The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) has announced the release of two special half-size whiskies to mark the start of its new Whisky Equinox initiative, as it prepares for its busiest time of year, with almost 100 limited-edition whiskies being released.

While beer has Oktoberfest and wine has Beaujolais Nouveau Day in November, whisky has never had a major annual moment to mark the start of the colder season, when the spirit is traditionally more popular. That changes this September with the launch of Whisky Equinox, a new occasion for whisky drinkers everywhere to raise a dram as whisky season begins.

The autumn equinox falls at 1.06am on September 23rd, the moment when day and night stand in equal measure and the year turns towards cooler evenings and warming drams. The Society is calling on whisky fans everywhere to raise a dram to welcome the new whisky season on the evening of September 23rd and share the moment with friends and on social media using hashtag #WhiskyEquinox.

To mark the occasion, the Society is releasing two special 35cl bottlings:

Spice It Up After Dark (60.9% ABV) is an 11 Year Old Highland single malt Scotch whisky, matured in a first-fill Spanish oak ex-PX Sherry hogshead.

The whisky is said to deliver notes of caramel and dark chocolate, cheroots, leather, nutmeg, and a spicy, citrus, earthy aftershave. The palate’s deep sweetness of marmalade, manuka, currants, raisins and chocolate mousse precedes a finish of dry oak, black coffee, goatskin wine, cinnamon and ginger.

Riesling Spritz in the Sun (57.7% ABV) is a 12 Year Old Speyside single malt Scotch whisky, matured in a first-fill ex-Bourbon hogshead.

This release is described as delivering notes of cedar, sandalwood and blood orange zest on the nose, followed by notes of buttered scones, clotted cream, vanilla, orange fondant, a pinch of mace and lemon verbena on the palate.

The Society will also hold a special launch event on the evening of September 23rd at its Members’ Room at 28 Queen Street in Edinburgh, the city where the club was first established in 1983. The evening will start with a meditative gong sound bath experience provided by Jo McCoy of Blissness, followed by a short ceremony including the reading of a special poem to mark the change of season, before a guided whisky tasting.

On October 15th, it will stage another tasting event at the same venue, called Light Side, Dark Side: An Autumn Equinox Whisky Journey, featuring a six-dram tasting and dinner.

Commenting on the news, Madeleine Schmoll, European Content Manager at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, said: “Whisky is a drink for all year round, but it is in autumn and winter that people reach for it most. We wanted to mark that moment properly, and the autumn equinox is where it happens, the day the year tips towards its darker half. The Society has always been about bringing people together over a shared dram. On 23 September we will mark it here in Edinburgh, and we hope that all whisky fans will join in wherever they are.”

The SMWS Spice It Up After Dark and Riesling Spritz in the Sun are now available in limited quantities from the society website to members and non-members, for a RRP of £39.00 each or £75.00 for the pair.