Glen Scotia has turned to a mythical guardian for the fourth whisky in its Icons of Campbeltown series.
The penultimate instalment in this five‑part annual release, inspired by the folklore carved into Campbeltown’s 14th‑century market cross, pays tribute to the Griffin, the half-eagle, half-lion creature said to have watched over Campbeltown’s harbour and protected its whisky.
According to local legend, the creature represented strength, vigilance and protection.
It’s a yarn rooted in Campbeltown’s Victorian past, when the region was known as the whisky capital of the world; here it provides an evocative backdrop for a punchy 12 year old, unpeated single malt finished in Vin Santo wine casks.
Glen Scotia master blender Ashley Smith says the Vin Santo casks were chosen to complement the distillery’s established character.
“They’ve brought a honeyed sweetness and dried fruit, with toasted almond and warming cinnamon on the finish, with our distinctive coastal salt character anchoring it all,” he says.
The Luxe Review has had an early sample of this layered dram, and we’ve developed quite a fondness for the Griffin…
This chapter pays tribute to the Griffin, the half-eagle, half-lion creature said to have watched over Campbeltown’s harbour and protected its whisky…
Glen Scotia’s Icons of Campbeltown Release No.4 tasting notes
The nose is lively, with caramel, sweet sultanas and toffee apple fruitiness. On the palate, the Vin Santo influence mingles with cinnamon buns, hot caramel, toasted hazelnut, liquorice and orchard fruit.
The finish is relatively long and warming, with orange bitters, citrus, and caramelised oak sugars.
The mouthfeel is creamy, with thick legs that meander down the glass. The whisky is non-chill filtered and natural in colour. It’s bottled at batch strength 53.8% ABV.
Adding a droplet of water calms the nose, and elevates the cinnamon notes.
“The Griffin stood watch over Campbeltown for hundreds of years, and that’s exactly how I think of our distillery team, as the guardians of Glen Scotia’s whisky,” says Smith. “Every cask that leaves here has been shaped by people protecting a character that has come to be loved all over the world, through skill built up over generations.”
The packaging artwork also warrants a shout-out, as the series also continues the distillery’s collaboration with artist Joel Holtzman, whose previous work includes projects for Disney, Marvel and Lucasfilm.
Pusser’s Rum is bringing its founding recipe back to life with a limited-edition bottling inspired by the extraordinary story of its founder, Charles Tobias. The new Pusser’s Rum Founder’s Reserve Limited Edition meticulously recreates the first rum blended by Tobias in 1979, the recipe that helped establish the brand’s reputation for characterful Caribbean rum. Founder’s…
Highland whisky innovator Cù Bòcan has launched the oldest whisky in its experimental Creations series to date, drawing inspiration from an unlikely source: sweet and salty popcorn. The new limited-edition Creation #9 combines lightly peated Highland single malt with a maturation programme designed to mirror the contrast of sweet and savoury notes found in everyone’s…
Cunard has unveiled its 2028-29 programme, featuring 93 voyages across 104 destinations in 49 countries. The collection includes visits to 64 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with longer stays in port, 18 overnight calls and 18 late departures designed to give guests more time ashore. Standout itineraries include Queen Mary 2’s 500th Transatlantic Crossing, Queen Elizabeth’s…
Glen Scotia has turned to a mythical guardian for the fourth whisky in its Icons of Campbeltown series.
The penultimate instalment in this five‑part annual release, inspired by the folklore carved into Campbeltown’s 14th‑century market cross, pays tribute to the Griffin, the half-eagle, half-lion creature said to have watched over Campbeltown’s harbour and protected its whisky.
According to local legend, the creature represented strength, vigilance and protection.
It’s a yarn rooted in Campbeltown’s Victorian past, when the region was known as the whisky capital of the world; here it provides an evocative backdrop for a punchy 12 year old, unpeated single malt finished in Vin Santo wine casks.
Glen Scotia master blender Ashley Smith says the Vin Santo casks were chosen to complement the distillery’s established character.
“They’ve brought a honeyed sweetness and dried fruit, with toasted almond and warming cinnamon on the finish, with our distinctive coastal salt character anchoring it all,” he says.
The Luxe Review has had an early sample of this layered dram, and we’ve developed quite a fondness for the Griffin…
Glen Scotia’s Icons of Campbeltown Release No.4 tasting notes
The nose is lively, with caramel, sweet sultanas and toffee apple fruitiness. On the palate, the Vin Santo influence mingles with cinnamon buns, hot caramel, toasted hazelnut, liquorice and orchard fruit.
The finish is relatively long and warming, with orange bitters, citrus, and caramelised oak sugars.
The mouthfeel is creamy, with thick legs that meander down the glass. The whisky is non-chill filtered and natural in colour. It’s bottled at batch strength 53.8% ABV.
Adding a droplet of water calms the nose, and elevates the cinnamon notes.
“The Griffin stood watch over Campbeltown for hundreds of years, and that’s exactly how I think of our distillery team, as the guardians of Glen Scotia’s whisky,” says Smith. “Every cask that leaves here has been shaped by people protecting a character that has come to be loved all over the world, through skill built up over generations.”
The packaging artwork also warrants a shout-out, as the series also continues the distillery’s collaboration with artist Joel Holtzman, whose previous work includes projects for Disney, Marvel and Lucasfilm.
Glen Scotia Icons of Campbeltown Release No.4 is available from The Whisky Exchange, priced at £80.
Pusser’s Rum revives its original 1979 blend with limited edition Founder’s Reserve
Pusser’s Rum is bringing its founding recipe back to life with a limited-edition bottling inspired by the extraordinary story of its founder, Charles Tobias. The new Pusser’s Rum Founder’s Reserve Limited Edition meticulously recreates the first rum blended by Tobias in 1979, the recipe that helped establish the brand’s reputation for characterful Caribbean rum. Founder’s…
Cù Bòcan Creation #9 is a 17 Year Old Highland whisky with a sweet and salty cinematic twist
Highland whisky innovator Cù Bòcan has launched the oldest whisky in its experimental Creations series to date, drawing inspiration from an unlikely source: sweet and salty popcorn. The new limited-edition Creation #9 combines lightly peated Highland single malt with a maturation programme designed to mirror the contrast of sweet and savoury notes found in everyone’s…
Cunard unveils 93 new voyages headlined by Queen Mary 2’s 500th transatlantic crossing
Cunard has unveiled its 2028-29 programme, featuring 93 voyages across 104 destinations in 49 countries. The collection includes visits to 64 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with longer stays in port, 18 overnight calls and 18 late departures designed to give guests more time ashore. Standout itineraries include Queen Mary 2’s 500th Transatlantic Crossing, Queen Elizabeth’s…
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