Glen Scotia 12yo Icon of Campbeltown No.3
“The Wulver”/”The Wolf” Limited Edition bottling | 51.7% ABV
Score: 7/10
Very Good Indeed.
TL;DR
Give this one time; the flavour layers just keep coming
Let’s Hear It for the Ambassadors
There has been a spate of redundancies across the Scotch whisky industry and beyond recently. Inevitably, as growth slows and revenues stagnate or drop, the human element suffers.
I have to be quite honest here, the ones that really hurt the most are the rural production jobs. Those who are situated in the central belt are far more likely to find employment than those out in the villages and towns of the Highlands and Islands.
The job losses that affect me the most, though, are when we lose a brand ambassador. These front-of-house warriors are the face of the brands – they are our gateway, our connection and often our friends. How would the festivals, tastings, clubs and events work without the tireless, passionate travel and talks from these incredible folk?
I know what it would be like - it would return to how it was when I started: a void. A world inhabited by the occasional distillery manager dragged out of their office to deliver a few lines to a group in Hong Kong, or a restaurant in Seville. The festivals would return to being staffed by hired guns, paid by the hour, with zero care, passion or knowledge about whatever product they were giving away this week.
The change over the last twenty to twenty-five years in the quality of personnel on the stands (and the number of stands and the quality of product on the stands) is immense. I’ve written before about how important people are in this industry, but this is my time to just give a big e-hug, a shout out, and a big up to all those amazing industry folks we meet and greet who just keep going.
Some of them, well, frankly, I don’t know how they do it. Flying in early from a busy festival in Switzerland to attend Glasgow’s Whisky Festival, heading to Whisky Live Paris, and hosting tastings before the mammoth festival that is the London Whisky Show. Flying all the way to Japan to host a tasting on the night they arrive – and I could go on and on.
I think sometimes, we, the punters, need to cut these Spartans some extra slack. I try to. I’ve been there and I know what it’s like. Remembering that many have families that they’re not seeing that weekend, or partners who have yet another weekend ‘empty’, or just that they have a life with other things they would rather or could rather be doing. I’ll share a little anecdote here that sums it up; a friend was desperate to be a brand ambassador and eventually landed a role with a small distillery. When I caught up with them several months later, they had already changed jobs and companies. They couldn’t hack it. It wasn’t the glamorous life of black-tie dinners, swanky hotels, and VIP treatment they thought it was. It was a slog, staring at hotel walls, airport terminals, buses, taxis, trains and everything else that comes with travel, tastings and festivals.
The homesickness used to get me. I travelled whilst my kids were very young; I missed birthdays, special occasions, and simply being there at times.
I’m not looking for sympathy here, merely trying to stress that the faces of our favourite brands and companies have a back story – their life does not revolve around you getting an ‘under-the-table dram’ or ‘something special’.
Now, I don’t want to make it sound like you, lovely whisky-drinking folk, are anything but superb people, because we are. Again, what other industry can you go around a festival room and hug half of the people exhibiting? Few, I’m guessing. But, maybe, sometimes after a few drams have been drowned, the odd indignant statement comes out, or petulance because time has been called, or the particular whisky you want to try has either run out or isn’t on show. If you feel yourself thinking along those lines, give yourself a moment to remember, there’ll be another dram, another festival, another time… give these supermen and superwomen all of the respect and love they are giving you. It’s a lot, trust me.
Cheers to all of you for coming out and making this whisky world the carnival that it is.
Review
Glen Scotia 12yo, Icons of Campbeltown Release No.3, “The Wulver”/“The Wolf”, Limited Edition, First-fill Tawny Port Cask Finish, Unpeated, 51.7% ABV
£80 and currently available
Score: 7/10
Very Good Indeed.
TL;DR
Give this one time; the flavour layers just keep coming
Nose
This immediately reeks of pastel de nata; but with just a little air, some sweet raisins (more Danish pastry than Portuguese cream pastry). Lots of red berries (expected with the Port); raspberries, red currants. A hint of blackcurrants too. The majority of the maturation was ex-Bourbon, and the vanilla and oak notes are quite evident around the fruity tones. I can’t get away from that custard-creaminess (custard creams for those who know British biscuits). With enough time, there is a spiciness that is Christmas-esque (not quite cinnamon, but not a million miles away).
Palate
This is much less creamy than I was expecting from the nose, but the sharp red fruits are quite a delight against the biscuit-maltiness. Being unpeated, it doesn’t smack of ‘Campbeltown’, but it is no less a Glen Scotia for it. The Port is quite subdued – this is not a whisky-flavoured Port (we’ve all had one of those, right?), the backbone of this whisky is still abundantly evident.
The Dregs
Those who prefer their Glen Scotia a bit beefier may not have this in their top ten, but I really like it. The strength gives it some oomph, and I like how, with time, the flavours keep developing. I’ve got to be honest, I never really give a hoot about what the story is on the bottle, and I haven’t with this one. I’m quite simple really; I like it, then I buy it.
Some of you are going to absolutely love this.
And since we’re here, with this malt, let’s give a huge shout-out to Gary Mills at Glen Scotia – one of those fabulous, hardworking, fun-loving ambassadors we all look forward to seeing!
Score: 7/10
Tried this? Share your thoughts in the comments below. FF
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