| |
Dwelling
1000’s of tastings,
all of the ramblings
and all of the enjoyable
(hopefully!)
Whiskyfun.com
Assured ad-free
copyright 2002-2025
|
 |
|
| Hello, that is one in every of our (nearly) each day tastings. Santé! |
| |
|
| |
| |
|
April 30, 2025
|
|
  |
|
A handful of sprightly younger Glen Scotias
Extra from Campbeltown, because the Campbeltown Malt Competition is developing quickly, and what’s extra, we’ve a beautiful Glen Scotia for the Maclean Basis…
Charlie’s sons Lachlan, Ewan and Jamie (The Maclean Basis)
|
 |
|
|
Glen Scotia 8 yo 2016/2024 (59.1%, The Maclean Basis, first fill bourbon barrel, 210 bottles) 
The 2nd launch from the Maclean Basis, a charity based by our good friend the brightest whisky knowledgeable Charles Maclean and his sons. It’s offered via Royal Mile Whiskies, all income supporting clear water initiatives in Madagascar, with every bottle serving to present clear water for one individual for all times. Color: white wine. Nostril: shiny and breezy, opening on distillate-born pears and apples waltzing merrily with mangos and bananas that will need to have slipped in from the cask. The exuberant youthfulness is an actual asset right here and, fortunately, there’s not a plank in sight. With water: hardly any change, it stays crisp and buoyantly fruity. Mouth (neat): actually a family-sized assortment of jelly infants, jellybeans, Jesuses and crocodiles, all courtesy of Maison Haribo. One hopes Haribo are chipping in to the Maclean Basis! Pretty notes of banana cake and finger biscuits too – one might nearly combine up a brand new cocktail with this. Charlie, what a couple of Maclean Spritz? Has a hoop to it, doesn’t it? With water: similar medley, all fruity appeal and ease, even a splash of one thing Littlemill-esque – in any case, they have been as soon as kin. End: in the identical vein, with liquorice allsorts and jellybeans, plus a dollop of orange sponge. Feedback: totally contemporary and fruity, although it does sing even higher with a drop of water. Which is slightly apt, contemplating the mission of The Maclean Basis to carry clear water to Madagascar! I’ll drop the hyperlink once more for good measure.
SGP:641 – 87 factors. |
|
|
Glen Scotia 9 yo (56.2%, OB, Campbeltown Malts Competition 2024, first fill bourbon and fino sherry end) 
You’ll say it was excessive time we gave this one a correct go, at the least earlier than the Campbeltown Malts Competition 2025! Color: white wine. Nostril: clearly in the identical ballpark because the Maclean, although rather less outlined and cheerful, exhibiting extra paraffin, modelling clay and leafy greenery. Might that be the fino affect? With water: bread dough, contemporary sawdust, baker’s yeast. Mouth (neat): similar normal remarks, the casks do make themselves recognized, however the fruitiness persists. Loads of apples and a slight earthy, twiggy aspect. With water: it takes water properly, bringing out liquorice and lemon zest. Very good bitterness too (liquorice wooden, ginseng). End: pretty lengthy, youthful, with the sherry rounding off the entire ensemble. Feedback: very nice certainly, simply missing the Maclean’s sense of ‘clear line’.
SGP:651 – 84 factors. |
|
|
Glen Scotia 1992/2012 (40%, Samaroli, first fill sherry, cask #4, 600 bottles)
This isn’t Samaroli by Silvano Samaroli, as he had offered the corporate in 2008, however make no mistake, there have been some glorious ‘Samaroli by Bleve’, even when 40% vol. may appear a contact odd as of late. Color: gold. Nostril: that is pretty, mild and well mannered, very civilised in reality, on apple juice with hints of pure vanilla, just a little cinnamon, then tinned peaches and ripe yellow melon. Delicate, fairly, calming… Mouth: mild with out being weak, although as so usually, the decrease power does let just a little extra woodiness and dryness via. The melon and ripe peach are again, adopted by a number of drops of fruity beer – one thing like an IPA – and a contact of mint. End: brief however charming, contemporary and traditional, with a touch of plum. Feedback: just a little gentleness in a brutish world. The 40% vol. actually works right here – all in all, very charming stuff.
SGP:541 – 85 factors. |
|
|
Campbeltown Distilleries 8 yo 2016/2024 (48%, Hogshead Imports, 1st fill barrel, 318 bottles)
Formally a blended malt, although one slightly suspects – deep down (what?) – that it’s Glen Scotia in disguise. Color: white wine. Nostril: sure certainly, it’s comfortable, fruity and vanilla-led, all on apples, a contact of mild honey (acacia – the timber are in bloom right here simply now), and heat brioche. Mouth: just a little extra presence on the palate, although nonetheless very a lot within the GS home type, with apples joined by a whiff of pineapple. Floral jelly too – dandelion and mullein particularly – with vanilla, a contact of apricot, fruit pastilles and the like. End: comparable once more, with the cask pushing barely ahead now, including a citric edge. Feedback: very nice, flawless, proper within the anticipated groove.
SGP:551 – 84 factors. |
|
|
Glen Toon 11 yo 2012 (53%, Whisky Sponge, Campbeltown Malts Competition 2024 unique, 1st fill bourbon hogshead, 225 bottles)
You possibly can’t make a label extra retro than this, wanting scrawling instantly onto the bottle in white paint like these old-school port or madeira jobs. RU Recreation, Decadent Drinks? Color: mild gold. Nostril: maybe not the brightest thought to line up a sequence of younger ex-bourbon Glen Scotias in the identical session. We’re again on apples, croissants, baker’s yeast, vanilla, sweets, melon, and the entire shebang. With water: a number of hints of petrol, contemporary concrete, and a contact of steel polish. Mouth (neat): banana, sponge cake (!) and an more and more natural character, nearly held in examine by mango and keenness fruit. With water: truthful sufficient, it’s nice, contemporary, fruity, barely minty. End: similar once more. Feedback: truthfully, it’s actually good – it’s simply not terribly thrilling to be tasting these infants back-to-back.
SGP:551 – 84 factors. |
|
So, shall we’ve one final dram and name it an evening, yeah?
|
|
|
Photographs of Campbeltown (53%, Malts of Scotland, Davaar Lighthouse, cask #MoS 24015, 285 bottles)
In idea that is Glen Scotia – in any other case it will price slightly extra. Color: white wine. Nostril: apples, pears, gooseberries, tinned peaches, Juicy Fruit chewing gum and contemporary plaster. With water: contemporary panettone, which isn’t half unhealthy! Mouth (neat): a reasonably fruit allsorts juice, although fairly a little bit of alcohol too – roughly a tutti-frutti eau-de-vie. Barley syrup. With water: inexperienced apple, barley syrup once more, and a wee flash of blanco tequila. End: comparable. Feedback: nonetheless very good certainly, although we’re gently drifting off by this level…
SGP:551 – 84 factors. |
|
Oh, cling on, there’s nonetheless an area bottling left to pattern…
|
|
|
Campbeltown Blended Malt 7 yo 2017/2024 (57.1%, Watt Whisky, barrel, 246 bottles)
Consideration, this was the a centesimal bottling from Watt Whisky aka Campbeltown Whisky Firm Ltd.! That’s price celebrating! As regular, we’re a bit late to the occasion, however bravo Kate and Mark! Color: mild gold. Nostril: properly now, that is extra partaking – there’s a contact of engine oil, linseed oil, amaretti, pumpernickel unfold with contemporary butter, even a number of tiny oysters, all layered atop the traditional apple and pear base. With water: a brand-new Harris Tweed jacket. I swear. Mouth (neat): we’re again on oil, oyster shells, a number of drops of petrol, a dab of sunshine peat, and even hints of diesel and acetone, Jamaican type. Really. With water: proper, at coronary heart it’s nonetheless apple, beer and barley. End: similar once more – apple, beer and barley – although there’s a persistent saline tang hanging within the background. Feedback: completely pretty! Bravo!
SGP:462 – 87 factors. |
|
Wait a sec, we might end off with an older one…
|
|
|
Campbeltown Single Malt 32 yo 1992/2024 (45.8%, Classic Bottlers, Secret Sequence #4, 60 bottles) 
The variety of bottles may be very restricted, however the geographical information is plentiful – the distillery’s coordinates are given as 55°25’46.8″N 5°36’13.7″W. And these 1992s are recognized to be glorious, as earlier examples from… Cadenhead have amply demonstrated. Color: full gold. Nostril: however in fact. Candlewax, farmhouse cider, contemporary croissants, sunflower, sesame and olive oil, sourdough, then extra farmhouse cider alongside clay and chalk. Mouth: glorious once more – salty and a tad acetic, on olives, marinière mussels, quince jelly, smoked meats, balsamic, peppers, beers… There’s lots occurring right here, bordering on ‘funky and soiled’. All slightly surprising, even a contact offbeat, however jolly good enjoyable. End: lengthy, on salty pasta, olive focaccia, amaro – one wonders whether or not there weren’t some Italians concerned on this baby. Feedback: that is ultra-fun, barely punk, and even when it’s Glen Scotia, there’s a particular Longrow streak. Sure certainly, it’s true.
SGP:462 – 89 factors. |
|
We have extra ‘Campbeltowns’ ready within the wings, however this time we’re actually calling it. CU.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
