnes Distillery	36
Cragganmore Distillery	37
Caperdonich Distillery	38
Linkwood Distillery	39
Balvenie Distillery	40
Dailuaine Distillery	41
Ledaig (Tobermory) Distillery	42
Port Ellen Distillery	43
Craigellachie Distillery	44
Dallas Dhu Distillery	45
Glenlossie Distillery	46
Benromach Distillery	47
Balmenach Distillery	48
St. Magdalene Distillery	49
Bladnoch Distillery	50
Bushmills Distillery	51
Old Pulteney Distillery	52
Caol Ila Distillery	53
Aberlour Distillery	54
Royal Brackla Distillery	55
Coleburn Distillery	56
Glen Mhor Distillery	57
Strathisla Distillery	58
Teaninich Distillery	59
Aberfeldy Distillery	60
Brora Distillery	61
Glenlochy Distillery	62
Glentauchers Distillery	63
Mannochmore Distillery	64
Imperial Distillery	65
Ardmore Distillery	66
Banff Distillery	67
Blair Athol Distillery	68
Glen Albyn Distillery	69
Balblair Distillery	70
Glenburgie Distillery	71
Miltonduff Distillery	72
Aultmore Distillery	73
North Port Distillery	74
Glenury-Royal Distillery	75
Mortlach Distillery	76
Glen Ord Distillery	77
Ben Nevis Distillery	78
Deanston Distillery	79
Glen Spey Distillery	80
Glen Keith Distillery	81
Glencadam Distillery	82
Convalmore Distillery	83
Glendullan Distillery	84
Glen Elgin Distillery	85
Glenesk Distillery	86
Millburn Distillery	87
Speyburn Distillery	88
Tomintoul Distillery	89
Pittyvaich Distillery	90
Dufftown Distillery	91
Lochside Distillery	92
Glen Scotia Distillery	93
Old Fettercairn Distillery	94
Auchroisk (Singleton) Distillery	95
Glendronach Distillery	96
Littlemill Distillery	97
Lomond (Inverleven Distillery)	98
Glenugie Distillery	99
Strathmill Distillery	100
Knockando Distillery	101
Dalwhinnie Distillery	102
Royal Lochnagar Distillery	103
Glencraig / Glenburgie Distillery	104
Tormore Distillery	105
Cardhu Distillery	106
Glenallachie Distillery	107
Allt-a-Bhainne Distillery	108
Mosstowie (Miltonduff Distillery)	109
Oban Distillery	110
Lagavulin Distillery	111
Loch Lomond Distillery (Inchmurrin)	112
Braes of Glenlivet / Braeval Distillery	113
Longrow (Springbank) Distillery	114
An Cnoc (Knockdhu Distillery)	115
Yoichi Distillery	116
Cooley Distillery – unpeated	117
Cooley Distillery – peated	118
Yamazaki Distillery	119
Hakushu Distillery	120
Isle of Arran Distillery	121
Croftengea (Loch Lomond Distillery)	122
Glengoyne Distillery	123
Miyagikyo Distillery	124
Glenmorangie Distillery	125
Hazelburn (Springbank Distillery)	126
Port Charlotte (Bruichladdich Distillery)	127
Penderyn Distillery	128
Kilchoman Distillery	129
Chichibu Distillery	130
Hanyu Distillery	131
Karuizawa Distillery	132
North British Distillery	G1
Carsebridge Distillery	G2
Caledonian Distillery	G3
Cameronbridge Distillery	G4
Invergordon Distillery	G5
Port Dundas Distillery	G6
Girvan Distillery	G7
Cambus Distillery	G8
Loch Lomond Distillery	G9
Strathclyde Distillery	G10
Nikka Distillery Coffey Grain	G11
Nikka Distillery Coffey Malt	G12
Chita Distillery	G13
Dumbarton Distillery	G14
Heaven Hill Distillery	B1
Bernheim Distillery	B2
Rock Town Distillery	B3

We will do our best to keep this list as up to date as possible.