Glen Scotia 12 Year (2022 Seasonal Release)

This is a great dessert whisky if I've ever come across one. It's also a great whisky to drink if you're walling up an enemy who has betrayed you after pretending to be his friend and telling him you have a great Amontillado in the basement. Sorry, I can't resist the Poe reference here. This Scotch is finished in Amontillado casks and aged at 12 years, and I can't hear the word Amontillado without thinking of the Poe story. Can anyone? I mean, can anyone who has encountered the story not thinking of it when they hear the word. I'm sure you can avoid thinking of it if you've never read it, but me, yeah, walling up a dude you've drugged to get revenge, letting him suffocate, starve, however the guy died. That's what I think of when I think Amontillado. Despite the dark opening, I still with my initial statement in that first sentence. This isn't a whisky to drink all the time. It's best served with a crème brûlée. Or a piece of cake. Or hell, cookies. It's sweet. That's what the Amontillado imparts on it. We don't get a lot of Campbeltown Scotches in our region. Or actually, we rarely get any. You guys are all always on about your Springbank and Longrow. And I'm like, what are they talking about. I'm also jealous. So when two Glen Scotias popped up in our region, this and the 15, I jumped at this: a cask strength special release with an age statement for $80! I was on it. The 15 I missed out on. It has come and gone, but it was 100$ and there are other things I would prefer for that bread. Plus the appeal of this one, sorry to come back to it, is Amontillado. I've never had Amontillado, nor have I had a Scotch finished in it. So, that was part of the appeal. And I didn't really look into Amontillado (yes, I keep typing it because I just love the word itself). It is a sherry, but what kind of sherry is it? Must be particularly sweet because what it imparts on this is a nose of burnt caramel, vanilla and cherry. And when I say vanilla, I mean like prime vanilla extract, this is baking vanilla, this is the vanilla chefs use with that strong alcohol undertone, this is like French Vanilla ice cream vanilla melted and distilled. My god, it's great, but in measure. The palate is candied cherry with that same vanilla whipped up and all creamy on the tongue. The finish lingers and is spicy but also sweet leaving you ready for not just the next sip, but the next bite of whatever delicious dessert you've decided to pair this with. Trust me, if you're burying someone alive and decided to celebrate with Mexican Chocolate Trifle with Orange Curd and Pomegranate Pudding, this Bud's for you.

Fantastic stuff with loads of dried dark fruits, yellow fruits, nuts, ginger, honey, and salted caramel. Nose: Golden Raisins, Almonds, Pineapples, Nutella, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Blood Oranges, Plums, Dates, Strawberry Jam, Guava, Honey, White Chocolate, Banana Bread, Walnuts, Figs, Luxardo Cherries Palate: Raisins, Plums, Milk Chocolate, Dates, Coconuts, Vanilla, Yellow Plums, Almonds, Butter Cookies, Peaches, Apricots, Mangoes, Salted Caramel, Butterscotch, Gingerbread Finish: Mocha, Prunes, Raisins, Violets, Milk Chocolate, Treacle, Honey, Maple Syrup, Walnuts, Plums, Roses, Orgeat

Dried fruits, especially dried citrus fruits and orange zest on the nose, supplemented with gentle baking spices. Vanilla, nutty, dried fruits, herbs and spices on the palate, finishing the same, but mostly with vanilla and salted herbs. The herbs and the dried fruits are felt better both on the nose and on the palate with a drop of water - then you can feel the effect of the Amontillado Sherry.

That famous Glen Scotia character is here in spades. This is the best seasonal release I have tried from them. Nose: stewed fruits, burnt matches, dark tobacco and hazelnuts. That classic Glen Scotia salty, briny background. Palette: Caramel, toasted nuts, brown sugar, smoky barrel char. Needs a little water to tame the high ABV. Delicate strawberry and banana notes linger in the finish.

Neck pour. I needed a dribble of water. Dried fruits, vanilla , sherry and mild baking spices on the nose. Rich on the palate with vanilla, nutty sherry, heat and spices. Finish is long, with vanilla, nutty sherry notes, heat and lasting spicy notes. Initial impressions are that this is somewhat simple, but well executed.

Nose: Dry sherry, raisins, orange zest, nutty. Some milk chocolate on the retro. Palate: Oak, sultanas, an increasing intensity of spice. Underneath there's a salted caramel. Finish: Extremely dry initially. Spicy with an apple pie and vanilla custard.