Glen Scotia 16 yo
Talk about being in the shadows, Glen Scotia knows the feeling all too well.
1 of the 3 remaining Campbeltown distilleries, its operates in the shadow of its neighbour Springbank. In fact it was silent between 1994 and 1999 then for a short while run intermittently by the Springbank employees, to restart the stills, but it was then sold to Loch Lomond Distillers (itself recently sold) who also ran it at very low levels.
So Glen Scotia’s recent history is pockmarked with inactivity and uncertainty and that remains the case today. With 1 spirit and 1 wash still, it is capable of 750,000 litres a year but makes something above 100,000 litres currently.
Glen Scotia has shown itself a survivor, it should not be counted out of the reckoning just yet.
Glen Scotia 16 yo OB
Fancy bottle… but… Northern lights and a Highland cow?
Nose: It says bourbon matured? Rather sweet nose though with a cooked oranges in syrup nose, also a certain weightiness like a heavy nut oil. Macadamia? Like its neighbour it also shows a coastal aspect, soft touch though, salt air, light peatsmoke. Ok apricot stones.
Palette: Nice weight on the tongue but also peppery with hot spices. I want to say chilli but not quite. Almond oil and chamomile tea brings a roundness to the profile. The active new wood shows though, classic woodiness, and that sweet cooked oranges come back again.
Finish: Medium, drying, bit of leafiness bit of smoke.
Not bad at all! Pleasing profile, and with this expression, nicely balanced. All round sipping malt.
Whiskyrific RSS
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- Clynelish 21 yo 1989 / 2010 Whisky Agency 54% vs Clynelish 20 yo 1997 / 2017 Spirit Shop Selection #6932 56.5%
- Benrinnes 17 yo 1995 / 2012 Signatory #5883 50.4% vs Benrinnes 20 yo 1997 / 2017 SMWS 36.153 The Lightness of Lyne 60.6%
- Glen Moray 23 yo 1995 /2019 SMWS 35.239 52.9% vs Glen Moray-Glenlivet 27 yo 1962 / 1989 Cadenhead 55.1%
- Clynelish 21 yo 1995 / 2017 Single Malts of Scotland #10203 55.9% vs Highland Park 1981 / 2011 Scott’s Selection 48.5%
- Glen Lochy 14 yo The Whisky Shop 50% vs Glenlochy 32 yo 1980 / 2012 Signatory #1759 60.1%
- Ben Nevis 42 yo 1973 / 2015 Signatory for 67 Pall Mall 43% vs Ben Nevis 44 yo 1970 / 2015 Finest Whisky #6 44.4%
- Benriach 33 yo 1977 / 2011 #9119 45.7% for Asta Morris vs Benriach 35 yo 1976 / 2012 #8804 54.9%
- Lagavulin Distiller’s Edition 1994 / 2010 lgv.4/498 43% vs Lagavulin Friends of the Classic Malts 12 yo 1995 / 2008 48%
- Glen Grant 27 yo 1955 / 1982 Samaroli 43% vs Glenury Royal 24 yo 1966 / 1990 Cadenhead 53.8%
