Glen Scotia 15 Years Old

A 15 year old Glen Scotia, a distillery bottling, at 46%. Glen Scotia is a coastal Campbeltown malt sitting between heavier Springbank and lighter Glengyle. It runs a single pair of stills and shell and tube condensers for a slow, oily make.

It was worked through the stills for an oily, coastal make, giving a coastal, briny Campbeltown spirit. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, a soft vanilla beneath the coastal spirit. At oxidative maturity aldehydes lend a nutty edge while ellagitannins add a gentle, drying grip over the oil. The maritime setting on the Kintyre coast threads salt and brine through the spirit. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the fruit. Campbeltown, the Wee Toon, once held some thirty distilleries and was the whisky capital of the world. The cool, salt laden Campbeltown air gives a slow, coastal maturation in the warehouses.

At an approachable 46% it is soft and coastal. Sea salt, oil and a salted toffee, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Beneath it run citrus, salt and a soft oil. It finishes long, briny and oily. This is Glen Scotia, a survivor of the old whisky capital.