Glen Scotia 13 Year (1991), SMWS 93.13 "Campbeltown Toast"
Whisky: Glen Scotia 13 Year (1991), SMWS 93.13 "Campbeltown Toast"
Country/Region: Scotland/Campbeltown
ABV: 63.7%
Cask: Oak
Age: 13 Years (Distilled April 1991, Bottled July 2004)
Nose: Maritime and peppery, spirited and raw, fruit punch, grilled mussels, citrus, driftwood, minerals.
Palate: Medium-bodied, raw and spirited, peppery, brine, cigarette butts, citrus, buttery at times, shellfish, camphor.
Finish: Medium to long with more cigarette butts on the beach, dry grass, sand, and hints of citrusy pineapple.
Score: 7 (81)
Mental Image: Shellfish Buffet on the Beach
Narrative & Notes: The aroma was immediately coastal and maritime with a big peppery spirit providing the fireworks. More subtle fruit punch and grilled mussels took shape with a spritz of lemony citrus. Hints of charred wood and tar lingered between bolder notions of bleached driftwood, sand, and seashells. Medium-bodied on the palate, the whisky was raw, punchy, spirited, and peppery— a lively affair that turned syrupier with time, or water. Salty brine and cracked pepper arrived with cigarette butts on the beach. Clams casino came to mind between the roiling brine, citrus, and buttery quality— more fruit punch and camphor lingered in the background. The finish was medium to long with more cigarette butts on the beach, dry grass, sand, and hints of citrusy pineapple.
By reputation, the quality of these early 90s Glen Scotia varies significantly, and some are quite eccentric. This was right in line with my previous encounter (SMWS 93.9), a similar coastal whisky with a bit more maritime depth. This was quite raw and unrefined, a punchy Campbeltown affair showcasing the maritime aspect of the malt with hints of something fruitier lingering deep within. I found the fruits much shyer the second time I poured it and the profile generally dirtier with more cigarette butts strewn in the beach sand.
During our local whisky club tasting, I ranked this as my second favorite of the evening, and most people placed it somewhere in their top three. As I revisited the whiskies this week, I found my impressions of the Glen Scotia had cooled.
