Glen Scotia 11 Year Old 2008 Single Cask Selection #18/353-1

Here we have a single cask of Glen Scotia that was put to sleep in 2018, albeit a first fill port cask. So I expect this to be all about red fruit with a dirty edge. Let’s see if Glen Scotia can fulfil that expectation. It was released in the ‘Spring 2019’ series.

Stop the press! This is a grand nose! Lovely mix of dark red fruit, peat and maritime elements. I get strawberries, plums and cranberries (with a hint of juniper berry) against sweet peat and mildly burnt baking butter, sprinkled with some sea salt. A soft smokiness (I was told the malt was 22 to 24 ppm) that plays a supporting role and certainly does not dominate. Dark & sweet & vermillion. You follow?

Fine mouth feel and almost perfect strength. Intense and spicy on chili pepper and paprika, oregano and sea salt, before the red fruit shows itself. I goes from red to dark red: strawberries and raspberries turn into dates and fresh figs. Actually, this becomes wonderfully complex. Midpalate it turns from sweet to salty, but returns to the sweet path rather quickly. The smokiness, meanwhile, turns quite grand. The malt turns mildly medicinal. And simply marvelous.

The finish is not only long, sweet, fruit and spicy, it is also very satisfying. I produce a deep sigh of contentment.

I have just tasted my best Glen Scotia ever.

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