Glen Scotia Double Cask

Description

Glen Scotia is one of the last three working distilleries surviving in Campbeltown, which at one time rivalled Speyside for the number of distilleries and output of whisky. The distillery was founded in 1832 by Stewart Galbraith, whose family held it until the end of that century.

Since then it has changed hands several times,including a spell of ownership in the 1950s by Hiram Walker (who also owned Scapa). Glen Scotia has been owned by Loch Lomond Distillers since 1996.

The distillery is said to be haunted by one of its previous owners, Duncan MacCallum, who drowned himself in Campbeltown Loch in 1930 after realising he had beentricked out of a fortune in a dodgy business deal. Stylistically, Glen Scotia is medium-bodied, with faint traces of smoke and a hint of brine.

The Double Cask is matured primarily in first fill bourbon barrels before being finished for up to twelve months in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Initially it is all creme caramel, caramelised fruit sugars, wood sugar, toffee and fudge before some apple and peach come through. In time a charred note of bourbon with a pleasing dusty dryness. Has some power.

Palate: Sweet start and quite fat and though the alcohol gives a little tongue-tingling buzz the result is a good mid-palate weight. The dry distillery character is there still, but there is now depth to counter. Water slightly dismantles the different elements, but adds some dried mint.

Finish: Deep and dark.