Review by: The Muskox

This is the third SMWS Glen Scotia that Tim has poured me to date, and they’ve all been completely different from one another. This seems to be one of those lightly-to-moderately peated Glen Scotias.

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Distillery: Glen Scotia.

Bottler: Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

Region: Campbeltown.

ABV: 59.9%. Cask strength

Age: 8 years. Distilled March 16th 2012. Bottled in 2020.

Cask type: First-fill bourbon barrel.

Price: N/A, sample.

Color: White wine. Natural Color. Non-chill-filtered.

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Nose: Sweet and malty, with an edge of greazy smoke. Salty-nutty notes of roasted almonds and old cheddar. Orange wedges and candied lemon peel. Quite coastal, slightly effervescent. It almost reminds me of Octomore, though obviously not as peaty. Salty, smoked salmon. Pickled jalapenos and onions.

Palate: Light texture. Arrives with fragrant hay smoke, salty plantain chips, and grilled pork chop. Sweet ginger. Earthy and savoury on the development – refried beans?? Sourdough bread, smoked peppers, light soot, and muddy wellies (the label is right!). A hint of coconut. Ocean bitterness.

Finish: Medium-short and fairly bitter. Coastal, mineral, chipotle and poblano peppers. Pineapple Mike & Ikes (do those exist?), green apple skins, and orange peel. Smoky chocolate, charcoal, and beach mud. Quite Ardmore-like.

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Possible SMWS bottling name: “Go commit burrito”

Conclusion: What a neat whisky! That nose really is Octomore-ish, though the palate and finish are really nothing like Octomore. There’s great complexity, lovely malty sweetness, and loads of interesting savoury and smoky notes. Refried beans is a new one. It’s almost like if one of those unpeated Caol Ilas was, uh, peated. Apparently, some of these smoky Scotias have a reputation for pickled funkiness and weird tart peat. I completely get that here, but I also love it.

Final Score: 86.

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Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
• 50-59: Save it for mixing.
• 0-49: Blech.