Meandering the world, one whisky at a time

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Whisky of the Week review and tasting notes for whisky from the Campbeltown region in Scotland.  Campbeltown  is a town and former royal burgh in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies by Campbeltown Loch on the Kintyre peninsula.  Distilleries include Glen Scotia, Springbank and Glengyle.

Glen Scotia Dunnage Tasting Set

Glen Scotia dunnage tasting headerIt has been a challenging year so far. Between covid lock downs, online school and alcohol bans, it feels like we are all trapped in a recurring dream. However, now and again, the year has an unexpected highlight to break the monotonous rhythm.

One of these unexpected moments came when I got the opportunity to sample the Glen Scotia Dunnage tasting 2021 set.

A pack of 5 Glen Scotia single malt releases was specially selected for Glen Scotia’s distillery online festival. Master Distiller Iain McAlister chose five drams from specially-selected casks within the warehouse for people worldwide to experience.  The spirit spent time in bourbon casks and was then finished in 1st-fill bourbon, port or oloroso.

Glen Scotia is situated in the small Campbeltown whisky region on the Kintyre peninsula in Scotland. Once this region was once the premier whisky-producing region in the world. At one point in time, Campbeltown was home to over thirty whisky distilleries.

Glen Scotia dunnage tasting set

But less than forty years later, Campbeltown became a prime example of the fragility of the whisky industry. By the 1920s, the heavy smoky/oily Campbeltown style that had come to define the region’s whisky was out of fashion. Due to Prohibition and the Great Depression, export was down. Only Springbank and Glen Scotia remained to represent the Campbeltown style on the whisky stage.




The Glen Scotia Dunnage Tasting Review

Glen Scotia dunnage tasting

Glen Scotia Double Cask Whisky

I wrote about the Double Cask before. Released in 2015, the Double Cask single malt is matured in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels and then finished in ex-Pedro Ximénez sherry casks for up to 12 months. A great dram available in South Africa and retails for around R780.

Glen Scotia dunnage tasting set 1

Glen Scotia 1st Fill Bourbon 2015 – Cask 1535 whisky

First up was a single malt whisky from a 1st fill bourbon cask (Cask1535) at a whopping 60.5% ABV. It was distilled in 2015 and bottled in 2021.

NOSE: Grassy freshness, peaches, caramel, vanilla and oak. Rich and fruity.

PALATE: Bit of alcohol heat, warming oak spices, pepper, cinnamon, vanilla, butterscotch, creme brulee with pear. A bit of water softens the pepper spices and makes it very accessible and drinkable.

FINISH: Long and lingering. Just lovely!

RATING: EXCELLENT

Glen Scotia Refill/1st Fill Bourbon 1999 – Cask 257 Whisky

Next was a dram that first aged in refill bourbon and was then finished in 2st fill bourbon. Cask2018/257/2, distilled 1999 and bottled 2021. Another huge ABV of 59%.

NOSE: A more prominent nose. Charred wood, vanilla, oak, brandied fruit, Christmas cake, winter spices with burnt caramel.

PALATE: Toasted oak, pepper (more than the previous cask), Christmas cake, bits of leather and honey.  Rich and oily. Water softens pepper notes.

FINISH: Long and lingering with notes of dry oak and honey sweetness.

RATING: EXCELLENT

 

Glen Scotia dunnage tasting set 2

Glen Scotia Refill Bourbon/1st Fill Oloroso 2002- Cask 618 Whisky

This single malt Scotch release was aged in refill bourbon and then finished in 1st fill oloroso sherry casks. Cask no 2019/618/81, distilled 2002 and bottled 2021.  It has an ABV of 58.7%.  A beautiful copper colour.

NOSE: Condensed milk sweetness with cherry pie, salted caramel and honeycomb.

PALATE: Drying oak, cherries and pepper with a ripe orange sweetness. Big and bold with lots of complex fruity notes with peaches and dried fruit. Here you can easily pick up the salinity from the coast. However, water kills the complexity and dulls the dram. Not a whisky for beginners. It is an after-dinner or evening sipping drink. Delicious but not easy drinking.

FINISH: Medium with dried fruit and spices.

RATING: EXCELLENT

Glen Scotia Refill Bourbon/1st Fill Ruby Port 2002- Cask 609 Whisky

The colour of the ruby port whisky was just glorious.  It reminds me of a bright red sunset.  This sample is from cask no 2019/609/80 distilled in 2002 and bottled in 2021. It is from a refill bourbon cask and finished in 1st fill ruby port.  Another big ABV at 53.8%.

NOSE: Red fruits, cherries, plums, nectarines. The fruitiest nose from all four samples.

PALATE: Cream covered red summer fruit salad. The port notes come through big and bold.  Not as spicy as the other samples. Drying oak with hints of salinity in the background. Bits of cinnamon and faint vanilla.

FINISH: Fruity long and lingering

RATING: EXCELLENT

Each of these individual Glen Scotia Dunnage drams spent time in bourbon casks first and was then finished in other casks. It allows you to better see the impact of the finishing casks on the whisky from both a colour and a taste perspective. A wonderful experiment of sorts that shows what a difference the various finishing casks make.

They are all excellent drams. It took us a while to choose a favourite, but in the end, we both agreed that the first one (1st fill bourbon cask Cask1535) was our favourite dram, followed quickly by the last one (finished in 1st fill ruby port cask 609).

Sample disclosure: I received this whisky from Glen Scotia. The review and tasting notes are my own honest, fair and independent thoughts about the whisky.

Also Read: Nikka from The Barrel Whisky

How to start a whiskey club

Start a whisky club header

Whiskey is a spirit that brings people together. It gets people talking and having fun. It is an experience to be shared, to learn about, and to enjoy. However, exploring new whisky can be difficult in today’s economic climate. With rising food prices and fuel costs, whisky has become a luxury item. But there’s a solution: start a whiskey club! 

A whiskey club is where you and like-minded friends can taste and learn together, making quality whiskey more affordable. For example, if each of 7 members contributes $15 per month, you have $105 monthly to spend on different whiskey. With this budget, you can enjoy 1 or 2 exquisite drams every month.

Start a whisky club Some glasses

1. Start a Whiskey Club

1.1 Chat with your friends

Gather friends interested in whiskey, aiming for a club of 7 to 12 members. Establish ground rules for a positive experience and create a private communication channel, like a Facebook group or WhatsApp list, for easy information sharing.

1.2 Choose a name for your whiskey club

Select a name that defines your group, reflecting your identity. Be creative, and it could be linked to your locality or a shared interest.

1.3 Define your monthly contributions

Agree on a fixed monthly contribution; this makes budgeting easier. Even as low as $15 per month can work well, as great whiskey doesn’t have to be expensive.

1.4 Plan your venue and meeting time

Select a date and time that accommodates everyone, such as a Friday evening. Find an easily accessible venue, which could rotate among members’ homes or a central location.

1.5 Define a format

Ensure your meetings have structure and learning opportunities. Designate a leader for each event responsible for research, buying whisky, and hosting the tasting. Rotate this role to share the workload and promote learning.

The preparation can include the history of the distillery, information about the specific release as well as notes on food pairings.




2. What else you will need

2.1 Glassware

Some people will have strong opinions on what glasses you need for a whiskey tasting. Use what you have initially, but look for small tulip-shaped wine glasses as you progress. Getting glasses branded in your whiskey club’s name is a fun touch.

2.2 Tot measure

2.3 Water

Have room temperature water for adding to whiskey and cleansing the palate. We taste the whiskey first without water and then with a few drops of water. Water allows more of the flavours to open up.

The one thing we never add when tasting is ice. Ice makes the molecules contract, and you don’t taste all the aspects of the whiskey. Keep the ice for the hotter days when you are out just enjoying but not for tasting.

2.4 Tasting sheets

Standardized tasting sheets allow you to write down your impression of the whiskey you taste. Print them out or share them with the team so that they can bring a new tasting sheet to every session.

Some information to include on a tasting sheet can  include:

  • Distillery name
  • Whiskey Region
  • Bottling information (ABV, Year distilled, Age, Cask type)
  • Tasting notes including colour, nose, palate and finish
  • Comments
  • Rating

3. Start a whiskey club: Your first meeting

Ensure all members share a basic understanding of whiskey. Use the first meeting to discuss how whiskey is made and the fundamentals of whiskey tasting, utilizing online resources for guidance. There are some great resources available such as:

Start a whisky club people sharing a drink

4. Choosing whisky to taste

Plan your whiskey selection based on your budget and members’ preferences. Decide whether to buy one expensive whiskey or a few medium-priced options. Create a tasting schedule in advance, considering different types of whiskey.

Start by making a list of some interesting whiskies. Look at the various regions and countries available. For example: Month 1 you taste Speyside whisky from Scotland, month 2 you try an American whiskey aged in wine barrels, month 3 it is time for a few rye releases.

During month 4 you can explore some bourbon, while month 5 looks towards Scottish Islay and you can try some heated and unseated expressions from there.

Leverage online resources like the Whizzky App, which offers recommendations and a platform to track your club’s whiskey journey.

Who many whiskies should you taste per session? That depends on you and your club. We don’t taste more than 3 drams at a session. But that is just us. However, remember your taste buds stop working after a couple of drams. So anything after your 5th whisky, you probably do not taste properly anymore.

5. Start a whiskey club: The process

Adapt the process to suit your club. Start with the leader sharing insights about the distillery, region, and the specific bottling. Then proceed with the following suggested steps:

  • Do not rush the tasting; take your time to savour each whiskey. 
  • Pour out a measure of whiskey for everyone.
  • Start with the tasting sheet. Complete the basic info around region etc.
  • Look at the colour. Dark or light, what does the colour remind you of?
  • Nose the whiskey and see what flavours you can identify?
  • Then take a small sip (at last) and roll the liquid around in your mouth. What do you taste?  What does it remind you of?  Add a bit of water.  Try it again. Is there a difference in the taste? Fill out the tasting notes on the tasting sheet as you go along.

When everyone has tasted the whisky, it is time to chat. See what other people smelled and tasted. Go back and taste some more.

Let the glass stand a bit and try it again. Proceed through your lineup of whiskies and if you’re lucky there’s some leftover to go back and have a 2nd glass.

Enjoy the company of like-minded friends and a good whiskey. The rest of the night is up to you!

6. Drinking & Driving 

Prioritize safety. Never drink and drive; use ride-sharing services like Uber or Taxify, designate a sober driver, or take a taxi. Ensure everyone in your club gets home safely.

Starting a whiskey club is a fantastic way to enjoy this delightful spirit, expand your knowledge, and create lasting memories with friends. So, gather your fellow whiskey enthusiasts and embark on this exciting journey of discovery and camaraderie. Cheers to your whisky club adventure!

This article was also published on LinkedIn.



Glen Scotia 15 year old Whisky

Review and tasting notes Glen Scotia 15 yo single malt whisky My second blog post on  the Glen Scotia miniatures. I found this at the back of my cupboard while cleaning my whisky room. Last time I looked at the Victoriana whisky and today I look at the Glen Scotia 15 year old single malt Scotch whisky.

Glen Scotia Victoriana Whisky

Review and tasting notes Glen Scotia Victoriana Single Malt whiskyA long story to get to my whisky this week; the Glen Scotia Victoriana single malt Scotch whisky.  Winter is not my favourite time of the year.  I love the summer. When it is warm, I can move, plan, function and do things.

During winter, all I want to do is hibernate until the temperature rises again. But being in hibernation does not lead to getting things done, so winter I try to use as a time to restructure, refocus and clean.

Preparing and cleaning, so that when Spring comes, I can shrug off the old and start something fresh and new. As part of the process, I started sorting and cleaning my ‘whisky room’; the room where I store my liquor bottles. Whisky, wine, gin, brandy and all the assorted liqueurs that we gathered over the years.

I updated my database with what I have and cleaned out old boxes and paperwork that seems to gather there. And lo and behold, I found a small box with some samples in that I have not officially tasted yet. The box was from a Loch Lomond function I attended a couple of years ago.

Also ReadInchmurrin 11 yo Single Cask Whisky

Two of the drams I have tasted and written about. But there was a few more that I have not covered yet. So, over the next couple of months, expect to see a few Glen Scotia releases popping up for tasting.

The first one I want to try is the Glen Scotia Victoriana whisky. I just love the name and the label. The label reminds me of that dying hobby of stamp collection. So it is making the first appearance.

The name and the label is a reminder of the Victorian era when Campbeltown was a booming whisky hub. The small Kintyre Peninsula boasted over 20 distilleries. Campbeltown was known as “The Whisky Capital of the World.” Then Prohibition hit and Speyside and the Highlands became more dominant and this caused the end of the of Campbeltown golden era.

I had written about the history of Campbeltown and Glen Scotia when I captured my tasting notes for the Glen Scotia Double Cask, The Loch Lomond Original release as well as the Loch Lomond Single Grain whisky.

The Glen Scotia Victoriana single malt aims to re-create a modern interpretation of classic Victorian Campbeltown malt. The Victoriana is a NAS release and has been finished in deeply charred oak casks and bottled at cask strength without filtration.




Glen Scotia Victoriana Whisky Review

Review and tasting notes Glen Scotia Victoriana Single Malt whisky glass

REGION: Campbeltown

ABV:  51.5%

COLOUR: Golden wheat with hints of green

NOSE: A very delicate nose. It’s got light cereals with hints of floral character in it. Toasted oak and smoke, bits of overripe summer berries, vanilla, toffee apple sweetness mixed with winter spices.

PALATE: On the palate, it’s different from other expressions. It starts quite spicy then quickly settled down. The first sip has lots of  oak dryness, dried citrus peel, cinnamon, pepper and vanilla.

The second sip brings fruit jam with malted biscuits and salted toffee with faint hints of smoke. The Victoriana has a medium body, and a bit of an alcohol bite and water brings down the heat. Water also releases more fruit and vanilla spiciness but tempers the salt and smokiness.

FINISH: The finish is remarkable and the highlight of the Victoriana. It builds quickly and warms your insides before slowly retreating to leave you satisfied long after you have swallowed. The addition of water tames the finish a bit. It ends in hints of chocolate and smoke with lemon peel and oak.

RATINGEXCELLENT

The oaky spiciness of the Victoriana whisky can be a bit overwhelming. But you just need to take a second sip for the ripe summer berries, vanilla and smoky notes to come through. It is an exciting release that is certainly worth trying. From all the Campbeltown releases I have tried, this is my favourite.

In a few weeks, I will feature the Glen Scotia 15 yo, and perhaps that will also impress. We will have to wait and see. For now, I need to get my hands on a full-size Victoriana as this little sample was not enough.

Also Read: The Arran Malt Sherry Cask Whisky

Glen Scotia Double Cask Whisky

Glen Scotia Double Cask Whisky headerToday I look at  a whisky from a whisky region that almost disappeared. The Glen Scotia Double Cask single malt Scotch whisky is from Campbeltown. Around a century ago Campbeltown was the most prolific of all of Scotland’s whisky regions.

There were more than 20 distilleries in the small geographic whisky region. It dwindled to just 3. One of the reasons for the decline was the fact that most distilleries in the Campbeltown region had a strong focus on quantity instead of quality.

Thanks to strong international demand,  the Campbeltown distilleries could quickly sell their entire output.  There was little need to innovate or improve the whisky. Then Prohibition was introduced in the USA, and the demand declined sharply.  

Today there are three distilleries in the Campbeltown Region:  Springbank, GlenGyle (Kilkerran) and Glen Scotia. Campbeltown whiskies are a mixed bag of flavours. Their characteristics include a dryness with a pungency, smoke and saltiness.

Imagine a cross between the Lowlands and the Western Highlands with a pinch of salt thrown in.  Campbeltown sits on the Mull of Kintyre Peninsula protruding from the western coast.




Glen Scotia Distillery was founded in 1832 by Stewart, Galbraith and Co and remained in the family until 1919.  It  changed ownership various times and spent some years closed down. After years of opening and shutting down, some stability arrived in 2000 when the Loch Lomond Group bought the distillery.

Glen Scotia Double Cask is a single malt, which has no age statement and is matured in oak barrels then finished in a combination of American 0ak barrels followed by time in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. The Glen Scotia Double Cask won a gold medal at the 4th Annual Berlin International Spirits Competition in 2017. 

Also ReadCheckers Private Barrel Co No 68 whisky

Glen Scotia Double Cask Whisky Review

Review and tasting notes Glen Scotia Double Cask single malt whisky with glassREGION: Campbeltown

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Reddish copper

NOSE: Sweet red berries and rich dark fruits. There are notes of freshness associated with fresh-cut flowers and honey with hints of vanilla.  In the background some dark bitter chocolate.

PALATE: More of the red berries and fruity sweetness with burnt toffee sweetness. The Glen Scotia Double Barrel is  quite spicy with woody hints and a medium body. Over time the palette changes to mild citrus and black pepper.

Without water, it has a bit of an alcohol burn. Adding a few drops of water softens the burn. However, it feels like the water separates the elements and the fruity sweetness becomes overwhelmed by the pepper spices.

FINISH: Pepper and berries of the forest.

RATING: VERY GOOD

The Glen Scotia Double Cask is not the most complex dram, and the peppery nature nearly overwhelms the fruity sweetness. The Sherry cask also comes through more noticeable than the Bourbon cask. It is a great whisky if you like a more peppery bite. I have a sweet palate and prefer something sweeter and fruity.

However, I wonder how this pepper nature will work with a mature cheese? I suspect, it might make for a great pairing.  Hmmm,  let me go and experiment again.

Another Glen Scotia release I have tried and liked was the Victoriana as well as the Glen Scotia 15 yo whisky.  The Glen Scotia Double Cask was also included in the Glen Scotia Dunnage tasting set that I wrote about.

Also Read: McCarthy’s Oregon Whiskey

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