Whisky : Glen Scotia 12 Year SMWS 93.148 “Tour de force”

Country/Region : Scotland/Campbeltown

ABV : 56.4%

Cask : Ex-Bourbon Hogshead (10Y), First Fill Port Hogshead (2Y)

Age : 12 Year (Distilled 29 Feb. 2009)

Nose : Smoke, maritime, and sweet licorice.  Barbecue smoke and oily grilled fish leapt out of the glass before salty notes of tide pools and chili prawns washed in.  Earthy and mineral notes came through as red dirt, ‘ahi belly, oil paints, and wet plaster.  Sweet red vines and licorice popped out with a few drops of water.

Palate :  Thick and syrupy, this tucked the tongue into bed with notes of barbecue char, red vines, and salt water pools.  Sweet barbecue sauce, hickory smoked salmon, caramelized onions, and char siu pork to start.  Further in were mineral notes of clay, oil paints, and watch oil.  Faint cleaning chemicals, paint, and fresh lumber brought to mind memories of high school musical stage construction.

Finish :  Lingering notes of melted red licorice candies and margarita salt.

Score : 7

Mental Image : Tiki Scene Stage Dress

Notes : I was a bit afraid this would be too sweet for my taste, but the rich waves of maritime smoke battled well against the heavy port influence.  Ultimately there was a truce between the flavors and the flavor profile came together in a show of flavor force rather mortal kombat.  The peat that shined on this reminded me more of Caol Ila and had some of the same forceful flavors as 53.325 “When two powerful pearls meet,” a 7 Year Caol Ila finished in a madeira cask.  

This Glen Scotia was as unique as usual and trying a bottle from the distillery always feels like opening a box of chocolates.  You do not always know what you are going to get, but at least so far I have never felt like I have lost.

Overall, this was a wonderful bold Glen Scotia with a bevy of meaty and mineral notes that almost verged on gaminess before tilting toward sweeter hints of candy and licorice.