Glen Scotia 2003 Rum Cask Finish (2019 Campbeltown Malts Festival)

Nose: toasted banana, milk chocolate, Nilla Wafer, subtle smoke, pineapple, molasses, black pepper, nutmeg, honey, lemon, hay, sunscreen, salted caramel, vanilla cream, baked apple, cinnamon, cookie dough, moderate ethanol burn. Taste: honey, almond, bananas foster, brown sugar, salted caramel, molasses, vanilla ice cream, chili pepper, pineapple, bitter herbal notes, burnt toast, sour apple, charred orange, lemon oil, rubber, moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium length with burnt caramel, baking spice, and bitter herbal flavors. Following the standard 15 Year, my expectations for this one weren't very high. It's a year younger, but the cask strength and interesting rum finish are a plus. The rum is certainly noticeable on the nose. I actually think it was a good choice for a finish, enhancing and transforming the subtle banana note of the classic into a sweeter, baked banana dessert quality. Molasses, honey, and sweet and salty caramel also stand out. The palate is similarly sweeter and more dessert-like than the original, though many of the same flavors are present. Sour apple, citrus, bitter herbal notes, and a bready character, though it comes across as burnt cookie here rather than a general yeastiness. It's not an outstanding palate, but it's great in its own right. Perhaps it's the higher proof or the rum finish, but this is definitely superior to the 15 Year. However, in my opinion, it shares some of the same drawbacks. It's a bit too sour and bitterly herbal, although I'm more forgiving of the flaws here than in its counterpart. Many thanks to a friend for this special sample. I'm looking forward to reviewing the 2020 Port finish version tomorrow.

Nose: Fresh pineapple juice; light, wispy peat; brown sugar; Cambeltown funk; caramelized bananas; white chocolate; papaya. Palate: pineapple juice again; bananas; honey sweetness; a touch of funky oak; road tar; light peat; ginger spice. Finish: Medium, oily finish; bananas covered in brown sugar; honey; ginger; papaya. Excellent stuff. The rum cask truly stands out in every aspect without overwhelming the dram. It delivers all the delightful rum sweetness with the perfect balance of peat, oak, and Cambeltown funk. The finish could be a bit longer, but overall, this is extremely enjoyable, very easy to drink at almost 53% ABV, and should be on every scotch lover's shelf.

I was fortunate to receive a sample of this remarkable whisky. While I had other rum cask finished spirits as a comparison, like the Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask, this one was truly special. The nose was sweet, but it also had other elements, spices but not cinnamon. The palate was equally pleasant, but surprisingly, there was peat lurking in the background. The finish was medium-long and exceptionally good. And that was the unfortunate part, knowing I wouldn't get any more of this special and limited release. If you have the chance to try it, definitely go for it.

Received a sample from a sample exchange. It's good, but not on the level of Springbank or Kilkerran. Nose: Smoke, Pepper, White Chocolate, Guava, Caramel, Pepper, Oak, Mango, Pineapple, Apricot, Cherry, Banana, Flowers, Coconut, Salty Almonds. Palate: Peat, Smoke, Tar, Caramel, Vanilla, Peach, Cherry, Cinnamon. Finish: Smoke, Guava, Mango, Pineapple, Vanilla, Orange, Flowers.

On 4/14/2021, after 7 months open and with half a bottle remaining, I'm reducing my score to 3.5. It's just okay now and still has a strong alcohol burn even diluted to 86 proof. I'm surprised I rated it a 4 when first opened, so perhaps my palate has shifted. At this point, I would not purchase this again. Very forgettable and not worth buying again. Life is too short.

The aroma is surprisingly oaky with a profile that shifts from sweet to earthy and back again; The palate is good, but it lacks some of the depth found in the aroma and has fewer rum notes until water is added; The finish is pleasant and evolves more from sip to sip than most whiskies, but it maintains an earthy-smoky, herbal-spicy, and lightly sweet character.