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.
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