Glen Scotia 2022 Seasonal Release - Amontillado Casks

Now on to it's third year @GlenScotiaMalts' Seasonal Release continues the theme of age statemented, cask strength, unpeated bottlings.

This years has been finished in Amontillado Sherry Casks - let's see what it's like...

This 2022 release is 95% unpeated and 5% medium peated spirit, matured for 11 - 11½ years in first fill bourbon casks. Parcels of the spirit were vatted together and filled into first fill Amontillado sherry butts for 12 months, emptied and vatted together before bottling.

I've talked about the different sherry styles before here, but lets do a quick recap on Amontillado:

"Amontillado (am-on-tee-ah-doh) sherry starts out as a Fino or Manzanilla and after it has been aged for a period of time under flor, it is fortified to a higher ABV to stop the flor from forming. From there the sherry is aged oxidatively, giving it some of those apple, citrus and salty notes but with more developed caramel, nut and marmalade notes too."

Let see what the distillery say:

                

Distillery notes:

Our Seasonal Release raises a toast to the tight-knit Campbeltown community that has helped Glen Scotia to prevail. We can think of no better emblem for that community spirit than our Campbeltown market cross, which has long been a meeting point for local celebrations. Like any good celebration, this is a dram that is best enjoyed when paired with good food and exceptional company.

This 12 year old unpeated spirit has been matured in first fill Bourbon barrels before a final twelve month finish in Amontillado Sherry Casks. The result is a warm, nutty dram with long lingering vanilla notes and a mildly dry finish. Subtle maritime nuances on the nose and palate transport you to Campbeltown, as if walking along on our harbour at Christmas time.

Natural colour and bottled at cask strength, it’s a true taste of our home

Nose:  Maritime notes of sea spray with sweet honey and caramel.

Taste:  Creamy vanilla and salted caramel, are balanced with warming spicy notes of cinnamon and nutmeg. 

Finish:  Long. A nutty finish with gentle warming cinnamon spice and a mildly dry finish.

Let's see what it's like....

Info: 12yo, 53.3% ABV, Natural colour, NCF, c14,000 bottles

Appearance: Dark gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line of beads which fall as slow thin oily legs.

Nose: Dried fruit, maple syrup and Battenberg cake to start. All the dark fruits are here raisins, currants, sultanas, figs, dates, black cherries and prunes - take your time you'll get them all! There's a strong salinity note here, keeping the Glen Scotia DNA front and centre. I know there is peat in the mixture but I can't get it on the nose. A little time and air offers toffee, milk chocolate and some hints of tropical fruit.

Palate: Thick oily arrival, immediately drying, balsamic vinegar with red berries: strawberries, blueberries - slightly different from the dark fruits of the nose. The Battenberg almond notes from the nose are joined by walnuts and brazils - chewy and dry. The salinity is here too and maybe a little hint of smoke, you could be on the quayside at Campbeltown! There's vanilla, a little tropical fruit, a hint of citrus and a bite of cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg as the liquid disappears leaving the mouth dry and tingling.

Finish: Long lingering berries, Christmas spices, nuts and dried fruit.

Overall: I described last years Heavily Charred casks and Oloroso as "Christmas in a glass" and I think this one takes over perfectly - less sweet toffee and more nutty. Perfect for a cold winter's night! Sip slowly in a comfy chair, I can't wait to try it with a mince pie, put your feet up you're ready for winter!

 

Geeky Stuff:

Previous Seasonal Releases:  

2020 : 11yo Sherry Double

2021 : 12 yo Heavily Charred & Oloroso

2022 : 12yo Amontillado