Review 271. Glen Scotia 12 year old

Campbeltown whisky  festival 2026 is in full swing as I publish this.  And while I didn’t get my hands on one of the festival releases (yet), I also didn’t want to let the moment pass without discussing a Campbeltown whisky. So I decided to focus on what’s probably* the latest/newest core range release from any of the Campbeltown distilleries…

 You might remember that In November of last year, I posted a piece/review paying tribute to Iain McAlister. The former Glen Scotia manager, born and bred in Campbeltown, waved goodbye to the distillery where he worked for 18 years – of which 12 as its manager, to start a new career/adventure in China.

Arguably, his last and final ‘gift’ to the whisky community in his role at the helm of Glen Scotia, was a new age stated core range expression. Glen Scotia’s 12 year old was initially released right about the time when Iain announced he’d be stepping down as manager. So fair to assume he was still very much involved in the entire process of planning, creating and releasing their latest core range expression, as quite a bit of preparation comes into play when something like that is decided upon. A lot of invisible stuff and therefore a process of planning and decision making most of us never even pause and consider. Not saying that we should, but perhaps this is an opportunity to do exactly that…

What is it that we currently offer, and what’s potentially missing.

What do we want the flavour profile to be?

Do we have the raw ingredients, casks and  depth of stock to cater to such a thing as a new core range expression?

Which adjustments in distilling/maturing/planning need to be made to maintain it?

What are the costs of launching and then onwards as well.

And also: how’s our current financial situation?

What’s the market like currently, and where do we see it next year, but also in 3, 6, 10… years’ time?  

Who is it aimed at and what should be the price point? …

Probably (likely) I’m missing other things as well, as I can only guess which other factors and variables come into play when preparing something which is, any way you look at it, quite a big deal. Get it right and people will applaud you for it. Get it wrong and you may be if not accountable than still responsible for jobs and livelihoods of people you work with on a day to day basis. Just to say: you don’t just decide to launch a new core range expression overnight.

Glen Scotia 12 year old. 2025 release.  ‘Tropical fruit & coastal spray’. Bourbon cask matured. NC, UCF, 46% ABV, app. €50 / £45

In the case of this particular release, you could argue that a 12 year old single malt, bottled at 46% ABV, unchill filtered and natural colour expression was EXACTLY what might be considered ‘missing’ from Glen Scotia’s portfolio. An ‘entry level’ age stated integrity bottling to bridge the gap between the supermarket expressions like their Campbeltown Harbour and the 40% ABV 10 year old on the one hand and their 15 yo; sitting nicely next to their Double Cask expression.If you look at their current core range offering, I think they now manage to cater across the board: a few budget friendly, entry level (supermarket) releases, a more high end expression  with their 18 yo and now 3 expressions sitting nicely in between: the Victoriana, their 15  and now this 12 year old.  Add to that a yearly batch of limited releases and casks to go into the broker and indie market and you can only conclude: not bad for a distillery that produces less than 1 million liters per year. Is it any good though?

Nose

Vanilla oil, dark honey. The name is quite well picked as indeed I’m getting notes of pineapple and possibly some mango. Coastal notes of sea spray and salinity as well. A soft herbal-vegetal note (parsley?), wet wood and a bit of a fungi like autumnal vibe as well. A hint of something waxy-mineral, like copper polish. A very intriguing and interesting nose and with time in the glass everything intensifies.

Palate

Ok, this is interesting: the arrival is more gentle than I expected. Subtle notes of vanilla and wood and again those fruity elements. There’s less ‘minerality’ (I’m not getting much in the way of salinity on the palate) but that is compensated by an interesting, slightly peculiar bright herbal -  spice note of eucalyptus and peppermint. It comes with a medium -  full texture and a dry, clinging  mouthfeel which brings along a gentle oaky bitter note. This in turns counters those tropical fruit notes a bit, adding to an interesting balance.

Finish

That subtle oaky bitterness echoes a bit, and the salinity returns as well.

Final thoughts

This is good whisky, very good even. Not sure if I’d go as far as calling it brilliant, but… For the price point it really gives you something to enjoy without having to take a deep dive into your pockets. This, in short, really deserves its place as a Campbeltown representative. It’s not very complex per se, but it offers plenty of flavour and it has an easygoing yet rich, well balanced and interesting character.

I really feel as if this 12 year old can be seen as a statement of Glen Scotia’s (renewed) status and self - confidence.  Budget friendly enough to be an ‘entry level’ whisky in terms of pricing, but a (considerable) step up from actual entry level stuff the likes of Glenfiddich 12, Old Pulteney 12 or, closer to home, Glen Scotia’s 10 yo or their Campbeltown Harbour. While things remain a bit quiet  where the new distilleries – in - progress like Machrihanish, Dál Riata and Witchburn are concerned  (I do hope ‘quiet’ isn’t a foreboding of ‘uncertain’), having a new core range from Scotland’s smallest whisky region available to us is something to embrace and cherish.  Especially when it’s great value and as good as this.

*Possibly Springbank's 5 yo is even more recent, but frankly I couldn't be bothered double checking that.