Glen Scotia 8 Year (2013) for K&L Cask 20/329-3
Whisky: Glen Scotia 8 Year (2013) for K&L Cask 20/329-3
Country/Region: Scotland/Campbeltown
ABV: 58.4%
Cask: Bourbon, First Fill Demerara Rum Finish
Age: 8 Years (Distilled 2013, Bottled 2022)
Nose: Maritime and mild, mellow brine, browned butter, starchy tropical fruit, hints of green banana, bruised mango, more tropical with time, hints of charred wood.
Palate: Medium-bodied, tropical, pineapple, passion fruit, maritime, subtly metallic, acidic fruits.
Finish: Medium-length and vibrant with tropical fruits, brine, and hints of malty-buttery pastry.
Score: 6
Mental Image: Chilled Fruits in the Palm Shade
Narrative & Notes: The aroma was maritime and mild, with a gentle briny sea breeze and a cooler full of chopped fruit. Browned butter and hints of caramel paired with starchy roasted plantain and breadfruit while green banana sat further in the background. More tropical fruits emerged with time or a few drops of water; bruised mango, guava, and cherries arrived with more subtle notions of lime zest and charred wood. Medium-bodied, the palate was richer than the nose let on, as tropical fruit took a more central role from the beginning. A subtle maritime salt and mineral quality drifted under bruised, slightly overripe tropical fruits— pineapple, mango, passionfruit, and soursop. The acidity of the fruit lifted up more of the mineral and almost metallic notes, giving the impression of a tinned fruit cocktail. The finish was medium-length and vibrant with tropical fruits, brine, and hints of malty-buttery pastry.
Anytime I taste a Glen Scotia I wonder if I should skip posting a review lest it contribute somehow to the emergence of a Glen Scotia hype machine. That does not seem to be happening any time soon, but it can be hard to figure out where the herd, or hype, will move next. I know I am not the only one secretly hoping that my favorite distilleries remain just a little bit under the radar of collectors, investors, flippers, and all manner of boogiemen we blame, rightly or not, for price and availability pain.
While the aroma hinted that this might be a peated Glen Scotia, my favorite being their heavily peated malt, the flavor profile had not even a whiff in that direction. I was surprised at just how restrained the aroma came across. It was richer with time, though I found in my experiments that too much time left it feeling a bit washed out. Even when the aroma lacked vibrancy, the flavor profile remained rich and tangy with ample tropical fruit. The rum cask helped elevate the already tropical and fruity nature of the Glen Scotia malt, though I wished there was more depth to be found.
Overall, a delight; it is hard to beat K&L’s single-cask program for the diversity of whiskies they acquire. I am not a rum drinker, so I always feel I am missing something with these rum finishes and maturations.
