Glen Scotia

Active

Campbeltown · Est. 1832 · Loch Lomond Group (Loch Lomond Group (Hillhouse Capital))

Expressions

With Tasting Notes

100%

Completeness

About

One of only three surviving distilleries in Campbeltown -- a region that once had over 30. Glen Scotia has weathered more closures, revivals, and ownership changes than almost any distillery in Scotland, including a haunting tale of a former owner drowning in Campbeltown Loch. Revitalised under Loch Lomond Group ownership since 2014. Produces a briny, oily, slightly smoky malt that captures the maritime Campbeltown character. The 15 Year Old won multiple awards.

Production Details

Owner

Loch Lomond Group

Parent Company

Loch Lomond Group (Hillhouse Capital)

Status

Active

Founded

1832

Still Type

Pot

Stills

Capacity

0.8M LPA

Water Source

Crosshill Loch and deep well

Website ↗

Core Range5

Glen Scotia 15 Year OldCore

1546% ABV$90-105

First-fill bourbon and refill American oak, finished 2 months in first-fill Oloroso sherry

4/4 Tasting

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Sight

Polished bronze with warm amber tones; medium body. The brief Oloroso finish adds a subtle richness to the colour

Smell

Bright, rich, sweet and sour with white grape, Honeycrisp apple and pear. Baked apples with walnuts, raisins and apricot jam. Lemon zest, cinnamon, ginger, muscovado sugar. Sea breeze develops

Sip

Brininess leads then contrasts with green apple and apricot fruit. Robust mouthfeel with sweet malt, firm grassy note, herbal bitterness, lemon peel, gingery warmth and toffee sweetness. Salted caramel and coffee emerge

Savor

Short to medium with tangy citrus, sappy woodland oak, touches of iodine and pepper. Oak spice, honey sweetness and salty liquorice linger

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Walk to Lighthouse: Sea (brine, sea breeze, iodine, salt); Greengrocer: Citrus (lemon zest, tangy citrus), Orchard (apple, pear, apricot); Sweet Shop: toffee, honey, muscovado sugar, salted caramel; Garden Path: herbal, grassy; Natural Foods: Spices (cinnamon, ginger, pepper); Furniture Maker: Wood (oak); Pub/Bar: Wine (Oloroso sherry); Forest Trail: walnut; Bakery: coffee

Glen Scotia 18 Year OldCore

1846% ABV$170-185

Ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks

4/4 Tasting

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Sight

Rich amber-gold with warm honey tones; medium-full body. Extended 18-year maturation creates a beautifully polished appearance

Smell

Sweet citrus and tropical fruit rich in tinned mandarin, peach juice and runny honey. Green banana, melon rind, beeswax, patisserie pastries

Sip

Lighter-than-expected body with satsumas, peaches and sweet vanillas. Honey kicks in with spiced heat. Milky chocolate mid-palate. Drying, slightly oak-tinged bitterness with decent length

Savor

Medium length with persistent honey, spiced heat and the Campbeltown maritime signature. Citrus peel and milky chocolate linger

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Greengrocer: Citrus (mandarin, satsuma, citrus peel), Tropical (peach, green banana, melon); Sweet Shop: honey, vanilla; Library: beeswax; Bakery: patisserie pastries, milky chocolate; Natural Foods: Spices (spiced heat); Furniture Maker: Wood (oak)

Glen Scotia 25 Year OldCore

2548.8% ABV$750-850

Ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks

4/4 Tasting

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Sight

Deep amber with copper-gold highlights; full body. A quarter century creates impressive viscosity and depth of colour

Smell

Toffee apples, dusty books and leather. Pepper and ginger spicing creates wonderful interplay between sweet and bitter-dry notes

Sip

Light, sweet palate with fresh citrus and coastal air and saltiness. The 25 years adds remarkable complexity while keeping the Campbeltown maritime character front and centre

Savor

Medium to long with a lovely progressive fade. Wisps of smouldering oak smoke and a touch of white pepper. Beautifully balanced between age and spirit vitality

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Sweet Shop: toffee; Greengrocer: Citrus (fresh citrus), Orchard (toffee apple); Library: dusty books; Furniture Maker: Leather (leather); Walk to Lighthouse: Sea (coastal air, salt); Smoke House: Peat (smouldering oak smoke); Natural Foods: Spices (pepper, ginger, white pepper); Furniture Maker: Wood (oak)

Glen Scotia Double CaskCore

NAS46% ABV$55-65

First-fill ex-bourbon barrels, finished 12 months in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks

4/4 Tasting

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Sight

Warm gold with light amber highlights; medium body. The PX sherry finish adds warmth beyond the bourbon base colour

Smell

Spicy, sweet, fruity and quite woody. Toffee with vanilla and baking spice, allspice and mace. Fresh estery pear and apple with saltiness. Raisins, figs and dried cherries from the PX cask

Sip

Spicy first impression, then caramel and toffee with dried fruits, vanilla, a touch of sea spray and barley sugar. The Campbeltown maritime character is unmistakable

Savor

Medium short and quite drying, woody and tannic with spice and caramel. The oak and maritime notes dominate the fade

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Sweet Shop: toffee, caramel, vanilla, barley sugar; Pub/Bar: Wine (PX sherry); Greengrocer: Orchard (pear, apple), Dried (raisins, figs, dried cherries); Walk to Lighthouse: Sea (sea spray, salt); Natural Foods: Spices (allspice, mace, baking spice); Furniture Maker: Wood (woody, oak)

Glen Scotia VictorianaCore

NAS54.2% ABV$100-115

First and second-fill bourbon barrels, finished in heavily charred bourbon casks and PX sherry butts, married 6 months

4/4 Tasting

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Sight

Deep mahogany-amber with rich dark tones; full body. The heavy char and PX sherry finishing create the darkest expression in the Glen Scotia range

Smell

Brown sugar, cinnamon, powdered sugar, hot salted caramel, mint, fruitcake, overripe plums, charred oak and spent coffee grounds. Complex and intense

Sip

Sweet and somewhat softer than expected from the nose. Salted caramel, coffee, mocha, chocolate almond milk, French toast with powdered sugar and maple syrup. A modern interpretation of Victorian Campbeltown style

Savor

Salty with a sharp flash of burn. Medium finish with persistent charred oak and coffee bitterness giving way to sweet caramel

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Sweet Shop: brown sugar, salted caramel, powdered sugar, maple syrup; Bakery: fruitcake, French toast, coffee, mocha, chocolate; Smoke House: Burnt (charred oak, spent coffee grounds); Natural Foods: Spices (cinnamon); Garden Path: mint; Greengrocer: Orchard (overripe plums); Walk to Lighthouse: Sea (salt)