Clare's 50th Whisky Tasting
Glen Scotia Victoriana 54.2%
Founded in 1832, Glen Scotia is one of Campbeltown's few surviving distilleries, producing predominantly unpeated single malt alongside lightly peated (around 20–25 ppm) and occasional heavily peated expressions. Matured mainly in first-fill and refill bourbon casks, with sherry, wine and rum cask finishes, production uses Scottish malted barley, nine stainless-steel washbacks and long 120–130-hour fermentations. Traditional onion-shaped stills with shell-and-tube condensers provide generous copper contact, creating a fruity, oily, subtly maritime spirit with remarkable complexity.
Victoriana has been finished in charred oak casks, imparting a rich caramel, vanilla and cocoa characteristic, and is bottled straight from the cask at 54.2%.
Annandale Man O'Words Double Oak 60.6% (lowlands)
Founded in 1836 and revived in 2014 after a 90-year closure, following John Walker and Sons termination of the distillery and removal of all fittings in 1921. Annandale produces both an unpeated Man O' Words expression and a heavily peated Man O' Swords (around 45 ppm) single malt. Matured primarily in first-fill and refill ex-bourbon casks, alongside selected sherry and STR wine casks, production uses six Oregon pine washbacks with 62–66-hour fermentations. Scottish Concerto barley is distilled through a wash still and twin spirit stills with shell-and-tube condensers, maximising copper contact to create an elegant, fruity, refined spirit.
“Man O'Words" is a historical and cultural reference to Robert Burns, Scotland's national poet, who worked in Annan and lived nearby
The "Man O'Sword" expression references Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, who was the 7th Lord of Annandale in the 14th century.
Tormore 'Legacy' 2012 12 years old 55.3%
Founded in 1958, Tormore produces a classic Speyside single malt renowned for its elegant, fruity character using unpeated barley.
Matured primarily in first-fill and refill ex-bourbon barrels, with selected sherry casks adding richness, production employs stainless-steel washbacks and fermentations of around 60–70 hours. Its tall copper pot stills encourage significant natural reflux and high copper contact, while shell-and-tube condensers refine the spirit. In addition, all stills have purifiers attached, which help lighten the spirit further, creating a delicate whisky with orchard fruit, honey, vanilla and gentle floral notes
Lochlea 'CaskStrength' Batch 1 60.1% (Lowlands)
Founded in 2018 on a working Ayrshire farm once owned by Robert Burns, Lochlea produces an elegant, unpeated Lowland-style single malt. Matured primarily in first-fill bourbon barrels, Oloroso sherry butts and STR barriques, production uses home-grown Scottish barley, six stainless-steel washbacks and fermentations of approximately 90–100 hours.
Distillation takes place in traditional copper pot stills fitted with shell-and-tube condensers, providing high copper contact that promotes a bright, fruity, cereal-driven spirit with excellent balance and freshness.
Mystery whisky
This whisky hails from a region already represented at this tasting.
