SMWS pairs Scotch with perfume

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) has partnered with fragrance house Kingdom Scotland to pair its whiskies with perfumes.

Kingdom Scotland, which claims to be the country’s first fragrance house, has paired a duo of single-cask SMWS whiskies with two of its perfumes to ‘ignite senses’ at SMWS venues across the UK.

Kingdom scents Metamorphic and Portal have been paired with SMWS’ Peat Fire Tales on Orkney and Summer Garden Curiosity bottlings, respectively.

Imogen Russon-Taylor, founder of the fragrance house, said: “I’m delighted to be working with the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. My background is in luxury whisky, so to be working with such a well-respected organisation is a dream.

“Your sense of smell is an incredible thing. It possesses the same characteristics as a dram, especially a Society dram, by transporting you away to great memories and special places.

“I can’t wait to hear the feedback from Society guests this Christmas, I’m very confident these pairings will inspire new conversations on appreciating fine spirits.”

The Metamorphic scent has been paired with Peat Fire Tales of Orkney to bring together the fragrance’s aromas of black pepper, tobacco and incense with the lightly peated profile of the whisky, a 19-year-old Highland bottling aged in a first-fill ex-PX Sherry butt.

Meanwhile, the Portal perfume was matched with Summer Garden Curiosity; the fragrance’s herbaceous botanicals and bergamot are said to complement the whisky’s juicy oak and vanilla flavours. The expression is an eight-year-old Speyside whisky matured in a first-fill ex-Bourbon barrel, sitting at 61.9% ABV.

The pairings are on offer at SMWS venues in London, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Membership for SMWS can be purchased for RRP £65 (US$85.84).

Last month, The Artisanal Spirits Company, owner of the SMWS, released a whisky, gin and rum range called JG Thomson & Co.