Glen Scotia Limited Edition 8 Years Old 2012

This official Glen Scotia, an 8 year old, from 2012, cask 715, at 56.8%, 229 bottles in all. Glen Scotia is a coastal Campbeltown malt sitting between heavier Springbank and lighter Glengyle. The Glen was added to the Scotia name around 1930, the distillery dating to 1832.

It was worked through the stills for an oily, coastal make, for a briny, oily make of salt, citrus and a salted toffee. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, oak lactones lending vanilla and a little coconut. Young and extractive, the cask sheds vanillin (vanilla) and toasted sugars (light caramel) over the salty make. A gentle maturation suits the oily make, the sea salt and toffee growing with time. It is one of only three working distilleries left in Campbeltown, with Springbank and Glengyle. A former owner, Duncan MacCallum, drowned in the loch that fed the distillery, and is said to haunt it. It runs a single pair of stills and shell and tube condensers for a slow, oily make.

At 56.8%, undiluted, it is deep and briny. A briny, oily coastal fruit, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A dried fruit and a soft oak give it depth. Citrus, salt and a soft oak see out the finish. This is a Campbeltown single malt of real character.