Glen Scotia 25 year old Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky 48,8%

No sherry. Not a single sherry cask in twenty-five years. That is an unusual call for a whisky of this age, where most distilleries reach for oloroso to add depth — here the bourbon wood has been left to work the whole way, and the whisky only woken at the end.

The expert's description

Glen Scotia 25 Year Old is a Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in refill bourbon casks with a twelve-month finishing period in 1st fill bourbon casks, bottled at 48.8%.

For most of its life the whisky sits in used bourbon casks, where the wood gives slowly and lets the distillery character lead. In the final year it moves into 1st fill casks, which add fresh vanilla and lift to a whisky that would otherwise have turned very dry. It is a move that demands good timing — too little and nothing happens, too much and the twenty-five years get covered over.

Twenty-five years is where Glen Scotia starts to resemble something other than itself. The maritime character is still present, but it has become brine and an ashy smoke note rather than fresh sea air. This is the oldest permanent bottling in the distillery range.

Tasting notes

Nose

Lemon and ginger first, then pine resin and a trace of sea salt. After a couple of minutes it develops towards banoffee pie and maple syrup, with leather and cocoa underneath.

Palate

Luscious and smooth. Big orchard fruit notes, honey and malt, with a discreet spice and a hint of ashy smoke. The 48.8% gives weight without making it hard.

Finish

Long and drying. A wisp of smoke, brine and peppery oak that lingers well after the fruit has gone.

Specifications

Name: Glen Scotia 25 Year Old Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky 48.8%
Distillery: Glen Scotia
Region/Country: Campbeltown, Scotland
Type: Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 25 years
ABV: 48.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill bourbon casks with twelve months in 1st fill bourbon casks
EAN no.: 5016840161226

Flavour profile

Maritime · Fruity · Lightly peated · Dry · Honeyed

Investment potential

Medium. Twenty-five year old Campbeltown whisky exists in very small numbers, because the region has only three working distilleries and stocks from the 1990s were thin. The bottling is also the oldest permanent release in the distillery range, which makes it a natural reference point for collectors of the region.

Did you know?

Loch Lomond Group bought Glen Scotia in 2014 and has invested heavily in the site since — greater production, new warehouses and a visitor centre. It is the first time in more than a century that the distillery has had an owner able to build rather than merely survive.

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Frequently asked questions about Glen Scotia 25 Year Old

Is it worth the money?

Look at how little old Campbeltown whisky exists at all. The region has three distilleries, and through the 1990s Glen Scotia ran at minimal production, so twenty-five year old casks are a narrow stock. Add a cask build with no sherry, which is unusual in that age bracket.

Why are there no sherry casks at all?

Because sherry would have covered what twenty-five years has built. Bourbon casks give more slowly and more neutrally, so the salty, malty core of the distillery can develop without competition. It is a more honest but also riskier way to make old whisky.

What does the final year in 1st fill casks do?

It gives the whisky a last shot of vanilla and freshness before bottling. After many years in used casks a whisky can turn dry and a little tired, and those twelve months in new wood lift it again without changing the base profile.

Is there smoke in it?

A little, but not from peat in any quantity. The smoke note is ashy and dry and comes as much from the old wood and the maritime character of the spirit as from peated malt. See the other Scottish styles in our Scotch Whisky selection.

How should it be drunk?

Neat, unhurried, in a tulip-shaped glass. Give it at least fifteen minutes — twenty-five year old whisky needs air to open, and the profile shifts markedly along the way. Water is not necessary at 48.8%.

How does it taste compared with the 21 year old?

Drier and more ashy. The 21 has oloroso in the build and comes out perfumed and spiced, while the 25 goes the other way: citrus, resin, brine and smoke. They are two quite different expressions of the same distillery.

Is it a good choice for a special occasion?

Yes. It is the oldest permanent bottling from the distillery, it is not easy to source, and the profile is complex enough to carry a whole evening. If it is to be shared, bear in mind that it needs time and attention to show its best side.