Over to Campbeltown for this 11 year old drawn from a 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel. Oily & coastal profile.
Nose: An aromatic blend of tobacco and florals - sooty spent ash, mint and cut flowers. These sit with apricots, choux buns, white chocolate and sappy wood. With water, oranges were revealed, alongside liquor-like bitterness, hay and compressed strawberries.
Taste: The arrival delivers saltiness wrapped up in tropical fruits – mangos in particular. There’s still plenty of tobacco-like smoke alongside fruit tea infusions, chamomile, and almond brittle. Reduction added a hint of farmy cream cheese as well as heather and more outright smoky char.
Finish: Medium to long with orange tea and almonds.
Despite its 11 years, this Glen Scotia is surprisingly refined and elegant with plenty of fruit, delicate florals and fragrant wood smoke. Clearly a good cask at play here. Recommended.