Glen Scotia 18 Year

Nose: Starts with pungent galangal, turmeric, clove, and anise. Lemon juice and peel slowly emerge alongside pears and a hint of vanilla. Subtle grassy and faint oak aromas are in the background, and with more time, a flinty, mineral maritime quality becomes apparent – like the scent of a clean pebble beach as the tide recedes, which holds the nose for a period. Later, polished wood and bitter orange notes come forward. Dilution reveals a more toffee-malt character, also dominant in the dry glass scent. Palate: A sweet and savory arrival, featuring salted honey with brisk, hot spice. The progression shows alternating waves of spice, heat, and sweetness, quite unique. Dark honey, bitter cacao, and red peppercorns are present. After a few sips, as the palate adjusts, the complexity is recognized as briny with an herbal sweetness overlay. This aspect is somewhat reminiscent of Ricola Swiss herbal drops. Adding water softens the development's fluctuations. The texture is unremarkable. Finish: Medium. Spiced honey notes fade into a slightly saline malt aftertaste, echoing salted toffee and bitter coffee. This is a solid malt but requires patience to settle and integrate in the glass. It possesses a complex and "intriguing" character that isn't immediately accessible, so it's not ideal for novices. If it seems too hot, spicy, or bitter, you haven't allowed sufficient time. Let it rest for at least half an hour in a covered glass before tasting. Water makes a minor difference to the nose or palate, introducing only a touch more sweetness. The 46% abv is suitable, so if you choose to open it, I suggest adding just a couple of drops of water initially. I'd be very curious to sample this at 60% abv with a teaspoon or two of water added. Several Glen Scotia 18 expressions have been released since 2012 with the introduction of the new OB range, and they differ significantly in strength. The primary ones are the old "blue bull" bottling and the more recent, current "classic Campbeltown," which resembles the photo in this listing. Both are 46% abv but truly warrant separate listings due to their distinct characters. The expression I'm tasting is from 2017, and while there's a common profile among recent "classic" bottlings, it is batch-dependent. This is among the better ones I've encountered. More recent examples are smoother, fruitier, and more approachable, but arguably less engaging. Tasted from a 30ml sample. "Good": 83/100 (3.5 stars)

The aroma begins with key lime pie, scorched hay, a light sea saltiness, and chocolate-covered raisins, followed by freshly lit pipe tobacco and coastal minerality. It then presents chamomile tea, white grape juice, apricots, and persimmons, transitioning to ginger, cloves, black pepper, and polished oak with a slight ethanol burn. The taste has a medium body, starting with slightly tart yet creamy tropical fruits, then a mild pepper spice that quickly subsides into charred lemon, key lime pie, burning hay, and light sea salt. Dark chocolate-covered raisins follow, then chamomile tea, white grape juice, apricots, and persimmons, leading to ginger, cloves, black pepper, and a mild ashy oak spice with a moderate ethanol burn. The finish is of medium length, featuring scorched hay, smooth creamy tropical fruits, sea salt taffy, spicy dark chocolate mocha, prunes, and polished oak. Overall, this is an outstanding dram, showcasing the signature Glen Scotia characteristics of citrus, farmyard notes, sea salt, rocky minerality, and tea. The 18 years of aging have transformed the tart fruits found in younger versions into a sweet and creamy profile, enhanced by the addition of polished oak. Considering its price point of over $120, I believe it offers excellent value and can rival the 25-year expression, which costs significantly more. The 18-year shares many similarities with the 25-year, though it has a slightly lighter texture and lacks the dusty leather notes. For those seeking a refined Glen Scotia under $150, this is the one I would suggest.

Incredible. Truly remarkable. Glen Scotia is a distillery I consistently overlook. I've enjoyed everything I've tried from them and was eager to try this 18-year expression, but it sat in my collection until now. With a 46% ABV, it presents a deep golden hue. The nose is utterly captivating. Raisins coated in chocolate, red berries, other red fruits, caramel, and toffee. All the elements are harmoniously integrated. Following the first taste, I detected coffee flavors and a rich Ferrero Rocher creaminess. Then, a powerful wave of the most exceptional sweet plum aroma I've ever encountered in a whiskey emerged. The palate offers four distinct notes, all perfectly balanced. Hazelnut, almonds coated in chocolate; pure chocolate, and a creamy vanilla/marshmallow sensation. Magnificent. As it lingered, the peatiness appeared alongside wonderful dark chocolate notes. An intense smokiness combines with a raw, beautiful essence. An amazing, incredibly satisfying finish. In summary, this is flawless. While I can admit it's not excessively complex, the aromas and flavors are exceptionally clear, delightful, and refined. Although I'm not typically drawn to 18-year-old whiskies, this is an outstanding dram. My rating, as you might expect, is a perfect 100. It was truly superb!!!

I found this for about $69 locally, and at that price, I'm sold! Curiously, this one has received some negative feedback, so let's investigate why. Nose - A clear sherry fruit aroma, providing straightforward raisins and plums. There's a distinct Campbeltown character, reminding me of my first encounter with SB 12, with BBQ sauce and what I perceive as a hint of baby diaper – oddly pleasant but unusual among most scotches. However, I see this as a sign of quality funk. There's a substantial amount of stiff dried oak, more than anticipated. I suspect many tired casks were used for the first 17 years before very nice sherry casks were employed to refine it. Rounding out the aroma, I detect a touch of lemon, some baking spices, and possibly a hint of vanilla. Taste - Begins sweet but indistinct, then transitions to cookies and baking spices, with HEAVY oak presence, and finishes with sherry goodness from fruits and chocolates. That funk is pervasive throughout; it's extremely funky. It's fascinating how the flavors start subtly and just build and build in the mouth. I'm more than satisfied and would choose this over the 15 or Victoriana. That said, I'm giving it the same score as the latter, 3.5. This is an 18-year for funk enthusiasts.

Since I have a great appreciation for Springbank, I was encouraged to explore other Campbeltown offerings. Thus, I obtained another sample of a Glen Scotia, this time an older expression. This bottling is quite potent and rich, with abundant floral and vanilla notes. Beneath a syrupy sweetness, there's a whisper of mineral, beach sand, and dry grass, though not as compelling as I'd hoped. The palate is as sweet as expected, featuring cherry and chocolate, which is quite pleasant. However, the finish is the most intriguing aspect: resembling the dry tobacco leaves of a fine cigar and mossy wood, followed by a good measure of smoke and a buttery bitterness. It's not bad at all and genuinely interesting, but it lacks the smoothness I anticipated. It certainly possesses a kick, a distinct alcoholic warmth, and a very long, subtly bitter conclusion.

Aroma: very light and delicate, orange and lemon, ginger, vanilla from bourbon barrels. Palate: orange and lemon, vanilla, but also red fruit and honey, very spicy. Finish: short and sour, the least enjoyable part of the tasting. A spirit that is certainly valid and of high quality, but marred by a finish that doesn't meet expectations. Rating 4.25 ____________________________________________________________ Nose: very light and delicate, orange and lemon, ginger, vanilla from bourbon barrels. Palate: orange and lemon, vanilla, but also red fruit and honey, very spicy. Finish: short and sour, the worst part of the tasting. A whisky that is certainly valid and of high quality, but ruined by a finish that is not up to par. Rating 4.25