The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has unveiled the latest release in its Heresy range. Skooshy Stroopwafel is an 11-year-old single malt matured first in bourbon hogsheads then in European oak sherry butts.
Launched in 2017 with Exotic Cargo, the Heresy range was conceived to push the boundaries of what whisky can be, with innovative blends and intriguing cask combinations.
Skooshy Stroopwafel, the 30th release in the line, represents a rare departure from such hallmark blending. This single malt whisky, crafted at a Speyside distillery, is a showcase for SMWS’s secondary maturation expertise.
The SMWS Heresy range was conceived to push the boundaries of what whisky can be, with innovative blends and cask combinations…
Distilled on April 8, 2013, the journey of Skooshy Stroopwafel began in bourbon hogsheads, where the whisky developed a delicate fruitiness with cereal notes and hints of stone fruit. After eight years, Head of Whisky Creation Euan Campbell sought to deepen the flavour profile with a move to European oak sherry butts seasoned with Pedro Ximénez sherry for 13 months, in Spain’s renowned Sherry Triangle.
Unlike the intense maturation often associated with smaller sherry hogsheads, the larger sherry butts allowed for a more subtle wood influence, creating a balanced interplay between spirit and cask. After 32 months of additional maturation, all four butts showed remarkably similar profiles, leading to their combination into this single bottling.
Bottled at 50% ABV, the marriage of bourbon and sherry cask influences has led to a robust yet approachable tasting experience. The SMWS Tasting Panel likens the flavour profile to a Belgian fairground, with notes of lotus biscuits, muscovado sugar, and squirty whipped cream (known as Skooshy cream in Scotland) on a warm stroopwafel, accented by hints of pumpkin spice frappuccino.
“This release perfectly demonstrates our commitment to exploring the interplay between spirit and wood,” said Julien Willems, Whisky Quality Manager at SMWS. “While our Heresy range is celebrated for its blends, Skooshy Stroopwafel is a single malt that embodies the experimental spirit of the series. By using sherry butts instead of hogsheads, we’ve enhanced the distillery’s fruity character rather than overwhelming it.”
Skooshy Stroopwafel is a limited release, priced at £55, with only 2,382 bottles available.
SMWS members can secure their bottle at smws.com. There are several more Heresy releases to come this year with the next bottling launching in March for St Patrick’s Day.
The Whisky Exchange has dropped three new exclusive bottlings to mark the start of 2026, spanning Scotch whisky, American bourbon and Jamaican rum. The limited collection comprises an experimental single-cask Torabhaig from the Isle of Skye, a punchy single-barrel bourbon from Bardstown Bourbon Company, and a sherry-cask-aged Hampden Estate rum that leans fully into the…
Just in time for Burns Night, Orkney-based Highland Park has announced a limited-edition cask strength single malt whisky. The new release, Cask Strength: Heather, is made using 100 per cent Orkney peat-smoked barley, with peat sourced responsibly from Hobbister Moor, just a few miles from the distillery. Given Orkney’s northern latitude, trees struggle to grow,…
January may feel long and grey, but one undoubted bright spot is Burns Night, the annual celebration held on January 25, marking the birthday of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns. For whisky lovers, it’s one of the most convivial fixtures of the year: a night where poetry, food and Scotland’s greatest export meet in cheerful,…
The Luxe Review 
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has unveiled the latest release in its Heresy range. Skooshy Stroopwafel is an 11-year-old single malt matured first in bourbon hogsheads then in European oak sherry butts.
Launched in 2017 with Exotic Cargo, the Heresy range was conceived to push the boundaries of what whisky can be, with innovative blends and intriguing cask combinations.
Skooshy Stroopwafel, the 30th release in the line, represents a rare departure from such hallmark blending. This single malt whisky, crafted at a Speyside distillery, is a showcase for SMWS’s secondary maturation expertise.
Distilled on April 8, 2013, the journey of Skooshy Stroopwafel began in bourbon hogsheads, where the whisky developed a delicate fruitiness with cereal notes and hints of stone fruit. After eight years, Head of Whisky Creation Euan Campbell sought to deepen the flavour profile with a move to European oak sherry butts seasoned with Pedro Ximénez sherry for 13 months, in Spain’s renowned Sherry Triangle.
Unlike the intense maturation often associated with smaller sherry hogsheads, the larger sherry butts allowed for a more subtle wood influence, creating a balanced interplay between spirit and cask. After 32 months of additional maturation, all four butts showed remarkably similar profiles, leading to their combination into this single bottling.
Bottled at 50% ABV, the marriage of bourbon and sherry cask influences has led to a robust yet approachable tasting experience. The SMWS Tasting Panel likens the flavour profile to a Belgian fairground, with notes of lotus biscuits, muscovado sugar, and squirty whipped cream (known as Skooshy cream in Scotland) on a warm stroopwafel, accented by hints of pumpkin spice frappuccino.
“This release perfectly demonstrates our commitment to exploring the interplay between spirit and wood,” said Julien Willems, Whisky Quality Manager at SMWS. “While our Heresy range is celebrated for its blends, Skooshy Stroopwafel is a single malt that embodies the experimental spirit of the series. By using sherry butts instead of hogsheads, we’ve enhanced the distillery’s fruity character rather than overwhelming it.”
Skooshy Stroopwafel is a limited release, priced at £55, with only 2,382 bottles available.
SMWS members can secure their bottle at smws.com. There are several more Heresy releases to come this year with the next bottling launching in March for St Patrick’s Day.
Drink in 2026 with these Jamaican sherried rum, peated whisky, and high-strength bourbon exclusives
The Whisky Exchange has dropped three new exclusive bottlings to mark the start of 2026, spanning Scotch whisky, American bourbon and Jamaican rum. The limited collection comprises an experimental single-cask Torabhaig from the Isle of Skye, a punchy single-barrel bourbon from Bardstown Bourbon Company, and a sherry-cask-aged Hampden Estate rum that leans fully into the…
New Cask Strength Highland Park whisky puts Orkney heather front and centre
Just in time for Burns Night, Orkney-based Highland Park has announced a limited-edition cask strength single malt whisky. The new release, Cask Strength: Heather, is made using 100 per cent Orkney peat-smoked barley, with peat sourced responsibly from Hobbister Moor, just a few miles from the distillery. Given Orkney’s northern latitude, trees struggle to grow,…
Toasting the Bard: Where to eat, drink and celebrate Burns Night 2026
January may feel long and grey, but one undoubted bright spot is Burns Night, the annual celebration held on January 25, marking the birthday of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns. For whisky lovers, it’s one of the most convivial fixtures of the year: a night where poetry, food and Scotland’s greatest export meet in cheerful,…
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