Glen Scotia has unveiled the second expression in its Icons of Campbeltown collection, which launched last year in homage to the rich heritage of the distillery’s home town.
The new whisky is part of a five-part limited-edition annual series inspired by etchings found on the Campbeltown’s famous Market Cross.
The 14th-century cross is awash with stone carvings of saints, beasts, heroes and their foes, all of which are said to capture tales of Campbeltown’s past.
Among these is an etching of Saint Michael – the archangel, not the old M&S brand – who was said to have slain a fire-breathing dragon.
Release No.2 draws on this legend, with pack designs that feature a dragon climbing the Market Cross.
The whisky itself is a 14-year-old medium-peated single malt (56.8% ABV, RSP £98) produced by master blender Michael Henry. Laid down in American oak, Henry decided upon a six-month finish in Barolo red wine casks, resulting in a smoky liquid, complemented by red candied fruits and berries, followed by a long, dry finish. There is a subtle maritime salinity throughout, nodding to Glen Scotia’s signature style.
Iain McAlister, distillery manager and master distiller at Glen Scotia, added: “You will find no living saints or dragon slayers in the town now, just a wonderful community that endures against the odds by its prevailing spirit of unity, and this is what our latest Icons of Campbeltown release celebrates.”
