SMWS Glen Scotia 17 2002 Sister Cask Side by Side: 93.128 “Smoke and smugglers” & 93.144 "Sea salt on chestnuts”/“Not Just Coastal" (Skotchtoberfest #s 1A & 1B)

Nearly all of my experience with Glen Scotia has been through the SMWS, and they’ve yet to disappoint. I bought one at a tasting a few months ago that I simply couldn’t believe was a Glen Scotia it was so unbelievably dirty. The first of these I grabbed one they released it for the festival season, and the other was just a delicious sounding whisky that happened to be a sister cask so it got paired with that for review. Here we go.

Glen Scotia 17, 2002 Vintage, Scotch Malt Whisky Society 93.128, Campbeltown Single Malt, 54.9% ABV

Minutia: Distilled on May 6, 2002 and matured in a refill ex-bourbon hogshead for 17 years yielding 213 bottles. This is part of the Oily & Coastal flavor profile named “Smoke and smugglers” released for the Campbeltown Malts Festival 2020. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn with its sister cask 93.144.

Color: Amontillado Sherry; 0.9.

Nose: Smoky, malt and vanilla try to peek through. Industrial, brine, wood.

Taste: Sweet, spicy fruits, medicinal smoke. Orange.

Finish: Wood and smoke.

The flavor caught me off guard. I wasn’t expecting a sweetness as intense as it was, particularly after the nose. This all comes together really nicely and is definitely a bottle worthy of a festival label.

Score: 88

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Glen Scotia 17, 2002 Vintage, Scotch Malt Whisky Society 93.144, Campbeltown Single Malt, 56.3% ABV

Minutia: Distilled on May 6, 2002 and matured in a 2nd-fill ex-bourbon barrel for 17 years yielding 199 bottles. This is part of the Lightly Peated flavor profile named “Not Just Coastal/Sea salt on chestnuts” the former title being the name given in the US due to labeling restrictions. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn with its sister cask 93.128.

Color: Deep copper; 1.0.

Nose: Different; lighter but somehow heavier. Behind a light fruit lie rich tobacco and leather that draw you in. Very enticing.

Taste: Spicy, cereals, smoke, compote.

Finish: Very rich smoke, tobacco, leather, musty fruit. What a showstopper. Long.

Holy smokes, what a crazy finish. It’s just stellar and keeps on going. This reminds me of my favorite parts of some absolutely excellent whiskies that command a higher price for much less aging. 

Score: 89

Musical Evocation: Linkin Park – “Given Up”

I’m very glad to be caught up with my typing and embarking on the “Skotchtoberfest” reviews, and what a kickoff. I think I may be tasting the finish from 93.144 throughout the season.