Glen Scotia Icons of Campbeltown Release 2 - 14yo Peated Barolo Cask

Glen Scotia is one of the last three working distilleries surviving in Campbeltown, which at one time rivalled Speyside for the number of distilleries and output of whisky. The distillery was founded in 1832 by Stewart Galbraith, whose family held it until the end of that century.

Since then it has changed hands several times,including a spell of ownership in the 1950s by Hiram Walker (who also owned Scapa). Glen Scotia has been owned by Loch Lomond Distillers since 1996.

The distillery is said to be haunted by one of its previous owners, Duncan MacCallum, who drowned himself in Campbeltown Loch in 1930 after realising he had beentricked out of a fortune in a dodgy business deal. Stylistically, Glen Scotia is medium-bodied, with faint traces of smoke and a hint of brine.

Icons of Campbeltown Release 2 - 14yo  Peated Barolo Cask

Release 2; Distillery fires were not an uncommon occurrence in Campbeltown’s Victorian whisky making heyday, claiming a number of the town’s distilleries just as dragons of children’s tales devastated villages and castles. However hard times certainly have a way of pulling the distilling community together, much like on December 17th, 1899 when Glen Scotia along with heroic community members fought a fierce blaze at Dalintober distillery and saved it from an early fate. You’ll find no living saints or dragon slayers in Campbeltown, just a community who endures against the odds by virtue of its prevailing spirit of unity.

This peated release has been aged for 14 years and finished for six months in ex-Barolo red wine casks, adding a unique depth to its flavour profile. Bottled at batch strength 56.8% abv, it is non-chillfiltered and presented in its natural colour, offering a taste of Glen Scotia’s craftsmanship.

Tasting Notes

From the website:

"As silky as dragon’s fire and as bold as our community spirit. Decadently smoky with hints of fiery red candied fruits and berries, the finish is long with a dry spicey end note. A subtle maritime salinity leaves no question which distillery this limited edition hails from."

Nose: Decadent waves of smoke greet the senses, followed by aromas of fiery red candied fruits and wild berries, delivering a vibrant and alluring bouquet.

Palate: The palate is rich and bold, with layers of sweet, smoky red fruits and a hint of maritime salinity that reminds you of Campbeltown’s coastal location. The influence of the Barolo cask imparts a unique fruit-forward sweetness balanced by the peat's gentle earthiness.

Finish: The finish is long and satisfying, with a dry, spicy end note that lingers, leaving subtle traces of smoke and salt on the palate.