Glen Scotia 15 Year

Review Score: 16/23 I'm comparing this to a long-term Springbank tasting. I previously found this to be considerably worse than Springbank, but I'm eager to revisit it. Nose: Rather robust, with a mellow maltiness that allows notes of dry grass, toasted grain, a touch of barnyard, and that's about it to emerge at times. A faint herbal quality mixes with the grass and barnyard, alongside some gentle, slightly funky wood. As I bring it closer for a sip, a subtle apple cider note appears. Overall, this is a very reserved dram that offers an easy drinking experience for those seeking a rich yet not overwhelming scotch with a hint of rustic character. Palate: Very welcoming. The alcohol provides body without making it overly challenging. Moderately rich and full, with pleasant hints of barnyard funk for those who wish to relax without getting their hands dirty. This flavor integrates smoothly with the wood, dry grass, and malt. A subtle creme brulee note at the start transitions to faint apple cider mid-palate. There's a slight tart, waxy sensation from the proof, but not pronounced. All these flavors require some effort to uncover, but their beautiful balance makes it an excellent choice for a fresh palate. Finish: Gentle wood, barnyard, a touch of lingering sweet malt. It's somewhat more bitter and less pleasing than the palate, but not problematically so. It is, however, a quite unexciting finish. - Final Thoughts - This is significantly better than I recalled. It's not mind-blowing and demands some concentration to evaluate, but nothing is out of place, and it's very well-balanced and approachable. I consider this to be at least on par with Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2010 (16). It's more balanced than Loch Lomond 12 (16) and possesses a less noticeable alcohol bite. I'd say they are quite close, but I would favor this one for its composed nature. Bruichladdich Bere Barley 2008 (17) is also similar in quality, though I believe it to be slightly superior. This places it at a 16 or 17. As much as I enjoy it, I don't think it truly warrants a 17. My thanks for the sample. It's enlightening to gain a clearer understanding of what other distilleries besides Springbank can produce in Campbeltown.

The nose starts with a mix of lemon lime soda, hay and ocean brine then dark chocolate covered almonds along with seaside rock minerality followed by chamomile tea, grapefruit, gooseberries and vanilla taffy that transitions to ginger, cloves, leather and polished oak with light ethanol burn. The taste is a thin to medium mouthfeel starting with a mix of lemon lime soda, fresh baked bread and ocean brine then dark chocolate covered almonds along with seaside rock minerality followed by chamomile tea, grapefruit zest, tangerine orange and vanilla custard that transitions to ginger, leather and polished oak with light ethanol burn. The finish is medium length with soft creamy citrus, sea salt taffy, dark chocolate orange, leather and black tea. The nose on this is soft and balanced with a mix of citrus, ocean brine, rocky minerality, tea and well aged oak that carries over to the taste with the fruits being far less sour than the nose and the flavors expertly balanced before fading into the soft sweet citrus and dark chocolate finish. This is far better balanced than the 10 year cask strength version but lacks the bold flavors that the 10 year had likely due to the lower ABV that has made the flavors more muted than I'd prefer. It's still a very enjoyable pour and would likely be incredible for those that prefer their drinks at a lower proof than cask strength. Thanks for the generous sample of this one.

Up to this point, Glen Scotia was the sole Campbeltown distillery whose spirits I hadn't sampled. The deep amber color and intricate nose evoke the impression of an old painting, with aged canvas and cracking oil paint. I detect black peppercorn, cedar heartwood, thyme, dried apple, and — moving away from the dryness — a profound earthy note. On the palate, Glen Scotia 15 presents an exquisitely malty foundation, with notes of salted pretzel, caramel, and nougat. Orange zest and treacle also come to mind. This scotch harmonizes funk and malt as perfectly as a fine abbey ale, with the sweet and rich palate flavors tempered by an oily, briny mouthfeel. A tart and restorative tamarind finish burns slowly and gently, like a smoldering cedar ember. Glen Scotia 15 is a wondrous whisky, though it falls slightly short of Springbank 15 and Kilkerran 12 for my taste. However, this is a matter of personal preference, not skill. The tang and dry salinity of Glen Scotia can be likened to the richness and decadence of Springbank and the fruity-salty complexity of Kilkerran. Regardless, this won't be my final bottle.

This is the second time I've reviewed this in two years. Be careful! Take a whiff from afar. Don't be too forward with your nose right after pouring. The citrus and spice notes are sharp, even though the spirit's alcohol content isn't that high. The malt affects the smell, offering a faint trace of milk chocolate, some distant honey, and dried or fermented sweet apples. Later, the scent mellows and becomes sweeter, with more demerara sugar, delicate apple and pear preserves, and fewer spices. The flavor consists of quite sweet citrus rind, tangerines baked in an oven, sweet malt, and mild, spicy woody notes. The conclusion is moderately long, providing a pleasant warmth and fruity sweetness. This is a really solid whisky, characteristic of bourbon from the Scotia distillery. It seems to be missing a little of the usual Campbelltown seaside saltiness that would make it stand out. 85/100

Nose: Oak, charred malt, pome fruit, lemon, tart fruit but not overly citrusy. Palate: Spice, some peat, apples, toasted bread, almost vegetal notes like bell pepper. Vanilla and hints of chocolate. Finish: Peat lingers with some chocolate. The spice also dances around the mouth. Lingering saltiness is lovely. Overall, the nose is what captures my attention the most with this dram. I regret to say I anticipated more after sampling another expression, and perhaps my judgment is skewed because I was expecting more industrial funk and didn't assess it independently. It's certainly not a dull pour, but I did expect more flair on the palate. Perhaps flavors will develop with subsequent tastings over time.

Nose: citrus, red berries, white chocolate, nutmeg, sandalwood, salt. Palate: less fruit-forward, I recognize the chocolate-covered pretzel others have noted. Caramel. Some dry oak, cinnamon, and citrus at the back. As a Campbeltown malt, it's natural to draw comparisons to Springbank, but they are quite different. There isn't much funk here, but this is a good, well-priced 15-year-old on its own. It has a rather distinct flavor that I'm unsure how to categorize. I slightly prefer another expression over this, but I'm not sorry to own a bottle.