Glen Scotia 10 Year Peated

Review #051 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 46% Details: aged 10 years, matured in first-fill bourbon barrels Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Pale gold. Swirling shows a thick line on the glass, with slow-forming legs. Nose: 13/20 Surprisingly herbal, like smoldering cooking herbs, though I can't identify them. Some fruitiness is present, but it reminds me more of applesauce than fresh apples. Deeper inspection reveals nuttiness and grain cereal notes. It's smooth but unfocused. Palate: 15/40 Salt is the primary taste, followed by more herbal notes. It's like the liquid equivalent of a dry rub for chicken! Dry oak spice is also present, but it's genuinely difficult to discern beyond the dominant saltiness. Finish: 31/40 Medium length. Finally, some redemption for this bottle. Salt remains, but now it's accompanied by sootiness, smoke, and savory qualities. More of that drying oak influence is apparent. Hints of orange zest and vanilla are in the background. The concluding flavor is reminiscent of black pepper and has a mild bitterness, similar to chewing walnuts. With Water: A few drops of water enhance the nose with vanilla and caramel apple notes. The palate becomes significantly milder (which I appreciate) and introduces a subtle lemon zest. The finish gains cinnamon, adding complexity and smoothness. Total: 59/100 Final thoughts: This might be the first whisky I've scored below 60. I tried to let it breathe, hoping it would develop after the initial pour, but the flavor profile simply doesn't suit my palate. Water is its greatest asset, and discovering that is likely the only reason I haven't discarded it. This is my first Glen Scotia, and I've frequently seen reviews describing it as having a "Campbeltown Funk" (a term I dislike using for whisky, but I'll set that aside). I was disappointed not to find any of the industrial or barnyard characteristics I often associate with Springbank. This bottle has been relegated to my "finish it" collection; a single serving is acceptable, but I never feel compelled to have another.

Rating: 18/23 This selection from a private club has a higher alcohol content (55.6%) compared to the typical distillery offering (46%). Nose: Quite earthy. It's not solely smoke; there's a graininess like wort, mineral notes reminiscent of chalk, a hint of sea spray, and subtle apricot. Many more subtleties are present but difficult to discern. My general feeling is that it's well-matured, retaining its original grain character. Palate: Full-bodied flavor with an alcoholic sting and pronounced sweetness. The sweetness manifests as caramel maltiness, generously dusted with apricot and a hint of floral vanilla. Some minerality is also detected. Faint traces of the original wort remain, without being vegetal, perhaps slightly grassy. These actually enhance the profile. A subtle woody undertone is present with spices like cinnamon, ginger, and white pepper. There's a barely perceptible soapy bitterness, but it's not unpleasant. Very little smoke is apparent; one could almost miss it. Perhaps a trace of blackberry is also detectable. Finish: The grain character persists, along with a mellow bitterness likely from the grain and wood interaction. Fleeting notes of apricot and vanilla appear briefly, accompanied by a touch of that caramel maltiness. - Conclusion - This is a very enjoyable dram, easy to consume, offering interesting earthiness and complexity. An excellent choice for barrel selection. This competes well with Strathmill 24 (1993) (Cadenhead's) (rated 17/23). This version is fuller, but less sweet and more approachable. The Strathmill offers a near melon-like fruitiness in comparison. This, however, possesses greater depth and slightly less intensity. Overall, I favor this one. It's not vastly superior, but it is an improvement. I'm leaning towards an 18, though a 17 or 19 is plausible. Revisiting the Glen Scotia, I find myself enjoying it more. This also strikes me as slightly less intricate, with a sweeter apple flavor. It now reminds me of Westland Peated (rated 15/23). I'm now considering a 16 or 17. I'll settle on the 17 as it aligns with my previous assessments. My thanks to a friend for sharing this rare bottling!

This is a single barrel from a drammers exclusive, bottled at 55.6%. The aroma begins with subtle notes of charred lemons and limes, sea salt, mild vanilla, and hay, followed by a gentle smoke, seaside minerality, and chamomile. It then transitions to tart apples, gooseberries, and grapefruit zest, finishing with pickled ginger and a light oak spice, accompanied by a moderate ethanol burn. The taste has a medium body, starting with creamy orchard fruit that quickly shifts to a moderate sour and bitter spice, fading into a lemon-lime sports drink, charred hay, and light minerality. It continues with chamomile, tart apples, gooseberries, and grapefruit zest, leading to pickled ginger, cloves, and a light ashy oak spice, with a moderate ethanol burn. The finish is medium in length, with hints of campfire ash, sour citrus, and dark chocolate orange. Overall, it's a decent dram that incorporates a blend of sour citrus, tea, sea brine, and mild spices. However, the sour and bitter elements are a bit too prominent for my liking, disrupting the balance. This is the initial release in a small series from Glen Scotia, and it's the youngest of the group. We'll see how the distillate evolves with further aging. Many thanks to a friend for the generous sample.

My specific bottle is a private club's single cask selection, featuring a higher alcohol percentage, but I'm including it here to avoid creating a duplicate entry. Incredible… it's been almost three weeks since my last taste. I've been drinking less and less… who knows what I'll do with my 800 bottles… I really enjoyed this. It might be comparable to the Springbank 10, and surpasses the well-regarded Talisker 10 or Ardbeg 10. A significant peat presence, but not as intense as Ardbeg's style; more akin to Springbank. Notes of lemon, earthy char, and brine are present. The private club's version is somewhat more expensive than the standard release (presumably due to the higher alcohol content), so I'm uncertain if the standard matches up. However, this is an easy recommendation. Well-crafted, and an excellent selection by the private club's team.

I've been eager to obtain a bottle of this since sampling it two years ago, but it wasn't available until recently. It's an immediate favorite: a readily drinkable peated whisky that satisfies completely. The aroma is unexpectedly subtle, but the spirit offers a surge of sweet coastal peat in the mouth, evoking a young Talisker. It's like Skye via Campbeltown, a journey worth taking. One of the year's top new standard releases.

Hints of apple, touches of vanilla, mild tannic oak, brine, lemon peel, and earth. The finish is medium in length with a moderate to light peatiness, white pepper, and more citrus peel. As an Islay enthusiast, the peatiness is somewhat underwhelming; it lacks the richness and robustness of an Ardbeg or Laphroaig, but I can see it serving as an introduction to peat.