
September 8, 2016

Little duets, today Glen Scotia 1992

Always interesting to try this Campbeltowner that’s living in the shadows of the glorious Springbank (and affiliated names and distilleries).

Glen Scotia 23 yo 1992/2016 (53.3%, Maltbarn, bourbon, 144 bottles)

Maltbarn are kings of handpicked micro-bottlings. Okay, say mini-bottlings – talking about the outturns of course. Colour: pale gold. Nose: hyper acrid and grassy, sharp, blade-y, almost bitter and a little fermentary. It’s a singular style that reminds me of some of the most fashionable French whites these days (Valette, Ganevat, others…) Excuse me? Yes, I like mucho. With water: added notes of broken branches and ultra-fresh sawdust (in a forest, not at a carpenter’s). Mouth (neat): ultra-punchy, lemony, peppery, and grassy. Smashes you a bit but that’s good. With water: becomes a little chalky, and perhaps a notch medicinal. Is that iodine? Lovely herbal/bitter profile. Finish: very long and sharp. Campari without any sugar and at high strength. A sweeter lemony side balances that in the aftertaste. Comments: I hate to write this kind of thing but it’s probably not for beginners, but if you like rather extreme malts without any peat or sherry, this is for you. SGP:361 – 87 points.

Glen Scotia 1992/2015 (53.6%, Liquid Treasures, bourbon hogshead, Charlie edition, 214 bottles)

Could have been the same cask, but colours are pretty different. Probably from the same parcel of casks, though. Dave Broom and Charlie MacLean are on the label. Colour: straw. Nose: well, it’s even more extreme, and this time what we’re getting is rather mineral sulphur (native) and artichoke, then bicycle inner tube and raw malt. With water: more inner tubes and new tyres. Not exactly rubber, mind you. Mouth (neat): raw mineral lemons, chalk, lime, more artichoke, Cynar, a touch of antiseptic… Indeed, this is very singular and totally un-modern. With water: swims like an un-doped Olympic champion. Water puts everything into place and enhances the lemony side. That’s cool. Finish: long, rather cleaner, and kind of more civilised. Comments: I like these wee feelings of ‘dirty’ distillation. Un-commercially characterful. SGP:362 - 86 points.

Check the index of all Glen Scotia I've tasted so far