Glen Scotia 25 Year

To wrap up my brief Glen Scotia collection, I'm trying a small portion of their 25-year, which increases the alcohol content from 46% to 48.8% compared to the 15 and 16-year-olds. The initial scent presents a blend of lemon meringue pie, limes, scorched hay, mild sea salt, and aged leather-bound books, followed by pipe tobacco, coastal minerality, chamomile tea, dry champagne, apricots, and mango. This then shifts to ginger, cloves, black pepper, and polished antique furniture, with a slight ethanol sting. The palate has a medium texture, beginning with somewhat tart yet smooth tropical fruits, then a gentle pepper spice that quickly subsides, revealing charred lemon, kaffir lime leaves, burning hay, light ocean brine, and old leather-bound books. Next comes dark chocolate-covered toasted almonds, followed by chamomile tea, brut champagne, apricots, and mango, evolving into ginger, cloves, black pepper, and an ashy oak spice, with a moderate ethanol burn. The finish is of medium duration, featuring burnt hay, soft, creamy tropical fruits, sea salt taffy, spicy dark chocolate mocha, and dusty old leather-bound books. This is a remarkable drink, showcasing Glen Scotia's characteristic notes of citrus, farmyard, sea salt, and rocky minerality. The extended aging has mellowed the tart fruits into softer, sweeter, and creamier varieties, alongside dusty books and antique furnishings. The flavors are significantly more pronounced than in the 15 or 16-year expressions, likely due to the extra years in the barrel and higher alcohol content. They are expertly balanced, though there's a touch more ashy bitterness than I prefer at the start of the taste and finish. At over $400 a bottle, this is a costly indulgence that I cannot recommend purchasing, as superior whiskies are available at a much lower price. If you happen to find a sample or a reasonable price at a bar, I suggest trying it, as it's an interesting exploration, but it doesn't justify the high price tag.

Just what was needed - there's something about these Campbeltown spirits that imparts a subtle distinction compared to other malts. The nose is simply superb, very rich, fruity, with hints of candy, cinnamon, but also summer berries. The palate, initially, I taste a huge burst of toffee and apple, then I taste almonds, and finally summer berry jam. The extra 7 years give it that additional depth to the liquid. The finish is body-warming as you would expect, with gentle spiciness; it is long and delicious. Overall it evokes the mood of those summers we thought would never end, as you run and run to catch the sun but it's setting! Delicious neat, perhaps 5 tiny drops of water at most - recommended!:)

Nose: Faint oak, saltiness, damp earth/smoke, baking spices, subtle orchard fruit notes. The aroma is spicy and slightly sharp. Palate: Robust oak, vanilla, orchard fruit (red apple), caramel, saltiness, coffee Finish: Oily, medium-length finish. Spices - ginger & clove. Strong oak and vanilla bean. Mild oils. Hints of the characteristic Campbeltown funk are present on the nose. Less so on the palate, but it doesn't detract. This is an exceptional coastal dram - flavorful, complex, and refined. A thoughtfully created, skillfully made, spicy and fruity dram. It was the top choice out of the six samples, receiving 42% of the votes for favorite of the evening. All attendees indicated they enjoyed the whisky.

Tasted at a Drammers Club online event. This was one of only three 25-year-olds sampled, alongside a Murray McDavid finished in sherry and burgundy casks, and an smws 93.78 reminiscent of a vintage dessert wine aged in a second-fill Oloroso butt. Excellent spirit, even though it was my least preferred of the three 25-year-olds. Nose: Vanilla, Peach, Grass, Green Chiles, Citrus, Salted Caramel, Flowers, Banana Cream Pie, Cooked Agave, Pineapple, Mango, Passion Fruit, Cinnamon, Baking Spices, Peanuts Palate: Caramel, Flowers, Citrus, Peach, Vanilla, Grass, Coconut, Banana, Pepper, Smoke, Apricot, Cherry, Peanuts Finish: Vanilla, Apricot, Caramel, Grass, Almonds, Flowers

I've sampled several Glen Scotia expressions, including the 15, 18 Victoriana, and now the 25. While it's a pleasant distillery overall, it hasn't left a strong lasting impression on me. The NAS Victoriana is a minor exception, offering much more intense flavors. Predominantly, vanilla, honey, and green apple dominate, accompanied by a slight alcohol edge that throws it off balance and results in a rather average, short finish.

Nose presents earthy grass, sea breeze, and ginger. The palate is light and sweet, with fresh citrus, coastal air, and saltiness. The finish offers fresh green spices and ginger. This is one of the rare whiskies where the taste can be distinctly perceived in stages – from beginning to end. A flavor explosion. Amazing!