Glen Scotia Unlocked Release No. 1

Completely out of the blue @GlenScotiaMalts  have launched a new community exclusively to it's newsletter subscribers:

And to start this community they've released an exclusive bottling!

"Glen Scotia Unlocked is a community for our loyal fan base and true whisky enthusiasts. As part of our community, members will have exclusive access to Unlocked releases, early access to limited edition releases, live tastings with our distillery team and behind-the-scenes stories from our Campbeltown home, Glen Scotia distillery."

Glen Scotia Unlocked will offer exclusive, hand selected single cask whiskies that will only be available to Glen Scotia Unlocked members, giving you the chance to acquire truly rare expressions that aren’t available anywhere else. 

The first release in this exclusive series is a 9 Year Old Exclusive Cask. Starting its life in first fill bourbon barrels, a true representation of Glen Scotia whisky, giving golden syrup, melted brown sugar complimenting our oily, maritime style. Finished for 3 years in first fill Tawny Port casks, the perfect marriage for our oily spirit but also paying homage to our history of cask usage. The Tawny Port casks transform our tropical fruit notes into summer berries, notes of candied orange with a wonderful ginger and clove spice on the finish."

Also announced was the appointment of Ashley Smith @whiskyashley as Master Blender for Glen Scotia. Ashley has worked at Loch Lomond Group for 5 years under the eye of Michael Henry and will not work alongside Distillery Manager Iain McAlister!

Let see what the distillery say:

                

Distillery notes: 

 

Release No.1 is the first in a series of exclusive releases to Glen Scotia Unlocked members, and what a better way to launch than with an Exclusive Cask of Glen Scotia Single Malt.

This 9 Year Old Exclusive Cask is an exceptional representation of Glen Scotia and limited to only 291 bottles. With a 3 year finish in first fill Tawny Port casks, this single malt is robust, oily, with ripe summer berries and melted brown sugar sweetness.

Tasting Notes: Layers of rich toffee and baked orange intermingle with ripe summer berries and melted brown sugar sweetness. There is candied ginger, juicy raisins and clove, ending on a warming oak spiciness.

Info: 2014 First Fill Tawny Port Hogshead, bottled at 9yo at 57.3% ABV, Natural colour, NCF, 291 bottles.

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

My thoughts:

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

Nose: Thick and meaty, almost sherry like. Loads of berries, cherries and citrus: blueberries, strawberries, red cherries, orange marmalade and salted lemons. There's a distant hint of smoke - cask char maybe? Time and air offer toffee chewing nuts, honey and a hint of spice to come.

Palate: Thick, sweet, oily arrival, it's all berries and cherries to start - with an immediate bite of ginger spice. Honey and brown sugar give sweetness, but this is offset by a tart berry note - gooseberries or sour blueberries. Spiced orange marmalade, thick cut and juicy add a lovely body to what Iain always calls 'robust spirit'! 

 

Finish: Lingering berries, orange zest and ginger spice..

 

Overall: A lovely dram, who doesn't like Glen Scotia finished in a Tawny Port Cask (Callum?) and a little unusual being unpeated - I'm not sure I can recall one like this before? A perfect mince pie accompaniment for a cold winter's evening but I'm not sure how many of these 291 bottles will ever be opened...

Huge congrats to Ashley on her new role!