Skip to content

The Yorkshire Gent


SMWS Distillery Codes

SMWS Distillery Codes

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.

DistillerySMWS Code
Glenfarcas Distillery1
Glenlivet Distillery2
Bowmore Distillery3
Highland Park Distillery4
Auchentoshan Distillery5
Glen Deveron (Macduff) Distillery6
Longmorn Distillery7
Tamdhu Distillery8
Glen Grant Distillery9
Bunnahabhain Distillery10
Tomatin Distillery11
Benriach Distillery12
Dalmore Distillery13
Talisker Distillery14
Glenfiddich Distillery15
Glenturret Distillery16
Scapa Distillery17
Inchgower Distillery18
Glen Garioch Distillery19
Inverleven Distillery20
Glenglassaugh Distillery21
Glenkinchie Distillery22
Bruichladdich Distillery23
Macallan Distillery24
Rosebank Distillery25
Clynelish Distillery26
Springbank Distillery27
Tullibardine Distillery28
Laphroaig Distillery29
Glenrothes Distillery30
Isle of Jura Distillery31
Edradour Distillery32
Ardbeg Distillery33
Tamnavulin Distillery34
Glen Moray Distillery35
Benrinnes Distillery36
Cragganmore Distillery37
Caperdonich Distillery38
Linkwood Distillery39
Balvenie Distillery40
Dailuaine Distillery41
Ledaig (Tobermory) Distillery42
Port Ellen Distillery43
Craigellachie Distillery44
Dallas Dhu Distillery45
Glenlossie Distillery46
Benromach Distillery47
Balmenach Distillery48
St. Magdalene Distillery49
Bladnoch Distillery50
Bushmills Distillery51
Old Pulteney Distillery52
Caol Ila Distillery53
Aberlour Distillery54
Royal Brackla Distillery55
Coleburn Distillery56
Glen Mhor Distillery57
Strathisla Distillery58
Teaninich Distillery59
Aberfeldy Distillery60
Brora Distillery61
Glenlochy Distillery62
Glentauchers Distillery63
Mannochmore Distillery64
Imperial Distillery65
Ardmore Distillery66
Banff Distillery67
Blair Athol Distillery68
Glen Albyn Distillery69
Balblair Distillery70
Glenburgie Distillery71
Miltonduff Distillery72
Aultmore Distillery73
North Port Distillery74
Glenury-Royal Distillery75
Mortlach Distillery76
Glen Ord Distillery77
Ben Nevis Distillery78
Deanston Distillery79
Glen Spey Distillery80
Glen Keith Distillery81
Glencadam Distillery82
Convalmore Distillery83
Glendullan Distillery84
Glen Elgin Distillery85
Glenesk Distillery86
Millburn Distillery87
Speyburn Distillery88
Tomintoul Distillery89
Pittyvaich Distillery90
Dufftown Distillery91
Lochside Distillery92
Glen Scotia Distillery93
Old Fettercairn Distillery94
Auchroisk (Singleton) Distillery95
Glendronach Distillery96
Littlemill Distillery97
Lomond (Inverleven Distillery)98
Glenugie Distillery99
Strathmill Distillery100
Knockando Distillery101
Dalwhinnie Distillery102
Royal Lochnagar Distillery103
Glencraig / Glenburgie Distillery104
Tormore Distillery105
Cardhu Distillery106
Glenallachie Distillery107
Allt-a-Bhainne Distillery108
Mosstowie (Miltonduff Distillery)109
Oban Distillery110
Lagavulin Distillery111
Loch Lomond Distillery (Inchmurrin)112
Braes of Glenlivet / Braeval Distillery113
Longrow (Springbank) Distillery114
An Cnoc (Knockdhu Distillery)115
Yoichi Distillery116
Cooley Distillery – unpeated117
Cooley Distillery – peated118
Yamazaki Distillery119
Hakushu Distillery120
Isle of Arran Distillery121
Croftengea (Loch Lomond Distillery)122
Glengoyne Distillery123
Miyagikyo Distillery124
Glenmorangie Distillery125
Hazelburn (Springbank Distillery)126
Port Charlotte (Bruichladdich Distillery)127
Penderyn Distillery128
Kilchoman Distillery129
Chichibu Distillery130
Hanyu Distillery131
Karuizawa Distillery132
North British DistilleryG1
Carsebridge DistilleryG2
Caledonian DistilleryG3
Cameronbridge DistilleryG4
Invergordon DistilleryG5
Port Dundas DistilleryG6
Girvan DistilleryG7
Cambus DistilleryG8
Loch Lomond DistilleryG9
Strathclyde DistilleryG10
Nikka Distillery Coffey GrainG11
Nikka Distillery Coffey MaltG12
Chita DistilleryG13
Dumbarton DistilleryG14
Heaven Hill DistilleryB1
Bernheim DistilleryB2
Rock Town DistilleryB3

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