Blind Tasting Competition #14: Glen Scotia 1999/2013 SMWS
People who have been reading this blog for a while now (I know you’re out there 😉 ) have probably noticed the relative lack of peated whiskies on Words of Whisky. I may have said it before, but I’ll say it again: I don’t very much like heavy peat in my whisky. Subtle peat I tend to love, but the grittier stuff just gets in the way of all the other lovely aromas and smells. At least, that’s what I think.
Glen Scotia 1999/2013 (61,4%, Single Malt Whisky Society, C#93.55)
So I’m in luck with sample #14 of the Blind Tasting Competition, because this is heavily peated. Not Octomore-levels, but certainly you’re good old fashioned Islay peat. Fingers crossed, but I don’t count on a high score today.
Nose: Peat, obviously. Medicinal, iodine. Also some barbecue smoke. Very malty, some lemon and maybe banana. Salted peanuts and smoked fish. With water some farmy notes I think. Also… porridge.
Taste: Very warming. Salty, peat and peppery. Medicinal smoke, some banana again. Definitely feisty, probably a young whisky.
Finish: Smoke, peat, charred wood. Very long, as an Islay finish should be.
Rating: 82
This is a fine whisky, but not really for me. Peat lovers will probably rate it a bit higher. I think it is a young Laphroaig of 8 years old. The alcoholpercentage is high, at 59 percent.
Well, I was right about the alcoholpercentage being high, but it was even higher than I thought. I never would’ve guessed this to be a Glen Scotia. And it was also a bit older then expected. Put all that together and that adds up to zero points. Too bad, still in first place though, but the guys behind me are creeping closer.
Thijs is a spirits writer and accredited liquorist from The Netherlands. He runs the blog Words of Whisky and contributes to a number of Dutch and international publications.
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