This whisky is the annual limited edition bottling for the Campbeltown Malts Festival, which happens each May. The Glen Scotia Campbeltown Malts Festival 2025 Edition is a 9 Years Old heavily peated single malt, a style of spirit they produce for just six weeks every year. The whisky has been initially matured in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels, before finishing for five months in ex-Ribera del Duero red wine casks. These are directly sourced from the prestigious Ribera del Duero wine-making region in Spain.
Glen Scotia was founded in 1832 by the Galbraith and Stewart families. It is one of only three distilleries remaining in Campbeltown – the others are Glengyle and Springbank. However, others have been given planning permission in the town and surrounding area. The distillery was originally known as Scotia, only becoming Glen Scotia in 1939.
Campbeltown was formerly a powerhouse of the Scotch whisky industry, particularly in late Victorian times. Then over 30 distilleries operated in the town, but it then fell on hard times. Glen Scotia is currently owned by The Loch Lomond Distillery Co. It is relatively small, very traditional with an annual production capacity of 800,000 litres.
The Glen Scotia Campbeltown Malts Festival 2025 Edition is bottled at the natural cask strength of 54.3% ABV. It is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. It is available during the festival at the end of May and via selected specialist whisky retailers worldwide. A bottle should cost £68. The exact number of bottles has not been revealed.
Our Tasting Notes
The colour is deep gold with a mild burgundy tint. The nose is a delicious combination of prominent sooty, sweet smoke, caramel and red fruit. These are reminiscent of confected red fruits – think of raisin and dried raspberries especially. Underneath sits a distinct meaty savoury quality. This is most like braised meatbone and bone marrow, red wine gravy and a hint of Marmite.
Only the palate this whisky is rich, full bodied and peaty. There is an immediate burst of ashy smoke, which sits alongside some dusty earthiness. There is a distinct minerality and salininty to the smoke, which is reminiscent of sooty and ashy bonfire embers.
Then comes some creamy vanilla fudge with bright caramel and juicy fresh blood orange. They are accentuated by hints of juicy ripe blackberry and dried cherry, plus dried red apple. This fruitiness dominates the mid-palate. A hint of floral jasmine and salted caramel, plus further hints of muscovado sugar, fresh oak and tobacco round things off.
The finish is long, sweet and ashy. The peat smoke really draws our the length with a hint of lime zest, sweet prunes and Cognac soaked raisins. The sooty smoke is complimented by a hint of liquorice root. A distinct minerality and mossy vibe sit with the soot. This linger superbly, especially once the sweet and fruity notes have gone.
What’s The Verdict?
This Glen Scotia limited edition bottling for this year’s Campbeltown Malts Festival has incredible depth for its age. The complexity and finish are exceptional. It is a great example of and ex-red wine cask, which can be heavy handed at times.
Marrying such a heavy cask style with the heavy peat smoke is genius. It brings out a delicacy behind the smoky punchiness. The high ABV is extremely well integrated and it drives the whisky’s finish and depth of flavour. This is a superb whisky and we cannot recommend it highly enough.
