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Glen Scotia 15 Year Old

The other Campbeltown

5 680

@HewieReview by @Hewie

16th Apr 2020

1

Glen Scotia 15 Year Old
  • Nose
    ~
  • Taste
    ~
  • Finish
    ~
  • Balance
    ~
  • Overall
    80

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

Another day, another dram, another review. Since I love Campbeltown (well J A Mitchell & Co) I thought it best to try the 'other' Campbeltown whisky. I tried a mini 3 pack of Glen Scotia which included their Double Cask, Victoriana, and 15 year old. I like the 15 the best so I bought a full sized bottle. Now it's nearly gone, so...

Nose: fairly soft. Old books, burnt caramel, red berries, red apple skins, inside of a camphor wood box, marmalade, a little dusty, dried ginger, astringent - grapefruit pith, some very faint earthy peat

Palate: Thin mouthfeel. Spices, vanilla sweetness, watered down caramel, baking ginger, pine needles, some red berries, oak tannins and bitterness

Finish: spices warm the mouth, residual brown sugar sweetness, dry oakiness and bitter tannins, slight funk remains

All in all it has potential but it is fairly unremarkable. Yes it has a certain Campbeltown feel but it is all quite dialed back. Give me Springbank 10 any day over this.

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6 comments

@RianC
RianC commented

A timely review, @Hewie - I recently bought a bottle of this. Seems like reviews are either glowing or pretty 'meh'; I'd put yours firmly in the latter smile

I had a sample a while back and, while it didn't grab me like some do, I liked its discreet complexity and affableness. A bit like, say, Clynelish14 in that it isn't a loud or 'big' whisky but does what it does well. It'll be interesting to see how a full bottle progreses.

4 years ago 3Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound
OdysseusUnbound commented

Nice review. The notes sound more interesting that the score would suggest. Are the flavours in your bottle subdued or “quiet”?

4 years ago 1Who liked this?

@Hewie
Hewie commented

@OdysseusUnbound yeah I was able to find plenty in there but it all just seems very dialed back. I'm aware that I've been drawn to the bigger, bolder whiskies lately but I can still appreciate the subtleties of something more delicate. Honestly, this felt more like 40% rather than 46%. What I do like about it is this kind of austere character. Maybe 80 is a bit too harsh but looking back at what I gave Tali 10 and Bunna 12 I'm ok with that.

4 years ago 2Who liked this?

@Hewie
Hewie commented

@RianC Yeah I agree with all your thoughts and comments there. It has been the bottle I grab when I fancy a dram but don't want to contemplate it too much (so don't want to waste my better bottles). Opinion definitely seems polarised on this - some place it above Springbank 10 (I'm dumbfounded).

4 years ago 3Who liked this?

@BlueNote
BlueNote commented

@Hewie I’ve been wanting to try this one for a couple of years. Ralfy gave it a pretty glowing review and our good friend @markjedi1, who is notoriously tight with the points, gave it 88 and a very positive review. I appreciate your good honest review. I might still try it sometime, at the right price, but I wonder if they have changed something recently. I agree with you on one point though: when in doubt, Springbank 10.

4 years ago 3Who liked this?

@Hewie
Hewie commented

@BlueNote I suspect this is another which must suffer from a high degree of batch variation - but worth seeking out to try. I'd gladly have provided you with a sample if that was possible smiley

4 years ago 2Who liked this?