Scott’s Selection Glen Scotia 1992 (15 year old) 57.2%
Bourbon/ Dist: 1992 Btl: 2007/ Tasted: Sept 2007
Crisp and seaweedy with lovely earthy peat and iodine on the nose. Good depth of underlying fruit, very coastal with balancing Bourbon oak. Water brings out an oily note.
The palate is soft and loaded with citrus fruit followed by salt, gentle peat, earth and Bourbon laced fruit. Water brings out a sweet character and emphasises the mouth filling, crisp apricot and yellow fruits. The finish is a bit sharp and hot with lemon, mint and salty fruit.
Scott’s Selection Glen Scotia 1991 (17 year old) 58%
Bourbon/ Dist: 1991 Btl: 2008/ Tasted: Dec 2008
A deep, coastal enhanced nose of juicy orange fruit, honeyed barley, wood, leather and tobacco with hints of medicinal-manurey peat. Over time the Campbeltown salts really emerge. The palate is oily and initially woody with mature honey and hessian notes. Good depth with buckets of piquant saltiness. The alcohol somewhat masks.
Water brings out the glorious mature honey akin to old Glenrothes. Now it has opened up to show a huge depth with that dusty/ woody character as the peat and coastalness recedes. On the palate it becomes like the nose, and the peat has developed a lovely sweet edge and some grainy spices fly around, finishing with a touch of salt laden bitter chocolate.
Scott’s Selection Glen Scotia 1991 (21 year old) 53.8%
Sherry/ Dist: 1991 Btl: 2012/ Tasted: July 2012
Aromas of earthy, musty spice, walnuts and raisins. Quite perfumed with hints of honeysuckle, herbal marc and a slightly soapy note. Still quite complex with hints of green nut shell, light peat and a late appearance of some bright orange fruit and fishy notes. Water makes it lighter and less complex.
The palate opens with light coffee, dusty spices and gentle wood tannins. Lightly peated with earth and some mature sherry cask infused citrus. Lightly oiled with the earthy peat building rather pleasantly. Water makes it a touch lighter, like the nose but brings out some lovely demerera sugar sweetness, but the herbal marc-like spirit is more evident too. A lovely mature finish with tannins becoming quite dusty and herbal spirit showing its age. Water does actually length the finish, the dried fruit lingers and is joined by a light violet note. In conclusion: A lovely, venerable sherry cask. Not exactly perfect as the spirit is creaking a little bit, but maybe one is being a bit too picky?
Whisky According to Chris Whiskyman 