Glen Scotia
- OWNER: LOCH LOMOND GROUP
- FOUNDED: 1832
- REGION: CAMPBELTOWN
- PRONUNCIATION: Glen SKO-sha
During the whisky industry’s fits-and-starts recovery in the post–World War I era, the Glen Scotia facility was purchased in 1924 by a distiller named Duncan Macallum. When the Great Depression hit, he was forced to close the distillery; he locked the door, stowed the key, and drowned himself in the nearby Crosshill Loch, the distillery’s water source. It’s said his spirit remains, though no word on whether he helps out with the stills. For most of the twentieth century, Glen Scotia passed among owners who operated it intermittently; for a time it was used sparingly by its neighbor Springbank. In 2014 ownership was secured by Loch Lomond Group, and production picked up again.
Glen Scotia
Double Cask
A non-age-statement whisky aged in ex-bourbon casks, then finished in Pedro Ximénez sherry barrels.
- PRICE $$ · RATING
- AGE No age statement
- ALC/VOL 46%
- NOSE Vanilla cream, peaches, raisin oatmeal cookies, mandarin oranges, and candied ginger; it opens significantly with water, with dried apricots, pears, and cardamom.
- PALATE Figs, dark chocolate fudge, ginger, mandarin orange, ash, and coffee; it dries quickly, but keeps the rich chocolate, figgy note.
- GENERAL The figs are strong with this one—intriguingly rich, dark notes, if a bit dry on the finish.
Aged 15 Years
Aged solely in ex-bourbon casks.
- PRICE $$ · RATING
- AGE 15 years old
- ALC/VOL 46%
- NOSE Clover honey, pears, melons, ginger, vanilla, dried apricots; with water it shows ginger snaps, graham crackers, and orange.
- PALATE Not especially sweet, despite notes of vanilla and honey; there’s also an oaky note, mixed with grilled meat and a slight smokiness. Water makes it a bit spicy. The finish is a bit tannic, with a whiff of smoke.
- GENERAL Like a classic Speyside, but a bit darker. Opens significantly with water.
Glen Scotia
Victoriana
A non-age-statement whisky, finished in heavily charred barrels (ex-bourbon, presumably) in a nod to what whisky from Campbeltown tasted like in the Victorian era.
- PRICE $$ · RATING
- AGE No age statement
- ALC/VOL 51.5%
- NOSE A bit musty up front, with tangerines, chocolate-covered raisins, brine, citrus, and just a whiff of peat; water brings out milk chocolate, ginger, pipe tobacco, toffee, and anise.
- PALATE A thick, round whisky that opens as sweet and spicy, then deepens with oak, dark toffee, and raspberries; water adds more toffee, as well as anise and tropical fruit. The finish is tannic, not surprisingly, with coffee and dark chocolate.
- GENERAL If dark, rich oak is your thing, grab this whisky. It’s delicious, and a good alternative to an Islay peat bomb for your winter after-dinner dram.