Glen Scotia Campbeltown Saga 14 Years Old 2011

A 14 year old Glen Scotia, a distillery bottling, from 2011, at 50%. Glen Scotia is a maritime Campbeltown malt, one of the last three of a town that once held thirty. Its malt comes from Greencore Maltings in southwest Scotland.

The spirit was distilled slow for the salty, oily Glen Scotia style, building the Campbeltown Glen Scotia style. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak quiet behind the oily spirit. In integration lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the spirit, the brine deepening over a salted toffee. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the fruit. Years in oak round the spirit, the brine and citrus deepening to a salted toffee. Crosshill Loch water and a long ferment give the oily, coastal Glen Scotia make. The oily, coastal spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and brine to the fore. Its long ferment, averaging well over a hundred hours, builds a fruity, coastal character.

At a natural 50% it is full and oily. Citrus, salt and a soft vanilla, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A dried fruit and a soft oak give it depth. A long, oily finish carries a sea salt and a citrus. This is one of the last three Campbeltown malts.