Review of Glen Scotia 10-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2025)

 

There was a time in Scotland when Campbeltown whisky was everywhere. There were over thirty distilleries in this region in its heyday, known as The Capital of the Whisky World. What changed? Some of it wasn’t particularly good for various reasons, plus an oversaturation of the market and that nasty word - Prohibition.

 

In 2010, only two remained:  Springbank and Glen Scotia. A third, Glen Gyle (owned by Springbank), has since reopened.

 

Today, I’m looking at Glen Scotia, founded in 1832 by Stewart, Galbraith, and Company, a family-run business. They retained ownership until 1891 when Duncan MacCallum purchased it. MacCallum added huge malting floors to the distillery. In 1933, MacCallum’s estate sold the distillery to Bloch Brothers, and it remained open until 1942. In 1945, it reopened as World War II ended, and in 1954, the distillery was acquired by Hiram Walker. A year later, A. Giles purchased it, and then, in 1970, it became part of Amalgamated Distilling Products (ADP). In 1987, some of ADP’s managing partners, Gibson International, purchased the Glen Scotia. Finally, in 2014, the Loch Lomond Group purchased the distillery and continues to own it to this day.

 

Glen Scotia still uses the original mash tun, still room, and dunnage warehouse. It no longer malts its barley but buys it to its exacting standards. Its master distiller and distillery manager has been Iain McAlister for the last dozen years.

 

Glen Scotia 10-Year-Old is one of several single malts the brand offers and serves as its flagship whisky. It is unpeated, non-chill filtered, and packaged at 40% ABV (80°).  

 

“Glen Scotia has a unique place in Scotch Whisky lore dating back to 1832. While we celebrate our history as one of only three remaining Campbeltown distilleries, we’re keenly aware of the evolving palates of today’s modern whisky drinkers and our portfolio is representative of that juxtaposition of past and present. At Glen Scotia, we produce two styles of whisky – peated and non-peated – which are heavily influenced by our proximity to the ocean. These maritime nuances are perfectly represented in our signature 10-Year-Old whisky.” - Iain McAlister

 

If you’re already snubbing this Scotch’s proof, don’t. Proof, like age, is just a number. I’ve had exceptional low-proof whiskies and undrinkable cask-strength stuff. My recommendation is to always #DrinkCurious and try everything rather than passing judgment based solely on a number.

 

I’m thankful to Glen Scotia for providing me with a sample of this Scotch whisky in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.

 

• Whisky Type: Single Malt Scotch
• Region: Campbeltown
• Distiller: Glen Scotia
• Age: 10 years
• Mashbill: 100% malted barley
• Cooperage: 100% first-fill Bourbon casks
• Alcohol Content: 40% ABV (80°)
• Price per 750mL: $79.99
• Non-Chill Filtered

 

Appearance: I explored this whisky neat in a Glencairn glass. While there is no mention of whether Glen Scotia used E150a caramel coloring or not, it possessed a brilliant gold hue. A massive rim formed, releasing thick, syrupy tears back down to the pool.

 

Nose: After giving the Scotch about ten minutes to breathe, I brought the lip of the glass just under my nostrils and inhaled, exposing me to pineapples, apples, maritime air, buttered toast, and toffee. I pulled the air into my mouth and found salted caramel.

 

Palate: Glen Scotia’s texture was buttery, and it coated my tongue and the roof of my mouth. The front of my palate encountered vanilla, agave, and English toffee. My mid-palate discovered grilled pineapples, orange marmalade, and lemon peel. Dry oak, fresh ginger, and salted caramel were on the back.

 

Finish: Initially, things were soft, but the longer I waited, the spicier the finish became. Salted caramel, pineapples, and agave were the opening act, yet they were soon shoved off the stage by the ginger and oak spices. At the very end, which occurred at an incredible 3:28, the ginger became candied.  

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Remember how I said that proof is just a number? Glen Scotia 10 makes the point perfectly. It had plenty of flavor and character, and, interestingly, I’d be concerned a higher alcohol content would make all that spice domineering. Also, the roof of my mouth experienced a slight tingle.

 

If you think Scotch tastes like Band-Aids or is too smoky, that’s an overgeneralization stated by people who haven’t explored the massively diverse world that is Scotch whisky. There were none of those qualities with Glen Scotia 10-Year-Old.

 

With the maritime notes, this Scotch was classic Campbeltown. It is a solid pour, and I loved it, so much so that I took a second helping. It was a fantastic sipping experience, earning my Bottle rating. Cheers!

 

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whisky as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.