Whisky Review
![](/images/bftw/GlenScotia/MF2024/GlenScotia2024CMF150.jpg)
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- Written by: Mark
- Category: Whisky Review
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Thanks to Brian @MaltMustings on Twitter (X) for sending me a sample of Glen Scotia Campbeltown Malts Festival 2024 Release.
This year's release, retailing for £65, has been aged for 9 year's, with a finishing period in Fino Sherry Casks for at least 6 months and bottled at 56.2% ABV Cask Strength.
If you wish to find out more, the official release page can be found HERE
and the WhiskyResource database listing here
Brian has already reviewed the whisky and it can be read here
Usually I would have purchased a bottle of the annual release from Glen Scotia by now, unfortunately I have had to scale back my whisky purchases, I am however, hoping to get a bottle soon.
I have also received a further #DramSwap sample from my friend John.
Having two samples, gave me the chance to try this year's release on separate occasions, recording my tasting notes and thoughts for each.
Before I continue, I have to make it known that I am a massive Glen Scotia Fan and have purchased each of the annual releases, the 2018 10 Year Old Ruby Port Release being my favourite followed so very closely as to be almost impossible to separate by the 2020 Tawny Port Release. But it would be fair to say that I haven't been disappointed by a release yet. My final word on the previous releases would be that I feel Glen Scotia ups its game when the release is peated. The peat and smoke adds an additional dimension to the flavour which elevates their whiskies to nectar of the gods status. This years release is unpeated.
Tasting #1
Nose:
Initially Salted Caramel followed by fresh poached apple and baking spices. The Campbeltown character wasn't too strong but it was there with a distant sea breeze and very faint maritime note. Towards the backend of the nose was milk chocolate and fudge.
Palate:
It started dry and salty, followed by a light coating of sherry and a gentle dunnage earthiness. The fruit and spice of the sherry influence were there but not quite as lively as I would expect.
This first tasting, for a Glen Scotia was disappointing, don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it, but it didn't put a smile on my face.
Score:
Value: 9.8
Nose: 8.0
Palate: 7.5
Overall: 8.4/10
Tasting #2
Nose:
It started with a strong briney vegetal note. Then came a sweet candy apple with hints of cinnamon and ginger. Chocolate coated cinder toffee reminiscent of a crunchy bar, although the cinder toffee was more of a charred toffee, which I found very pleasant. At the back end there was a herbal note which I likened to maybe camomile.
Palate:
It began with a strong maritime note with sea salt and seaweed, much more of the Campbeltown Funk was coming through. Followed by a caramel apple, toffee and a flash of weak espresso. The finish was oaky with milk chocolate lime candies.
Value: 9.8
Nose: 8.5
Palate: 8.25
Overall: 8.85/10
This 2nd tasting was much more enjoyable, the tasting experience much closer to what I would expect, the Fino Finish, in my opinion just coating the original ex-bourbon maturation(?) with some sherry, allowing what I suspect is the distillery character to shine more.
This is another fantastic Campbeltown Malts Festival release from Glen Scotia, so how does it compare or where would I place it against previous releases? This is quite a difficult question to answer, but I will try
1st 2018 Ruby Port (peated)
2nd 2020 Tawny Port (peated)
3rd 2022 Pedro Ximenez (peated)
4th 2019 Rum Cask (peated)
5th 2023 White Port (lightly peated)
6th 2024 Fino Sherry (unpeated)
7th 2021 Bordeaux Red Wine (unpeated)
However, I would say that this table is very flexible, I have on occasion swapped the positions.
This tasting experience has, at least for me, demonstrated that a whisky can taste very different depending on several factors;
Your mood, time of day, tiredness level, what you have eaten and how recently, your hydration level.
As well as other factors such as how long the bottle has been open for, how oxidised it is, how clean is the sample bottle and glass etc.
It's fair to say that each of these elements, to greater or lesser degree, impacts and that judgement of a whisky can and sometimes does take longer than expected. In this case my initial thoughts were cancelled out by my second tasting.
I do think I need a 3rd tasting...
For comparison I scored the Ruby and Tawny releases 91 points.
![](/images/bftw/LochLomond/DE5/LLDE5250.jpg)
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- Written by: Mark
- Category: Whisky Review
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Thanks to Brian @MaltMustings on Twitter (X) for sending me a sample, I thankfully got to try the latest Distillery Edition (DE) release from Loch Lomond.
This the Distillery Edition 5, unfortunately due to its limit of 600 bottles, is now sold out, the latest DE release information can be found by following THIS LINK
But to summarise from their website;
"This single malt whisky is distilled in our remarkable Straight Neck stills using 100% unpeated malted barley and is taken at a high collection strength of 85%. Michael Henry, our Master Blender, has opted for a Chardonnay wine yeast during fermentation for this edition, amplifying the orchard fruit notes created during distillation.
The whisky is then matured for 8 years in 1st fill American Oak resulting in a fruit-forward single malt with green apple, kiwi, and a gentle note of cinnamon spice."
Really enjoying this @LochLomondMalts DE5 a #Dramswap from @MaltMusings
— Whisky Resource (Mark) (@WhiskyResource) May 17, 2024
Slainte Brian 🥃
It’s very vibrant & fresh with juicy orchard fruits, maybe some gooseberry pie topped with malt biscuit & cream.
At cask strength it’s unbelievably approachable & moreish#Drams2024 pic.twitter.com/KLwNditanK
My thoughts and tasting notes-
Nose:
Sweet with fresh fruit, a very inviting nose bringing the expected orchard fruit of the distillery character, together with some unexpected gooseberry pie following up with powered sugar and candy apple. It's a very vibrant and expressive nose.
At the back end of the nose are some gentle peppery spice.
Palate:
Juicy and again vibrant, with the expected orchard fruit. There are similarities to a medium sweet wine, which leads to an orchard fruit crumble with a malty biscuit and cream topping. The finish is a peppery oak.
Summary:
I prefer the nose, I sat and nosed the whisky for quite sometime, its fresh and an expressive experience, which leads into sensations of a bright summers day, this whisky would pair well with strawberries and cream, perhaps an alternative to Pimms for Wimbledon. The Palate while still fantastic, fell just short of what the nose was offering, perhaps time and a drop of water would open it up more, alas, the 30ml sample was just enough to get an idea of the quality of this whisky.
Would I buy a bottle?
At £57 for the 8 Year Old Whisky at 59.1% ABV Cask Strength, non chill filtered and cask strength, we have to take a look at the scores:
Value: 9.8
Nose: 8.75
Palate: 8.5
Overall: 9/10
YES YES YES I would buy a bottle, having bought both Distillery Editions 2 & 3, I am sad to say I missed buying 4 & 5, but the distillery editions have proved to be nothing short of exceptional releases.
![](/images/bftw/GlenMoray/GlenMoray12250.jpg)
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I received a sample of Glen Moray 12 Year Old with the Glen Moray Tweet Tasting pack for the December 2023 tasting.
The miniature a 50ml bottle, was hidden in a Glen Moray Christmas Cracker.
These are my thoughts of the whisky.
The Nose:
Aromatic with fruits; typically apple, but also some pear. A light honey sweetness leading to vanilla and caramel.
The Palate:
Sweet and fruity with apple and berries, maybe a touch floral then malty, some desiccated coconut, oak and creamy.
Summary:
A very easy drinker, there is no overwhelming flavours, its not too complex, quite a satisfying whisky.
The downside is that it is bottled at 40% ABV, however for an average retail price of £40
I scored it as follows
Value: 8.3 (Value score of 83 out of 100)
Nose: 7.0
Palate: 7.0
Overall: 7.6
The Glen Moray 12 Year Old doesn't often make onto supermarket shelves whilst its non age statement siblings do, this is a shame as the 12 Year Old from Glen Moray being unpeated is an easy drinking whisky that would be appreciated by all but the more hard core whisky enthusiasts.
Should you wish to purchase a bottle it is widely available, consider using this affiliate link to Master of Malt and help support this site GLEN MORAY 12 YEAR OLD
What Glen Moray say;
Glen Moray 12 Year Single Malt Whisky (link to the official website)
A whisky with a long heritage, beautifully balancing vanilla and berried notes, this quintessential Speysider reflects all our expertise. It is distilled on the banks of the River Lossie where we have been making Glen Moray since 1897. This single malt is entirely aged in carefully selected American oak casks to bring out its traditional Speyside character.
40% ABV
COLOUR
Polished Gold
NOSE}
Rich, sweet, and floral with notes of vanilla toffee and berry fruits.
TASTE
Toasted oak, intense dark fruits and creamy toasted vanilla.
FINISH
Smooth and satisfying. A lovely balance of sweet vanilla and spiced oak delivers a smooth and well balanced finish.