Glen Scotia Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Glen Scotia single malt Scotch whisky is one of the last surviving distilleries in Campbeltown, a region that was once the whisky capital of the world. Founded in 1832, Glen Scotia has endured through periods of boom, decline, and revival, remaining a proud representative of Campbeltown’s distinctive whisky style, a character often described as a fusion of maritime saltiness, gentle smoke, and robust malt depth.

During the late 19th century, Campbeltown was home to more than 30 working distilleries, producing whisky that was shipped across the globe. The industry’s decline in the early 20th century, driven by changing tastes and overproduction, saw most of these close their doors. By the 1980s, only Glen Scotia and a couple of others remained, keeping the region’s whisky-making tradition alive.

Glen Scotia’s longevity is partly due to its adaptability. Over the years, the distillery has produced both peated and unpeated spirit, allowing it to respond to market trends while maintaining a core Campbeltown character. Its water source is Crosshill Loch, a natural reservoir that has supplied Campbeltown distilleries for generations. The stillhouse features a pair of relatively small copper pot stills, producing a medium-bodied spirit with a firm malt backbone.

One of Glen Scotia’s distinguishing features is its coastal maturation environment. The distillery’s warehouses sit just a short distance from the harbour, where sea air permeates the casks. This maritime influence lends a subtle briny note to the whisky, whether lightly peated or unpeated.

In recent years, Glen Scotia has enjoyed a major resurgence, thanks to investment from current owners Loch Lomond Group and a renewed focus on quality and innovation. The core range reflects the diversity of the distillery’s output:
• Glen Scotia Double Cask - matured in first-fill bourbon barrels and finished in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, combining vanilla sweetness with rich dried fruit.
• Glen Scotia 15 Year Old - matured entirely in American oak, offering toffee, citrus, and gentle spice.
• Glen Scotia Victoriana - bottled at cask strength with a dark, robust profile influenced by deep-charred oak.
• Glen Scotia 18 Year Old - balancing mature oak complexity with maritime freshness.

The distillery also releases limited editions and annual special bottlings for the Campbeltown Malts Festival, often experimenting with different cask types and peating levels.

Independent bottlings of Glen Scotia are relatively rare but can reveal fascinating variations, from young, vibrant peated expressions to mature, sherried examples with deep maritime complexity.

Flavour-wise, Glen Scotia is versatile. The unpeated style tends toward orchard fruit, honey, and vanilla, with that signature hint of coastal brine. Lightly peated expressions add gentle smoke, earthy spice, and depth, while still retaining balance and drinkability. The finish is often medium to long, with a lingering salt-and-malt interplay that speaks of its seaside home.

Our Glen Scotia Single Malt Scotch Whisky selection includes the full core range, festival exclusives, and limited releases that capture the breadth of Campbeltown whisky-making. Whether you’re exploring this historic region for the first time or deepening your appreciation for its maritime style, Glen Scotia offers an authentic taste of one of Scotland’s rarest whisky-producing areas.