Once again a victory scotch from the duty-free store graces our doors. (It’s a victory because getting back home at 1 am after 14 hours of travel needs a drink). We have a special ‘town & year’ version of Glen Scotia, and sadly we don’t have a baseline with their malt to compare against as what we find here was less of a victory, and more of a loss at the end of a long day.
They have quite a lot to say, but before we let them speak we’ll say out peace. This is substandard, expensive, and overall – terrible.
What they Say: Box: “Glen Scotia Distillery was founded in 1832 and has been producing single malt whisky in the time-honoured manner since then. Throughout this time Campbeltown was known as the “Victorian Whisky Capital of the World”
Glen Scotia and Campbeltown whiskies are intriguing and appealing, reflecting the regional character of sea spray with hints of fruit and smoke.
A classic Campbeltown malt combining the finest American Oak casks with Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. Each cask is chosen for its character and is then married together in a combination known only to our malt master, resulting in a perfectly balanced single malt with the characteristic Campbeltown flavours of sea spray, rich spicy fruits and a background of gentle peat smoke.
Patience isn’t just a virtue, it’s an ingredient.
Bottle: Glen Scotia Distillery has been producing single malt whisky in the time-honoured manner at its historic distiller since 1832. Campbeltown thrived as a major whisky centre in the Victorian era and to celebrate the proud history Glen Scotia has produced Campbeltown 1832, which has hints of sea spray and smoke with subtle hints of fruit”
Taste: 5.0 – A bit of sweet and heat and there’s a bit of peat, but overall it’s shadowed by the sherry monster.
Aftertaste: 4.0 – It’s far too much of that sherry casking. There’s a bit of oak in there, but overall it just feels like a misstep.
Burn/Smooth: 3.0 – It does burn on the lips and throat, and there’s not a great deal of warmth either.
Aroma: 3.5 – You can smell the peat and the sherry finishing here. Sadly that sherry finishing is dominant and it’s not one of the more pleasant scotch smells.
Honesty: 3.5 – Sea spray and subtle fruit? Bah. The town of Campbeltown may have some honest history, but here all we get is the wood you threw that history into between the oak and Pedro Ximenez.
Mixability: 3.5
W/ Rocks: 3.5 – It only serves to accentuate the aspects of the whiskey there, and we’re the poorer for it.
Value: 2.0 – This is a travel exclusive, and it’s one better left in the airport, especially at that price.
Google Shop Average: $67
Website: http://www.glenscotia.com/
Reviewer Scores:
BuffaloJern: 3.0
Want to compare this spirit against our archives? Visit our statistics page.
Metric Score: 24.5/70 |+| Metric Average: 3.5 |+| Reviewer Average: 3.0
New to Honest Booze Reviews, or just wondering how we score? See our FAQ/Review Policy.
Final Thoughts: We’d be honest to say our depression at this whiskey was only saved by the well-scotch in our bar, but there it is. As always we’re willing to put the money up and try something new, and it makes it harder each time when we get bit. If there’s a lesson here it’s this. Much like bourbon barrel aged beer – you can do sherry casking, but you gotta do it right.
