Glen Scotia Victoriana Cask Strength

The nose starts with lemon lime sherbet, burning hay bales, moderately salted vanilla taffy and chocolate covered raisins then shortbread cookies, freshly lit pipe tobacco and light sea side rock minerality followed by chamomile tea, red grapefruit juice, dehydrated apricots and mango that transitions to candied ginger, cloves and mild black pepper spice with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a medium to rich mouthfeel starting with creamy tropical fruits with a mild sourness that quickly veers towards a moderate bitter pepper spice that slowly fades to charred lemon and limes, burning hay bales, vanilla salt water taffy and cocoa powder dusted prunes followed by white grapes, apricots and red grapefruit juice that transitions to ginger, cloves, and mild black pepper spice with high ethanol burn. The finish is medium length with burning hay bales, slightly sour tropical fruits, vanilla sea salt taffy, spicy dark chocolate mocha, dehydrated figs, and candied ginger. This takes those typical Glen Scotia DNA notes of citrus, farmyard, ocean brine, and rocky minerality and intensifies them with the higher 54.2% ABV to create a bolder and richer whisky, but there is a youthful sourness to it along with a moderate pepper spice that unfortunately throws the balance off for me. At the price of $100+, this doesn’t seem worth it and I’d much rather spend an additional $20+ to be able to pick up the 18 year that polishes out the sourness for creamy fruits with a light pepper spice.

This Glen Scotia Victoriana Cask Strenght is very complex and rich! What a wonderful dram! A light golden color and very oily. On the nose: It’s got everything from sweet to salty caramel, coast/marine salt, vanilla and anise. After some time you’ll smell toffee and tobacco. On the palate: caramel from the start and spicy as cayene pepper, but it could be from the ABV heat. It burns the finish, so it doesn’t last long. So I decided to add some water as the ABV is strong. The finish is like fresh mint after the burn. After added water On the nose: the intensity of caramel, salty caramel gives space to a softer sugary cereal, a bit of charred oak, a bit of anise still there. On the palate: the heat turns into a bit smoky, it opens the sugary cereals and a bit fruity with a mix of pear and apple and the smokiness of tobacco by the end. It’s not a prolonged finish, but a dry one. After the finish, there’s a fresh herbal/mint sensation. This is a very complex whisky with a lot of character and aromas. It lacks a bit of palate flavors as the heat overpowers it, but with some water drops, it opens to more flavors. Slainte Mha!

(Good Spirits Co. Glasgow – Virtual Glen Scotia Whisky Tasting, 27 May 2021. Hosted by GSC, with Iain McAlister, Master Distiller at Glen Scotia, as guest speaker). Nose: Buttered toast, honey, oak, vanilla, citrus Palate: Sweet fruit/berries, chocolate cherries, juicy/jammy fruit. Hints of charred oak Finish: Dark chocolate, thick jam, kirsch cherries, dusty smoke/ash, ginger Warming, jammy and lightly charred. A kick of alcohol on the nose, but quickly mellowing into jam and chocolate on the palate. This has become a real favourite everyday whisky for me. It’s one I keep restocking every time I finish a bottle. Delicious! Finished for 12 months in 30% PX butts, 70% refill bourbon. Came second out of the six drams, with 21% of the final vote for favourite of the night. 100% of those present said they enjoyed the whisky. This got my vote for favourite of the tasting.

Nose - light on the nose to start with orange, opens up with more vanilla and charred essence, a nutty smell also comes to mind Taste - thicker feel in the mouth, peppercorn, and something I can best describe as a dark flavor Finish - moderate length and very good, leaves an almost aged black tea aftertaste for a moment Score - 4.5, really enjoy this one, quite good all around Scoring Legend 5.0 - Outstanding, unmatched to others 4.5 - Excellent, I will always keep a bottle in stock if possible 4.0 - Very good, quite enjoyable to drink, can consider as a solid choice 3.5 - Good, would taste again 3.0 - Average 2.5 - Acceptable, still drinkable 2.0 - Inferior, able to drink but not enjoyable 1.5 and below—wouldn’t drink again unless I am desperate

Some reviewers argue that age statements are becoming less important, but I've to disagree. That said, there are a few exceptions. The nose of Glen Scotia Victoriana is very old school, combining porridge, spiced oranges and tobacco with sea spray, sweet licorice and peppermint. Loads of spices and citrus fruits kick off the punchy arrival before aniseed, wood smoke and ginger unfold. There is definitely some older stock in here. Cinnamon, brown sugar and hints of salt sparkle in the savory finish. Credit where credit is due, this malt has a lot going for it! RATING: 4.0/5.0 stars ≙ 87 pts → FIRST-CLASS

Le chêne brûlé est élégant lorsque le scotch est jeune et dominant de l’arôme à la finale, accompagné de notes florales et de miel. Au début, il n’y a pas de caramel et de fruits confiturés comme dans le 15 ans, ce qui démontre que la recette est complètement différente. Mais après deux ans d’ouverture, les raisins secs et le dessert de Noël (épices et confitures) devient délicieux. Une pelure d’orange subtile se fraie aussi un chemin dans le corps riche et soyeux. Vraiment un beau scotch de dégustation, qui bénéficie d’oxygène, de temps et de deux cuillérées d’eau.