Showing posts with label Glen Scotia 15. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Glen Scotia 15. Show all posts

Glen Scotia 15 Years Review


“Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”

Whisky Review # 742

Country: Scotland
Region: Campbeltown
Brand: Glen Scotia
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: 15 Years
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46%
Maturation: American Oak with a short Refill-Oloroso cask Finish
Chill Filtration: Yes
Price Range: US$ 55-70 (June 2018)
Buying Advice:😃 Interesting Medium Dirty Campbeltown Malt. Good P/Q ratio!

Colour:

Copper with shades of Orange (Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

Sweet with a few Sour, Salty and Musty notes. A distant hint of Sulphur perhaps but nothing serious. The Sherry cask Finish is noticeable. The Alcohol is there as well but does not truly interfere with the Nosing procedures. In fact, the Nose is sufficiently interesting. Be sure to give this Glen Scotia at least half an hour in the glass to open it up.

Main Aromas:

Malted Barley, Buttered Toast, Apricot-Filled Pastry, Vanilla, Salty Caramel, Rum soaked Raisins, Treacle, slightly Bitter Orange, Ripe Apples, Charred Oak and Hazelnuts.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Heather-Honey, Floral Soap, Grass/Straw, Grapefruit, Lemon-Pepper, Dried and Fresh Herbs, Tinned Pineapple, Dusty Book Shelves, Ginger, Espresso, Leather and cured Meat.


Palate:

Bitter-Sweet and Dry with a few Sour, Dirty and Musty notes. The Alcohol is noticeable by now although the overall feel is a little on the Thin side.

Main Flavours:

Malted Barley, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Treacle, Brown Sugar, Dried Fruit like Raisins and Apricot, Nuts, Straw, Charred Oak, Seville Orange, Dark Chocolate, Cinnamon, Pepper, Nutmeg, Ginger and Cloves.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Heather-Honey, Dried Herbs, Apple Cider, Grapefruit, Lemon, Tinned Pineapple, Mint, Espresso, Cured Meat and a Metallic note.

Finish:

Middle-Long, Bitter-Sweet, a little Dirty, quite Tannic and Dry towards the end. I find Toasted Cereals, Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Treacle, Caramel, Seville Oranges, Dirty Earth, Charred Oak, Straw, Dried Fruit (Raisins and Apricots), Cinnamon, Pepper, Nutmeg, Menthol, Heather-Honey, Dried Herbs, Dark Chocolate, Black Coffee, mature Bourbon, Metal (Iron) and Leather. Despite the adequate ABV the overall feel is ever so slightly Watery. A pity!


Drinking Advice:

The Glen Scotia 15 Years does not improve with added Water.

Rating: 84.5

Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 21 - Finish: 21 - Overall: 21


Drinking Experience:

Good.

Conclusion:

The Glen Scotia Distillery was founded in 1832 and is located in Campbeltown on the Kintyre peninsular. It's one of the only three surviving distilleries in Campbeltown along with Springbank and Glengyle. The current owner is a Glasgow based Blending House called Loch Lomond Distillery. A new range was launched in 2015. It consists of the 15 Years and two NAS Expressions, the Double Cask and the Victoriana. We visited the distillery in May 2017. We were lucky and got a private Tour and Tasting.

The Glen Scotia 15 Years is an interesting Campbeltown Single Malt with a good Price/Quality ratio. It's not as Dirty and Funky as its neighbour Springbank but it has sufficient character to distinguish itself from today's mainstream boring Malt Whisky. If you like Springbank, Arran, Tobermory and Benromach, you should give this Glen Scotia a try. It's not perfect but you won't be disappointed!

The pictures were taken during our visit to the distillery in May 2017