Gordon & MacPhails Glen Scotia Tasting Notes

Gordon & MacPhails Collection Glen Scotia 1991 (15 year old) 43%

Bourbon/ Dist: 1991 Btl: 2006/ Tasted: Dec 2015

Aromas of sweet oak, barley and malt with a slight balsamic note. Dusty, sweet peat follows along with some slightly grubby spirit notes – lanolin and fish oils.

The palate is malty and dusty with mature baked fruit and hints of citrus. Old and dirty with a hint of violet. A bit short and hot, but a lovely dusty peat after-taste. Overall it has its pluses and minuses!

Gordon & MacPhail ‘Connoisseurs Choice Cask Strength’ Glen Scotia 1992 (26 year old) 55.5%

First Fill Bourbon Barrel/ Dist: Mar 1992 Btl: Jun 2018/ Tasted: Aug 2018

A very malty and mature nose with treacle, salt, fish and subtle, developing vanilla notes. Softly spiced and peppery with a lightly herbal note which becomes slightly mentholated.

The palate is as deep and malty as the nose suggests. Coffee’d and fishy with salt and treacle. Lovely mature macerated apple, grape and oxidised fruit. Slighly oily and herbal middle with the fishy notes coming through. Long, subtly peated and mentholated finish.

Water makes the nose a little lighter (less malt) and fishier, bringing out a fragrant oak note and a touch of citrus. The palate is also a little lighter and less malty but still deep with buckets of mature fruit, fish, heather, citrus and subtle peat. Long with lingering herbal malt and fish oils.

Single Malts Direct Glen Scotia Tasting Notes

Single Malts Direct ‘Whiskies of Scotland’ Glen Scotia 1991 (21 year old) 55.1%

Sherry/ Dist: 1991 Btl: 2012/ Tasted: July 2012

Intense, high toned, manure, slightly dirty sherry aromas with hints of boiled sweets and herbal marc-like spirit. The alcohol prickles and the overall impression is that it is too old and too spirit. A drop of water makes if slightly oily and fishy but doesn’t really improve it.

The palate is dry, tannic, woody and old. Lacking any semblance of complexity. Diluted it is slightly sweeter but again lacking in the complexity stakes. Quite an alcoholic finish, boiled sweets and herbal spirit. Water just emphasises the boiled sweet, confected, sherry sweetness. Conclusion: Very disappointing. This should’ve been bottled years ago!

Wemyss Vintage Malts Glen Scotia Tasting Notes

Wemyss Vintage Malts (Glen Scotia) Strawberry Ganache 21 year old 46%

Sherry Butt/ Dist: 1991 Btl: 2012/ Tasted: July 2012

Pungent aromas of Amontillado-esque dried fruit. A seriously aged rancio of green nuts, liquorice, treacle, molasses and dried grape along with a slight sulphur note. With time it becomes slightly floral with the dried grape taking on a luscious sheen. Hints of earth but as expected not a lot of distillery character.

The palate is quite gentle with green nuts, salt, treacle and plenty of dried grape and sultanas. Quite juicy and complex with the wood spices building to a crescendo. Very slightly sulphured with a touch of earth. Long with plenty of dried fruit along with a hint of violets, light cocoa bean and bitter oak on the finish Conclusion: All sherry, albeit quite mature sherry, looses a few points for the slight sulphur blemish.

Malts of Scotland Glen Scotia Tasting Notes

Malts of Scotland Glen Scotia 1992 (20 year old) 51.9%

Sherry Hogshead MoS12031/ Dist: Feb 1992 Btl: May 2012/ Tasted: July 2012

A dense, leafy, first fill Oloroso nose. Redolent of onion skin, earth and malt. Robust and deep, but for the purist (me!) lacking distillery character. Very woody with hints of dried fruit and vanillins. Water gives the aromas an intimation of fishiness but not much else.

The palate is very dry, very wood and very tannic. Quite brawny with earthy-coffee sherry, a touch of dried fruit and smoked meat. Dilution makes the palate softer and sweeter. Showing more dried fruit now along with a light sulphur twang and green wood. The finish shows some slightly floral marzipan coated dried fruit. Slightly chocolatey but like the palate very dry and bitter. With water it is still very dry and a touch less complex. Conclusion: All sherry and no trousers. A bit dry, bitter and alcoholic.

Signatory Glen Scotia Tasting Notes

Signatory Vintage Collection Glen Scotia 1992 (14 year old) 43%

Bourbon Cask 338/ Dist: 1992 Btl: 2007/ Tasted: Sept 2007

Initially very sappy and a touch soapy on the nose with muted coastal notes. Given time it opens to show a nice orange/ tangerine character with vanilla and a touch of flowers. Soft and a bit watery on the palate with nice, clean apricot and orange fruit and dry salty notes. Medium length with citrus and coastal notes lingering. It’s ok, nothing special!

Scott’s Selection Glen Scotia Tasting Notes

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?

Scotch Malt Whisky Society Glen Scotia Tasting Notes

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 93.72 2007 (9 year old) ‘BBQ Outside a sweetie factory’ 58.3%

Bourbon Barrel/ Dist: Apr 2007 Btl: Feb 2017/ Tasted: Oct 2017

The nose is oily and gritty with salt, cod liver oil and a touch of gritty peat. Water brings out some cereal and emphasises the oils, thus flattening it a little.

Intense and oily on the palate with sweet barley, malt, fish and salty notes. Very subtly violet peat. Water brings out the citrus (lemon) but makes it simpler. Long with plenty of sweet barley, violets and gritty oak.

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 93.77 2008 (9 year old) ‘A classic rally’ 58.8%

First Fill Bourbon/ Dist: Feb 2008 Btl: 2017/ Tasted: Oct 2017

The nose is young and slightly feinty with sweet barley and a faint metallic note. Water makes it cleaner and brings out orange/ tangerine notes.

The palate is more evolved than the nose with subtly sweet barley, fish oils, violets and hints of gritty peat. Water makes it simpler and oilier. Neat the finish is masked and mouth-watering with an oily/ fishy after-taste. Water brings out some spice. In conclusion: Although better with water it could have done with longer in the cask.

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 93.45 1999 (11 year old) ‘An unusual sweetie shop’ 57.6%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Dist: June 1999 Btl: 2012/ Tasted: July 2012

Intense, high toned and slightly soapy aromas of apricot, salt and what appears to be some light refill sherry spices. With time hints of earth and malt vinegar appear. Water brings out some pleasant orange and peat notes but emphasises the soapiness

The palate is dry and woody but pleasantly sweetly malted. Mainly refill sherry notes – liquorice, treacle and spice. Water softens the palate and the sweetness has become rather granulated sugar like. A bit simpler now though. Dry and quite tannic on the finish but pleasantly mouth-watering. Water lengthens and emphasises the salt and light peat.

 Scotch Malt Whisky Society 93.76 2005 (11 year old) ‘Beurre blanc and blue steak’ 61%

Re-charred ex-Bourbon Barrel/Dist: Mar 2005 Btl: 2016/ Oct 2017

The nose is light, herbal and gin-like with sweet toffee, brine and fish oils. Late Auchentoshan strawberry mousse note. Diluted it’s wonderfully juicy with orange/ Clementine notes.

The palate opens with Turkish delight, straw and alcohol! Hints of fish and brine. Water again makes it pleasantly juicy and citric. The finish is masked but subtly peppery. Water lengthens.

 Scotch Malt Whisky Society 93.22 1992 (14 year old) ‘A clean mechanic’ 61.1%

Sherry/ Dist: Mar 1992 Btl: Sept 2006/ Tasted: Sept 2007

A nose of leafy sherry cask, some sulphur followed by earth, orange fruit and hints of salt and seaweed. A drop of water reduces the sulphurous-ness but in doing so makes it a bit soapy.

The palate is rich and very fruity, coastal peat deftly intertwines with the cask. Unfortunately this is all marred by the sulphur. Water softens and brings out the wonderful bog myrtle peat and seaweed and gives it a break from the sulphur. Well it started off with promise and then ‘oh dear!’ Why was this bottled??

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 93.73 2001 (15 year old) ‘Seaside chillies with syrup’ 55.6%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Dist: Feb 2001 Btl: 2016/ Tasted: Oct 2017

A deep and malty nose with smoked meat and hints of salt, violets and fish oils. Chunky background oak. Water flattens but brings out some orange.

Full and rounded on the palate with lightly creamy oak and hints of apricot, fish oils and slightly gritty tannins. Water brings out the citrus and emphasises the toffee’d oak. Long and very fishy with a slight herbal, spirit note. In conclusion: The palate is better with a drop of water.

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 93.78 1992 (26 year old) ‘Like a vintage dessert wine’ 53.3%

Second Fill Oloroso Butt/ Dist: Mar 1992 Btl: 2017/ Tasted: Oct 2017

The nose is thick, dark and treacly with cinnamon, pepper, walnut, prune juice, violets, fish and dusty, mature oak. Now that’s a seriously aged rancio!

Full and treacly on the palate with burnt wood, maple syrup, sweet, plumy dried fruit, violets and hints of classically gritty sherry. Again that’s fabulously mature! Long, juicy and treacly with a touch of citrus, salt and fish. Subtle burnt wood after-taste.

Ian MacLeod Glen Scotia Tasting Notes

Ian MacLeod Dun Bheagan Glen Scotia 1977 (32 year old) 56%

Bourbon Hogshead 1691/ Dist: 1977 Btl: 2009/ Tasted: Nov 2010

Initially there doesn’t seem to be much to the nose. It’s quite fresh, given its age and slightly fruity. Yet… give it some time, some swirling and hard sniffing………. And lo…….. It’s fishy!!! A sort of combination of alcohol, kippers, fish roe and entrails! Followed by hints of sweet malt, dried fruit, coastal notes and finally some cardboard.

On the palate it is pretty much old oak and alcohol. The spirit has really tired and that cardboard note is definitely prevalent. Some late fishy and menthol notes try to salvage the situation.

A drop of water makes little difference to the nose, possibly emphasising the coastal character, whereas on the palate it really disappoints. It just lacks flavour or direction. Imagine candy coated fish with hints of spirity marc bolstered by some good oak. And that is about it.

I’d be amazed if anyone in their right mind would want to part with £144 for this poor excuse of a Glen Scotia. In fact for £20 less you can have the awesome 33 yearold from DewarRattray!

Ian MacLeod Dun Bheagan Glen Scotia 1975 (31 year old) 51.4%

Bourbon Cask 2191/ Dist: 1975 Btl: 2006/ Tasted:  Sept 2007

Very stinky, earthy, manure and decaying old rose petals. Reminiscent of Marc. My god it gets stinkier by the minute. Water brings out some fruit and an oiliness but doesn’t disguise the composting rose petals!

The palate is all about the delicate mature fruit intermingled with manure, decaying rose petals and earth!!!! If you like Marc then it’s heaven. If however delicate mature fruit coated in compost isn’t your thing, then best avoided

Duncan Taylor Glen Scotia Tasting Notes

Duncan Taylor Glen Scotia 1991 (19 year old) 57.6%

Bourbon Cask 71375/ Dist: May 1991 Btl: Apr 2010/ Tasted: Apr 2010

The nose opens with a waft of soft brine and soft botanical marc-like notes. As it gets into its stride the wonderful complexity of this dram becomes apparent, each time you put your nose into the glass a new aroma pop’s up – smoked meat, light peat smoke, bog myrtle, oat cakes, juicy orange fruit, honey, hints of parma violets and perfumed lavender water(?). The oak adds old toffee and hickory.

The palate begins like the nose with a soft briny quality followed by waxy, honeyed fruit and light peat smoke. It moves intoparmaviolet and soft botanical marc-like territory before an intense but brief hit of coal smoke clears the middle before the botanicals and herbal notes return. All the time the oak sits behind giving the malt a wonderful structure. Good length which leaves a salty, oat cake finish and the old wood notes on the after taste.

A drop of water emphasises the waxy fruit on the nose and the old polished wood. On the palate it becomes lighter, less complex and a lot sweeter, with the violets and lavender water becoming more noticeable and the old wood notes gripping the finish. A lovely old Campbeltown malt, that is best drunk neat.

Dewar Rattray Glen Scotia Tasting Notes

Dewar Rattray ‘Individual Cask Bottling’ Glen Scotia 1992 (17 year old) 59.4%

First Fill Sherry Butt No1 (part)/ Dist: Mar 1992 Btl: Oct 2009/ Tasted: Nov 2009

A big, luscious, leafy, sherry nose. A monster – yes! But….. The complexity and expansiveness of the cask along with the cleanliness is stunning. Pure Colombian with a rum like note, green olives, brandy butter, lavender, burnt toffee, chocolate coated raisins. Ok, so the distillery character is pretty swamped but it tries to fight back with a touch of brine and peat.

The palate is no surprise all cask. Leafy and tannic with liquorice, and coffee flavours to begin. A coastal astringency appears on the mid palate before the alcohol kicks in. However the fun is not curtailed. Dried Armagnac-esque fruit, sweet toffee, Christmas cake and a shed load of raisinated fruit sweep in. Superb purity. Stunning length with hints of cocoa powder on the finish.

Water doesn’t change the nose very much, maybe it’s slightly oiler and not so complex. The same goes for the palate, so again I would opt to take it neat. Hang on! Some peat has just wafted in! Ahh, now I’m getting the coal scuttle licking finish! Like I have said a hundred times before. For a sherry cask to get me excited it has to be good………. And this is!

Dewar Rattray ‘Individual Cask Bottling’ Glen Scotia 1977 (23 year old) 57%

Sherry Hogshead 985/ Dist: Apr 1977 Btl: May 2010/ Tasted: Aug 2010

Big, and juicy. These aromas are more Gascony than Campbelltown. A seriously complex nose of dried fruit – figs, prunes and raisins. This is definitelyArmagnac! However there is a gorgeous, earthy, salt encrusted venerable honey strata of phenomenal depth. This is so deep and so good it’s frightening. All rounded off with soft, gentle dried coriander, dry heather and a smidgen of liquorice.

Succulent, gentle and venerable. There’s no shortage of dried raisins, figs, runes along with hints of old walnuts and spices to die for. This is followed by a short, piquant burst of alcohol before on we go into mature honey and treacle toffee laced old exotic fruits. Good grief, this just keeps going on and on until it signs off with a tobacco/ coffee finale. Stunning, absolutely stunning and absolutely no need for water.

Dewar Rattray ‘Individual Cask Bottling’ Glen Scotia 1992 (19 year old) 59.6%

Sherry Butt No 2 (part)/ Dist: Mar 1992 Btl: May 2011/Tasted: Jun 2011

A gorgeous dark, mature, mellow sherried nose of walnuts seeped in prune juice with hints of liquorice, Seville orange, bog myrtle, light peat, malt extract assam tea and pure Tate & Lyle golden syrup. Seriously complex and very sumptuous.

The palate is soft and lusciously endowed opening like the nose with seeped walnuts as the oily tannins and alcohol builds. Wonderfully mature sherry, possibly PX, all dark, rich and malty with a maritime twist. Quite leafy and herbal on the middle with no shortage of malt extract. Great length with hints of bitter chocolate in the finish.

With a drop of water the nose displays more of the coffee, aged rancio and mellows the palate into a wonderful morass of gentle, yet robust mature walnutty, malty sherry. Another stunning cask of Glen Scotia!