The Artisanal Spirits Company owns the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, a members’ club that sells limited-edition whiskies. It also owns the J.G. Thomson and Single Cask Nation whisky brands.
What you get
Shareholders get discounted or free membership of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS), annual vouchers and whisky discounts. The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC) also sells special bottles and tickets to events for shareholders.
What Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) membership gives you
Members can buy the Society’s exclusive whiskies, bottled from individual barrels, and use its four UK whisky bars in Edinburgh, Leith, Glasgow and London. The bars are called Members’ Rooms, and you can bring up to three guests. Bottles and event tickets are separate purchases.
What it takes
You need at least 1,000 shares.
Spirited Shareholder
1,000–4,999 shares
- SMWS membership and renewal: 50% off For existing members, the discount starts on your renewal date.
- Annual SMWS spending: £50 voucher Spend it at smws.com or the Society’s four UK Members’ Rooms. Voucher terms apply; read them before you buy. Normally issued early in the year.
- J.G. Thomson purchases: 10% off At jgthomson.com, which sells ASC’s J.G. Thomson and Single Cask Nation whiskies.
- Shareholder bottlings Shareholder-only bottlings you can buy, announced by email about once a year. The bottles are not free.
- Whisky flights: 10% off Tasting flights at SMWS Members’ Rooms.
- Shareholder events You can buy tickets to shareholder events. ASC aims to hold one or two a year, subject to demand.
Spirited Shareholder Plus
5,000+ shares
- Free SMWS membership and renewals Existing members get free membership from their next renewal.
- Annual SMWS spending: £50 voucher Spend it at smws.com or the Society’s four UK Members’ Rooms. Voucher terms apply; read them before you buy. Normally issued early in the year.
- J.G. Thomson purchases: 20% off At jgthomson.com, which sells ASC’s J.G. Thomson and Single Cask Nation whiskies.
- Shareholder bottlings Shareholder-only bottlings you can buy, announced by email about once a year. The bottles are not free.
- Whisky flights: 20% off Tasting flights at SMWS Members’ Rooms.
- Vaults Collection bottles: 10% off Bottles from the Society’s Vaults Collection.
- Vaults Collection drams: 20% off Single drams from the Society’s Vaults Collection.
- Shareholder events You can buy tickets to shareholder events. ASC also aims to hold a free event at its headquarters each year.
Before buyingA perk is a minor benefit of owning a share, not a reason to buy one. Share prices fall as well as rise, and dealing costs, spreads and tax can exceed a perk’s value. Read about the risks.
Holding through a broker
ASC names Hargreaves Lansdown, AJ Bell, interactive investor and Freetrade as ways to buy its shares, then asks you to verify your holding on ASC’s website. It does not explain which nominee documents it accepts. We have not tested any broker’s route.
The Artisanal Spirits Company does not say whether ISA or SIPP holdings qualify, or whether overseas shareholders can claim.
Choose a broker to see its guidance. The company’s eligibility rules still apply.
AJ Bell Unconfirmed
We have not confirmed a claim route for this perk through AJ Bell. Read AJ Bell’s general guide.
Freetrade Unconfirmed
We have not confirmed a claim route for this perk through Freetrade. Read Freetrade’s general guide.
Hargreaves Lansdown Unconfirmed
We have not confirmed a claim route for this perk through Hargreaves Lansdown. Read Hargreaves Lansdown’s general guide.
interactive investor Unconfirmed
We have not confirmed a claim route for this perk through interactive investor. Read interactive investor’s general guide.
How to claim
The public page does not say which documents you need to prove your holding or how long verification takes.
- 1. Create an ASC accountSign up on the company’s website, then follow its instructions to verify your shareholding.
- 2. Check how to use your benefitsOnce your holding is verified, check your account and emails for membership, voucher and discount instructions. Ask ASC if anything is missing or unclear.
- 3. Watch for releases and invitationsASC emails programme members when shareholder bottles go on sale and when events are available to book.
The Artisanal Spirits Company - Registration and benefit enquiries: info@artisanal-spirits.com
Dates
The published terms do not say when you must own the shares, how long you must hold them or when the benefit expires.
Practical notes
You do not need to be an SMWS member first
ASC’s eligibility FAQ asks only for a qualifying shareholding. You do not have to buy SMWS membership before you join.
Check voucher restrictions
The public page does not set out voucher expiry dates, spending limits or exclusions. Read the terms that come with your vouchers before you plan a purchase or visit.
The programme is reviewed each year
The board reviews the programme each year and decides whether it continues. ASC aims to hold the free Plus-tier event each year but does not guarantee it.