Glen Scotia 12yo Tawny Port Edition

Glen Scotia 12yo Tawny Port Edition

Official bottling
Single malt - Campbeltown 
Amber
57.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raspberries, damson jam, pears, malted grains, orange peel, pecans, honey. With water, honey, pears, hints of peaches. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Pear drops, malted grains, lohan fruit, orange peel, winter melons, hints of peat. With water, pears, lemon zest, winter melons, hints of pecans. 
Finish: Long. Lohan fruit, winter melons, peat, orange peel, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Sweet and slightly sooty, with a distinct peaty note that is buried under a lot of fruity notes. Water brings out even more fruits and an additional sweet nuttiness that brings to mind pecans.

Verdict:

I like this.

Longrow 10yo Open Day 2025

Longrow 10yo Open Day 2025

Official bottling
Single malt - Campbeltown
Amber brown
55.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Winter melons, lemon zest, raisins, green tea, leather, lemon zest, pine needles, hints of germolene. With water, apricot jam, pine needles, lemon zest, germolene. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, expands, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Lemon zest, raisins, fresh cut grass, green tea, apricot jam, germolene, peat, autumn leaves. With water, lemon zest, pine needles, autumn leaves, germolene. 
Finish: Long. Lemon zest, green tea, fresh cut grass, germolene. 

Comments: 

Herbal and autumnal, lots of forest flavours! There is citrus and apricot also, and it’s all wreathed with gentle peat. A very good dram indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Springbank 100 Proof 5yo

Springbank 100 Proof 5yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Campbeltown
Golden 
57.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Apple juice, golden syrup, Demerara sugar, malted grains, nutmeg, leather, lemon zest, hints of vanilla. With water, lemon sweets, apple juice, golden syrup. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, cool. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Lohan fruit, white pepper, orange blossom, apple juice, golden syrup, autumn leaves, hints of leather. With water, lemon sweets, apple juice, leather, hints of petrol exhaust. 
Finish: Short. Autumn leaves, apple juice, lohan fruit, lemon zest, orange peel. 

Comments: 

Quite citrusy, drinkable despite the ABV. There’s the classic Springbank earthiness and petrol fumes, but it’s also sweet and fruity. Rather good as is normally the case with this distillery.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Hazelburn 19yo Open Day 2025

Hazelburn 19yo Open Day 2025

Official bottling 
Single malt - Campbeltown
Brown bronze
49.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Winter melons, leather, malted grains, raisins, sandalwood, white grapes, hints of peaches. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, astringent, hot. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Leather, malted grains, raisins, honey, sandalwood, peaches, orange peel, hints of damson jam. 
Finish: Long. Menthol, orange peel, peaches, sandalwood, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Herbal and fruity, with a lip smacking note of old leather. No water here, it’s very drinkable. Excellent Hazelburn, it’s not easy to get this set.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Springbank 12yo Cask Strength (2025 Edition)

Springbank 12yo Cask Strength (2025 Edition)

Official bottling

Single malt - Campbeltown 
Amber, hints of pink
55.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, honeydew melons, cinder toffee, acetone, nutmeg, hints of tyre rubber. With water, acetone, lemon zest, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour. Honeydew melons, cinder toffee, acetone, lemon zest, malted grains, kombucha, hints of diesel exhaust. With water, cinder toffee, lemon zest, nutmeg. 
Finish: Medium. Walnut skins, cinder toffee, toast, molasses, diesel exhaust, hints of lychees. 

Comments: 

Having a chance to drink Springbank these days feels like a rare gift. This one is fruity and has that characteristic diesel note. There’s plenty of bitterness, but mostly it’s estery and sour. A very interesting dram. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Longrow 100 Proof

Longrow 100 Proof

Official bottling
Single malt - Campbeltown
Bright gold
57.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, white grapes, yoghurt, orange peel, honey, smoke, white pepper, hints of cloves. With water, white pepper, orange peel, peat, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, warm, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. White grapes, white pepper, peat, smoke, autumn leaves, grapefruit, malted grains, hints of petrol exhaust. With water, white pepper, petrol exhaust, white grapes, peat. 
Finish: Long. Petrol exhaust, autumn leaves, white pepper, soot. 

Comments: 

Slightly lactic, but it’s got the characteristic motor exhaust note, and plenty of peat and soot. Water brings out more fruity and a peppery spiciness. I don’t always get to try a new whisky from Springbank distillery, quite pleased with this.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Scotia 12yo The Mermaid Release No 1

Glen Scotia 12yo The Mermaid Release No 1

Official bottling
Single malt - Campbeltown
Amber copper
54.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Watermelon rind, cucumbers, sea salt, raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, toffee. With water, raisins, white pepper, mace, molasses. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Salty sour. Watermelon rind, red grapes, raisins, cinnamon, sea salt, pears, hints of molasses. With water, raisins, cucumber, mace, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Long. Red grapes, cucumbers, mace, pears. 

Comments: 

Herbal and grassy, but with a sweet molasses-laden edge. Water brings out raisins and mace, not something too common these days in whisky. Very nice dram indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glen Scotia Double Cask Rich and Spicy

Glen Scotia Double Cask Rich and Spicy

Official bottling
Single malt - Campbeltown
Amber red 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Dates, prunes, jujubes, autumn leaves, leather, strawberry jam, lohan fruit, hints of black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, tingly, loosens.  
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Lohan fruit, leather, pears, dried mangoes, peat, autumn leaves, hints of black pepper. 
Finish: Short. Strawberry jam, jujubes, leather, dates. 

Comments: 

Fruity and savoury, perhaps on the sweet side for a Campbeltown malt. On the tongue it reveals its true colours, peaty and earthy, with heaps of dried mangoes and pears.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Springbank 12yo Cask Strength (2024 Edition)

Springbank 12yo Cask Strength (2024 Edition)

Official bottling
Single malt - Campbeltown
Dark amber 
56.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, honey, petrol exhaust, winter melons, cream, Demerara sugar, hints of damson jam. With water, raisins, petrol exhaust, honey, winter melons. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, hot, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, farmyard, petrol exhaust, cream, Demerara sugar, soot, hints of winter melons. With water, petrol exhaust, damson jam, candle wax, honey. 
Finish: Long. Green tea, cream, Demerara sugar, damson jam, soot. 

Comments: 

A very nice Springbank, this - lots of petrol and smoke notes, even soot, and sweet tannins. Water brings out more smoke, some fruit, and on the tongue, even some wax. Delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Springbank 17yo Madeira Cask

Springbank 17yo Madeira Cask

Official bottling 
Single malt - Campbeltown 
Amber gold 
47.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, vanilla, smoke, raisins, charcoal ash, lanolin, hints of diesel exhaust. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, warm, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Vanilla, raisins, black tea, malted grains, diesel exhaust, winter melon, lanolin, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, winter melon, raisins, honey, molasses. 

Comments: 

Long, sweet and complex, loads of layers and animal earthiness. Absolutely delicious, and really an example of what Springbank can be. Love this stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Kilkerran 14yo Virtual Open Day 2020

Kilkerran 14yo Virtual Open Day 2020

Official bottling

Single malt - Campbeltown
Bronze

57.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, wet stones, clay dust, toffee, gooseberries,  coffee, vanilla. With water, fresh baked bread, wet stones, peat. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, astringent, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Wet stones, clay dust, vanilla, fresh baked bread, sultanas, nutmeg, hints of orange peel. With water, peat, wet stones, gooseberries, hints of clay dust. 
Finish: Long. Menthol, orange peel, fresh baked bread, gooseberries. 

Comments: 

Feinty and minerally, lots of fruit notes but those fade a bit into the background. Not as stellar as the Springbank virtual open day bottles, but good nevertheless.

Verdict:

I like this.

Campbeltown Loch 30yo

Campbeltown Loch 30yo

JA Mitchell & Co
Blended malt
Dark gold 
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, sultanas, papayas, dried mangoes, leather, hints of roast pork. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, airy, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Salty. Raisins, sea salt, Chinese angelica, dried mangoes, camphor, papayas, orange peel, hints of roast pork. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, dried mangoes, camphor, Chinese angelica. 

Comments: 

Herbal and sweet, lots of raisins - but it’s really quite salty on the tongue. Quite complex for a 40% blend, but I guess that’s the age. Very pleasant indeed, even if it lacks the power of the single malts.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Longrow 10yo Virtual Open Day 2020

Longrow 10yo Virtual Open Day 2020

Official bottling 
Single malt - Campbeltown 
Amber
53.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, red grapes, rubber bands, strawberry jam, raisins, petrichor, hints of smoke, hints of roast pork. With water, honey, camphor, raisins, Chinese angelica. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, cool, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Red grapes, raisins, orange peel, sea salt, petrichor, autumn leaves, toast, smoke, hints of charcoal ash. With water, Chinese angelica, camphor, raisins, orange peel. 
Finish: Long. Charcoal ash, smoke, autumn leaves, raisins, petrichor. 

Comments: 

Meaty and nutty, lots of herbal notes. There’s the typical Campbeltown earthiness, allied to smoke and ash. It’s a wonderful herbal concoction, reminds me of Chinese medicinal tonics I used to get fed as a child. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Hazelburn 18yo 2001/2020 Virtual Open Day 2020

Hazelburn 18yo 2001/2020 Virtual Open Day 2020

Official bottling 
Single malt - Campbeltown 
Silvery gold 
47.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, yoghurt, white grapes, gooseberries, peaches, hints of apricot jam. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, loosens, slightly oily. 
Tasting:  Sour. Photocopy paper, apricot jam, rubber bands, peaches, petrichor, fresh cut grass, hints of yoghurt. 
Finish: Medium. Petrichor, fresh cut grass, autumn leaves, white grapes, hints of petrol exhaust. 

Comments: 

Lightly fruity, subtle with feinty and slightly sulphurous notes. A very delicate yet complex whisky. It rewards introspection, I spent a long time with this dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Springbank 26yo 1993/2020 Virtual Open Day 2020

Springbank 26yo 1993/2020 Virtual Open Day 2020

Official bottling 
Single malt - Campbeltown
Bright yellow gold
51.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Wet stones, autumn leaves, petrichor, lemon zest, honey, charcoal ash, hints of peanuts. With water, white grapes, white wine, hints of gooseberries. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, hot, slightly syrupy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Pears, honey, charcoal ash, autumn leaves, diesel exhaust, peanuts, hints of white wine. With water, charcoal ash, smoke, pears, white grapes. 
Finish: Long. Diesel exhaust, honey, charcoal ash, smoke, hints of strawberry laces. 

Comments: 

It’s been a while since I’ve had a Springbank. It’s smokier and ashier than I remember, but maybe this is a special one. Lots of white fruit swims underneath a veil of gritty ash. Unusual and potent.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glen Scotia 8yo 2013/2022 Campbeltown Malts Festival

Glen Scotia 8yo 2013/2022

Official bottling 
Single malt - Campbeltown 
Dark gold
56.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, smoke, green apples, farmyard, white chocolate, lemon zest. With water, leather, white chocolate, honey, green apples. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Leather, smoke, peat, charcoal ash, cooked rice, green apples, lemon zest, pears. With water, green apples, smoke, honey, cooked rice, hints of pear drops. 
Finish: Long. Cooked rice, green apples, smoke, mint. 

Comments: 

Great, peaty, smoky, appley dram! It’s savoury and a tad bitter, with ashy smoke and green apples on the tongue. A little water brings out sweet cereal that complements the smoke.

Verdict:

I like this.

Kilkerran 8yo Cask Strength

Kilkerran 8yo Cask Strength 

Official bottling 
Single malt - Campbeltown

Amber copper
56.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon sweets, green tea, fresh cut grass, leather, sandalwood, hints of peat. With water, lemon zest, toast, germolene, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, astringent, tingly.  
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Fresh baked bread, honey, leather, fresh cut grass, sea salt, toast, germolene, hints of lemon zest, hints of peat. With water, sea salt, honey, germolene, peat. 
Finish: Long. Sea salt, germolene, toast, fresh cut grass. 

Comments: 

Quite complex, the higher strength really intensifies the peaty, leathery, antiseptic notes. There’s a lot of sweetness here too, honey and a bit of citrus. Very nice indeed. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Scotia 27yo 1992/2019

Glen Scotia 27yo 1992/2019

Authentic Collection, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Campbeltown 
Golden
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, honey, charcoal, pears, leather, petrol exhaust, hints of cucumber. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, expands, slightly oily. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Honey, peat, pears, wood ash, smoke, toast, candied orange peel, hints of cloves. 
Finish: Long. Pears, cloves, candied orange peel, hints of charcoal. 

Comments: 

Honeyed and sweet, very well aged indeed. There’s less and less to choose from between Glen Scotia and Springbank as time goes on. This one is oily and sweet, by turns ashy and honeyed. Excellent stuff. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

SMWS 93.121 (Glen Scotia 10yo 2009/2019)

SMWS 93.121 (Glen Scotia 10yo 2009/2019)

2019, SMWS
Single malt - Campbeltown
Dark gold
59.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, peat, leather, tobacco leaf, honey, lemon sweets, overripe pears. With water, lemon sweets, papayas, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Leather, tobacco leaf, lemon sweets, papayas, fresh baked bread, raisins, buttercups, hints of smoke. With water, slightly sweeter, papayas, fresh baked bread, buttercups, hints of germolene. 
Finish: Short. Lemon sweets, papayas, honey, raisins, hints of leather, hints of cough syrup. 

Comments: 

Quite fruity, this whisky. There’s the typical Campbeltown funk, manifesting here in leathery peat, but the fruit dominates. Lemons and papayas, primarily, but there’s also some raisins and honey. It ends with a bang - short finish, lots of flavour.

Verdict:

I like this.

Springbank 25yo (2019 Edition)

Springbank 25yo (2019 Edition)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Campbeltown
Light amber 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, malted grains, petrol exhaust, petrichor, orange peel, leather, peat, hints of smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, loosens slightly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Leather, petrol exhaust, petrichor, orange peel, raisins, honey, smoke, hints of pineapples. 
Finish: Medium. Orange peel, raisins, honey, malted grains, hints of dark chocolate. 

Comments: 

They’ve begun putting edition numbers on Springbank now, because the funkiness seems to be eroding for some reason. Thankfully it’s all correct and present in this 25yo expression, even if it’s fading a little from the younger expressions. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot.