An early release this year, exclusively to Unlocked Subscribers, of Glen Scotia's Campbeltown Malts Festival Limited Edition.
This year they've gone with a Heavily Peated 9yo finished in Ribera del Duero Red Wine
Iain McAlister, Glen Scotia's Master Distiller, describes it as:
"Our annual Limited Edition Festival Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottlings are intriguing, bold, and appeal to those looking to be wonderfully surprised. The 2025 Festival Release is no different. At Glen Scotia we only distil peated spirit for 6 weeks a year, making this release that extra bit special.
Starting its journey in first fill bourbon barrels, the distinctive maritime character unfolds with notes of creamy vanilla overlaid with rich peat smoke. The finish in Ribera del Duero red wine casks transforms the once tropical notes into red ripe fruit, juicy blackberry with a whisper of liquorice. The smoke intertwines with the fruit, wrapping each sip in a luxurious, velvety finish that lingers on the palate."
Heavily Peated spirit, distilled for only 4 weeks each year at Glen Scotia, has been matured for 9 years. The whisky is a vatting of casks matured for 8½ years in 100% first fill ex-bourbon casks with a 5 month finish in Ribera del Duero red wine casks from North West Spain.
Distillery info:
So let's see what it's like:
In celebration of the 2025 Campbeltown Malts Festival, we have released this exceptional heavily peated 9 year old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, with a 5 month finish in the finest Ribera del Duero red wine casks, from the most prestigious wine making region.
Cask Strength 54.3% ABV - Non Chill Filtered - Natural Colour
Nose: Swirling peat smoke, coastal salinity with creamy vanilla.
Palette: Vibrant juicy blackberries and red fruits with luscious oils.
Finish: Soft smoke with a velvet mouthfeel.
My thoughts:
Appearance: Light gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, bead up slowly to form an inverted crown and eventually fall as slow thick oily legs.
Nose: Sweet peat smoke, maritime salinity and a lovely sweet hedgerow berry compote note. A lovely balance between the three. A little caramel, brown sugar and liquorice. There's some dates and lemon hints here too.
Palate: thick oily and mouth coating, sweet peat, very dry - "robust" as Iain would put it!. Hints of liquorice, dates and lemon zest. Lots of peppery spice. It's juicy and fruity, but not getting a lot of berries.
Finish: Peat smoke, liquorice, salted caramel and lingering dry peppery spice.
Overall: It's a nice dram, typical heavily peated Glen Scotia with lots of salinity. Mouthfeel is lovely but I think the wine cask has delivered dry tannins and spice rather than berry notes. Not my favourite Festival release but it is better than the Rum Cask!
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| Photo: Mark @backforthewhisky.bsky.social |
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