The Whiskyphiles

Glen Scotia

Glen Scotia Distillery

  • Founded: 1832
  • Status: Operational
  • Region: Campbeltown, Scotland – Campbeltown, Argyll PA28 6DS +44(0)1586 552288
  • Online: https://www.glenscotia.com/

History Glen Scotia Distillery was founded in 1832, and has been operating for approximately one hundred and eighty years. Situated in Campbeltown, one of the recognised 5 Whisky producing regions of Scotland and has a formidable pedigree. Campbeltown is a small town on the Kintyre peninsula on the west coast of Scotland, affectionately known as the “Wee Toon”, and the Victorian Whisky Capital of the World. At its peak in the 1800’s there were 21 distilleries in this small town with approx. 170 distilleries operating at that time in the UK (129 of those in Scotland) Campbeltown still has 3 operating distilleries; Glen Scotia, Springbank, Glengyle. These distilleries give a remarkable insight into the history of making whisky in this remote, once prolific, whisky making region of Scotland. Glen Scotia was formally known as ‘Scotia’ when it was first founded in 1837 by Stewart & Galbraith and Company. Stewart & Galbraith Co. ran the Distillery for almost 60 years. Notable industrialist Duncan MacCallum purchased the distillery in 1891 and he constructed the large frontage (Malting Floors) which run horizontally across High Street which is a street in Campbeltown. In 2014, the distillery was bought by Loch Lomond Group who have since gone on to invest heavily in the site with the majority of the engineering work planned out and managed by the distillery manager, Iain Mc Alister. Glen Scotia currently operates with a staff of just seven employees. It is believed there is one manager, one shop manager and five distillery operators. Despite this, Glen Scotia is still one of the smallest in Scotland. The current annual production levels stand at around 500,000 litres and following significant investment, rising to 500,000 plus litres per annum.

The Whiskyphiles tasting notes

Official Bottling
  • Glen Scotia Select Cask 627 Glen Scotia 9 Years Old 2001 Select Cask 627 (2015) – Actually we found this to be a rather nice single cask example from Glen Scotia. A heavy bourbon cask influence adds masses of creamy vanilla but the interplay between cask and spirit is nicely balanced and much of the odd zestiness and freshness I found in their standard range has transformed into slightly deeper, richer and more exotic flavours and aromas. Good stuff! 85/100
  • Glen Scotia 10 Years Old (2015) – Gentle and light and a little fruity, nothing spectacular – interesting nutty and slightly salty notes in here I’d like to see develop as we move on up the age-statements. 80/100
  • glen scotia 10 peated 46 Glen Scotia 10 Years Old Peated (2019) – Glen Scotia 10 Year Old Peated whisky review: A delicate balance of peat and lots of sweet influences, their is a little oily wax and masses of coconut and lychee. The result is one of those surprising whiskies you expect to be harsh on the palate due to the smoke on the nose – but instead it’s like a creamed banana & tropical fruit smoothie. Some nice herbal woody influences too make this feel a lot older than 10 years! 87/100
  • Glen Scotia 12 Years Old (2015) – The Glen Scotia 12 Years Old was a little thicker and ‘bulkier’ than the 10 Years Old, more syrupy in texture and a little less freshness or green-ness to the fruity elements. 82/100
  • glen-scotia-14-year-old-tawny-port-finish-campbeltown-malts-festival-2020-whisky Glen Scotia 14 Year Old Tawny Port Finish (2020) – Full of jammy red fruits, peat smoke and oily coastal influences, mixed to perfection. 88/100
  • glen-scotia-15-year-old-whisky Glen Scotia 15 Years Old (2019) – Glen Scotia 15 Year Old whisky review: A robust, briny and oily Campbeltown expression with a delicate hint of smoke throughout. 86/100
  • Glen Scotia 16 Years Old (2015) – Much richer and more complex than the 12 Years Old – this one was redolent with ‘baked’ flavours and desserts – definite improvements in flavour and palate match the colour change – again suggestive of older stock perhaps? 84/100
  • Glen Scotia 18 Years Old (2015) – At 18 Years Old these Glen Scotia’s are starting to feel complete with plenty of texture and an intensity, complex but quite coherent flavours reflect the staunch adherence to bourbon-only maturation. 85/100
  • glen-scotia-18-year-old-whisky Glen Scotia 18 Years Old (2019) – Glen Scotia 18 Year Old whisky review: Surprisingly light and creamy, this 18 year old expression is a polar opposite to the usual oily and dirty Campbeltown smoke. Delicious waxy/oily, coastal and sherried on an unpeated malt backbone. 87/100
  • Glen Scotia 21 Years Old (2015) – While the 21 Years Old expression from Glen Scotia was a little different from the 18 Years Old it didn’t appeal to us as having any improvement and we enjoyed them both equally. 85/100
  • Glen-Scotia-25-Year-Old Glen Scotia 25 Years Old (2017) – Certainly doesn’t disappoint. A classic old whisky with refined antique wood and tannin/leather, a slight – almost tropical fruitiness has developed and with that musty element reminded me instantly of Sauternes dessert wine. There are still hints of peat and plenty of coastal influence here to enjoy too. Presented at a slightly more robust 48.8% ABV this is so refined and delicate I didn’t even notice. 86/100
  • Glen Scotia Double Cask (2016) – Very pleasant and enjoyable, this is quite a strong bodied whisky with a little oiliness similar to other Campbeltown malts. A definite improvement over Glen Scotia’s output under previous owners. 85/100
  • Glen Scotia Double Cask (2018) – Glen Scotia Double Cask whisky review: More smooth and creamier than I remember from our last tasting, much more toffee character too which appears to predominate now giving great body and mouthfeel. 85/100
  • glen-scotia-17-year-old-2000-festival-edition-no-3 Glen Scotia Festival Edition No.3 (2019) – Glen Scotia Festival Edition No.3 whisky review: A very nice single cask expression Glen Scotia. There is a little fruity acidity and sherbety fizz but combined with the salt, spice and peat and also a slightly dusty old wood element this to me comes across more as slightly less active cask that has let the distillate shine through – rather than something overtly youthful tasting at 17 years old. This isn’t all citrus and ex-bourbon vanilla, but has a sharpness to it that cuts across the palate like salt and chilli. 88/100
  • glen-scotia-victoriana-54-8-whisky Glen Scotia Victoriana Cask Strength Batch 001 (2019) – Glen Scotia Victoriana Cask Strength Batch 001 whisky review: Following the 18 year old, this one really stood out for me. Perhaps it was the extra ABV or the charred cask and PX influences? I don’t really know why but I loved this one, maybe it was just the return to more classic coastal Campbeltown flavours…? 89/100
  • Glen-scotia-warehousemans-edition Glen Scotia Warehouseman’s Edition  (2019) – Glen Scotia 12 Years Old 2005 Warehouseman’s Edition whisky review: Unctuous from nose to tail, this peated and Oloroso-finished edition still displays plenty of Glen Scotia distillate DNA. Honey sweet but balanced perfectly with salty maritime influences and a refreshing hit of mint in the middle. 90/100
  • Glen-Scotia-16-Year-Old Glen Scotia 16 Year Old (2017) – The Glen Scotia 16 Year Old is a little shy or reserved at first but the quality is instantly perceptible. What follows as it slowly unfurls on the palate is a classic Campbeltown whisky with a good malty backbone, hints of smoke and coastal air and some delicious woody tannins with a richness of toffee and chocolate make this a whisky to savour, possibly my favourite of the tasting. 86/100
Independent Bottling
Cadenhead
  • Glen Scotia 12 Years Old Duthies (2015) – Intriguing sums this one up. On the nose it is like smelling the flowers beside a motorway, on the palate though a lot of sweet fruitiness comes through and any smoke and oil on the nose doesn’t reappear until the very last notes in the finish. Almost Jekyll and Hyde, this is a dram to chew over and contemplate. Overall the intrusion of the sulphur perhaps took the shine off of this one for me. A good example of how small batch whisky can be pretty complex. 83/100
Murray McDavid
  • MurrayMcDavidBenchmark Glen Scotia 24 Years Old 1991 Benchmark (2015) – Glen Scotia 24 Years Old 1991 Murray McDavid Benchmark (46%, Murray McDavid, 2015) Category: Campbeltown single malt scotch whisky Origin: Glen Scotia Distillery Bottling: Murray McDavid Benchmark ABV: 46% ABV Cost: £TBA Score: 88/100 What they say: Benchmark GLEN SCOTIA 1991 Autumn 2015 On the Kintyre Peninsula, on the west coast of Scotland, in the […]
Scotch Malt Whisky Society
  • SMWS 93.57 Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of this! (2014) – A heavily sherried 21 year old Campbeltown malt. There is nothing in that statement that I don’t like. Similar to this whisky in fact, it isn’t perfect and its flaws are plain to see, but the rest is so delicious that you feel the flaws are just there to stop it being too perfect. Even with the rubbery/sulphury sherry cask influence and the chilli heat, this is a very very good dram. Another great example of single cask bottling from SMWS. 86/100
  • SMWS 93.61 CalMac welder’s tea break (2014) – Hugely enjoyable dram, from the colour to the treacle-like sweetness on the palate, this is a wonderful single cask exampled from the Glen Scotia distillery. 87/100
  • 93.94-web SMWS 93.94 The final trawl (2018) – SMWS 93.94 The final trawl whisky review: Yes! A fantastic Campbeltown malt whisky, slightly oily and fishy just as they should be. I loved this one and thought it was going to be my favourite of the tasting. 87/100
Wemyss Malts
  • WM_Strawberry_Ganache_1991 Glen Scotia 21 Years Old 1991 Strawberry Ganache (Wemyss Malts) (2013) – For the experience this was well worth the price. Sadly my budget doesn’t stretch to a full bottle and these are likely no longer available to buy. I would definitely try more of the Glen Scotia range and they have just released a stable of multiple age ranges from the distillery of which the 12 year old I came across in travel retail [Brittany Ferries]. I am intrigued to see how intrinsic the strawberry element is within the Glen Scotia distillate, as I am sure it would lend itself well to much more than the sherry cask maturation/finish it enjoyed above. I’m sure a Glen Scotia will end up in my collection before too long! 85/100