Glen Scotia debuts 21YO whisky
Scotch distiller Glen Scotia has created a limited edition 21-year-old single malt, finished in a first-fill oloroso Sherry cask.
The brand is rolling out 2,500 bottles globally, containing liquid aged in a combination of refill ex-Bourbon barrels and refill American oak hogsheads, before being finished in oloroso Sherry casks. Master distiller and distillery manager Iain McAlister said: “Our new 21-year-old is a single malt whisky of exceptional character, and the ideal dram to celebrate the prevailing spirit of Campbeltown. "We knew then that we wanted to create another special release for our fans around the world, and the 21-year-old is a middle sibling to the much-loved 18-year-old and the world’s best whisky.” On the palate, the non-chill-filtered expression boasts flavours of red apples, raisins, cloves, star anise and cinnamon, while the finish is long with a ‘touch of sea salt’. McAlister continued: “The Glen Scotia 21-year-old still has that wonderful interplay with the oloroso Sherry finishing cask, but with a shorter finishing time [six months] than the 18-year-old, which enables the underlying signature distillery character you get from the 25-year-old to really shine through proudly. We hope to be able to release a new batch each year. “Like all good things, it has taken us a bit of time, but we are delighted with the result and can’t wait to see what people think. One of the things I am most grateful for at Glen Scotia is our fantastic and supportive fan base, which continues to grow around the world – it's very humbling. We sincerely hope they like this latest addition to the Glen Scotia family.” The whisky clocks in at 46% ABV, and bridges the gap between the brand’s 18-year-old and 25-year-old. The 21-year-old can be purchased for RRP £265 (US$326), and is available from Glen Scotia’s website. In November last year, Glen Scotia partnered with London’s first dedicated Sherry bar to launch a 12-year-old whisky.