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
- Clynelish 90 yo 1972 / 2002 Scotch Malt Sales 58% vs Clynelish 23 yo 1974 / 1998 Rare Malts 59.1%
- Scapa 12 yo 40% ~2000 vs Scapa 8 yo Gordon & Macphail 57% ~ late 80s
- Bruichladdich 21 yo 1992 / 2014 Duncan Taylor #3987 49.7% vs Bruichladdich 22 yo 1991 / 2014 Gleann Mor #2270 55.9%
- Rosebank 26 yo 1967 / 1994 Signatory #4397 51.7% vs Rosebank 25 yo 1967 / 1993 Signatory #4393-4394 54.4%
- Macduff 40 yo 1968 / 2008 Duncan Taylor #8547 45.5% vs Deanston 23 yo 1967 / 1991 Signatory #1785 55.4%
- Highland Park 22 yo Cadenhead 80 proof vs Highland Park 14 yo 1978 / 1993 Cadenhead 55.2%
- Dailuaine 31 yo 1966 / 1997 Cadenhead 57.1% vs Dailuaine 22 yo 1973 / 1996 Rare Malts 60.92%
- Brora 1972 / 1996 Gordon & Macphail Connoisseurs Choice 40% vs Brora 24 yo 1977 / 2001 Rare Malts 56.1% vs Brora 19 yo 1982 / 2001 Chieftains #1189/1192 46%
- Clynelish 12 yo for Whiskyteca Edward & Edward long cap 56.9% vs Clynelish 12 yo for Whiskyteca Edward & Edward bicolour 56.9%
- Talisker 30 yo 1953 Gordon & Macphail 40% vs Talisker 1957 Gordon & Macphail 53.5%
