Glen Scotia Double Cask Review
In-Depth Review
Enthusiasts know there are 5 whisky regions in Scotland. But most would be hard pressed to name more than one distillery from the fabled Campbeltown region. Once a powerhouse of whisky production with more than 30 different distilleries, Campbeltown has seen more than 90% its former production houses shuttered. Nowadays, the region is best known for Springbank distillery – producer of Longrow, Hazelburn, and Springbank whiskies. But further down the road lies another distillery, Glen Scotia, which is steadily producing excellent bottles that can easily slip under the radar, even for the most seasoned whisky connoisseurs.
Founded in 1832, Glen Scotia has had a tumultuous history of repeated closures, multiple owners, and even ghostly hauntings. But despite this, Glen Scotia has built a strong reputation under the current ownership of Loch Lomond and now producers a core range of whiskies that include 10, 15, 18, and 21 year variants in addition to today’s Double Cask expression. Glen Scotia Double Cask is one of their entry level bottlings, retailing for around $55, is bottled at 46% and features non-chill filtration. It’s matured in first fill bourbon casks before finishing for 12 months Pedro Ximenez casks. Despite Glen Scotia’s small production capacity, this Double Cask expression remains relatively easy to find. So, is it worth grabbing a bottle and exploring a bit of one of Scotland’s most under the radar whisky regions? Let’s dive in and find out.
Age: Non-Age Stated
ABV: 46%
Cask: First Fill Bourbon Casks then finished in PX Sherry Casks
MSRP: Around $55
Distillery Name: Glen Scotia
Review Date: 1/3/25
Color: Dull Gold
Nose: The nose starts off with notes of lemon, honeysuckle, and walnut before green apple, warm mulled wine, and poached pears pop to the forefront. There’s a nice building warmth and a dense oaky undertone that make this dense layered nose.
Palate: The palate has a strong minerality that can border on effervescent. Notes of spiced wood, sea air, and salted caramel can make the tongue tingle before dropping into deeper notes of orange cola, wood oil, and spice. It features a strong, viscous mouthfeel with a building heat that successfully straddles the border between delightful and hot.
Finish: Medium length finish full of clove, white pepper, and a lingering sherry sweetness.
Final Thoughts: Truthfully, I changed the score on this multiple times while writing this review. The more sips I took, the more I enjoyed Glen Scotia’s Double Cask. It’s hard to imagine this as an “entry” whisky as it punches above its price point and puts more expensive expressions from the big brands to shame. From the warm and inviting nose, through the excellent finish, this Double Cask release is a winner across so many fronts. If you’re looking to branch out to the Campbeltown region of Scotch whisky – start here. It’s probably the best “entry” level whisky of any brand in scotch.
