The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today. This whisky was distilled in January 1982 and bottled in February 1992. Highland Park was built by David Robertson all the way back in 1798. The distillery's relationship with blenders, Robertson & Baxter, saw it acquired by Highland Distillers in 1937, who were subsequently bought by Edrington in 1999, who run it today. The modern Highland Park single malt brand was first officially bottled in the 1970s, with the release of an 8 year old age statement, but distillery bottlings first appeared around the 1950s. The look of the brand has changed many times over the years, but its cult following and popularity has never diminished. It remains one of the most recognisable single malts in the world to this day. Distillery: Highland Park Status: Operational Vintage: 1982 Production Type : Single malt Region Island Company Scotch Malt Whisky Society A private members club established by Pip Hills in 1983. It has flagship members bars in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London, and partner venues across the world. Its regular outturn of single cask bottlings are renowned for their unique coded method of non-disclosure of their distilleries of origin.