Glen Scotia unveils remarkable new 48 Year Old which celebrates Campbeltown's historical trade links and provides a glimpse into a bygone era of time
Published Date: 14th August 2023
Premium whisky drawn from the multi-award-winning distillery's oldest and rarest reserves.
Celebrating Campbeltown's international trade links, the liquid has been recasked in a first-fill Oloroso Hogshead and a second-fill Pedro Ximenez hogshead, transporting us between Scotland and Spain's sherry bodegas with a symphony of flavours.
Glen Scotia has unveiled a new limited-edition 48 Year Old single malt (40.8% ABV, £11,000), offering lucky custodians a glimpse into a bygone era of the illustrious Campbeltown distillery.
Drawn from Glen Scotia's oldest and rarest reserves, only 250 individually numbered bottles of this exceptionally unique whisky have been made available worldwide.
Aged for forty-three years in a combination of refill and first-fill bourbon barrels, the liquid was then recasked into a first-fill Oloroso Hogshead for a further five years, where it took on a delicate perfumed floral and orange citrus profile, before a final six-month finish in a second-fill ex-Pedro Ximénez Hogshead.
This meticulous process, overseen by Glen Scotia's master blender, Michael Henry, celebrates the distillery's historical trade ties overseas when Campbeltown was known as the 'Victorian Whisky Capital of the World,' and its iconic harbour linking it to Spain's sherry producing bodega's - a source of maturation casks for Glen cotia and many of its historical peers.
Contemplating a moment in time, Michael and the Glen Scotia team pieced together historical records of Campbeltown's trade links to form a view of what fortified wines and spirits would have been obtainable over the distillery's history, and therefore, which empty casks would have been available for maturing whisky, which led to this selection of sherry finishing.
The result is a remarkably refined and complex dram, offering hints of sweet Seville orange, green herbal notes, and delicate spice of nutmeg and cinnamon alongside the classic Campbeltown coastal saltiness.
On the palate is demerara sugar and treacle with vibrant hints of orange marmalade, red apple, raisin, and sultana, culminating in a long and indulgent finish of melted brown sugar enriched with stone fruit, apricot and peach.
Beautifully presented, the 48 Year Old comes in a handmade oak display case, which has been inspired by the Spanish 'Azulejo' tile designs once found in the bodegas of Seville, and then further afield around Spain and Portugal in the 18th and 19th centuries.
In partnership with Glencairn, the liquid has been encased in a bottle etched and infilled, with gold metal decoration to the body and shoulder. The presentation case comes accompanied by a plaque, with the individual bottle number, tasting notes, and story of this incredible single malt whisky.
Preserved by generations of distillery workers, each drop of this exceptional new release carries the legacy of the distillery and a moment in time for whisky production in Scotland. The launch is an opportunity for whisky connoisseurs and collectors to own a piece of industry history.
Iain McAlister, Master Distiller and Distillery Manager at Glen Scotia, said, "The 48-Year-Old is an exceptional release with a remarkable heritage. It is so intriguing to me to think that different generations of distillery managers and their teams, who would have been testing their casks over time, opted to hold this particular liquid back time and time again, allowing it to continue its journey. What we have inherited today is therefore a real journey through time and a celebration of Glen Scotia's rich heritage and craftsmanship, which continues to thrive. This is a collector's must-have, a chance to reflect upon a time in history and be transported to a bygone era of one of Scotland's most enduring distilleries."
Michael Henry, Master Blender for Glen Scotia, said, "This expression is a testament to Glen Scotia's commitment to excellence and preserving the Campbeltown style, handed down by past generations of local distillery workers. It is the first time Glen Scotia has used a combination of oloroso and PX sherry casks on a liquid of such a remarkable age, which has resulted in a Spanish symphony of flavour married with Glen Scotia's coastal nuances. The result is a whisky quite unlike anything we've had the pleasure of crafting to date – it is one that exemplifies luxury and rarity for a very fortunate few and is a true window into the distillery's past. I have no doubt it will leave an impression that will be as enduring as the distillery itself has been."
The 48 Year Old is available from the Glen Scotia website and select specialist retailers in the UK, Europe, China, USA, Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore and South Africa markets.
Tasting notes for Glen Scotia 48 Year Old
Nose: Sweet citrus of Seville orange, pineapple, coastal saltiness, green herbal notes, bay leaf, with nutmeg and cinnamon.
Palette: An elegant mouthfeel with layers of demerara sugar and treacle sweetness. There is orange marmalade, red apple then raisin and sultana, some dried peel and cinnamon spice.
Finish: Long finish with melted brown sugar and stone fruit, apricot and peach.
More Whisky News
News: Royal Salute - 29th January 2025
Ring In The Lunar New Year With Royal Salute’s Stunning Celebratory Release
News: Chivas Brothers - 28th January 2025
Seven In 10 Brits Concerned About Health Of Their Local River, Chivas Brothers Survey Finds
News: The Glenlivet - 21st January 2025
The Glenlivet Introduces Its Oldest Permanent Expression: The Glenlivet 40 Year Old
News: The Sexton - 15th January 2025
The Sexton Irish Whiskey Launches First Line Extension, An 11 Year Old Single Malt, Exclusively For Global Travel Retail
News: Woodford Reserve - 4th December 2024
Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked Bourbon Returns as 2024 Winter Distillery Series
News: Bimber - 3rd December 2024
Bimber Distillery celebrates milestone with the launch of first age statement single malt whiskies
<< Read more latest news at Planet Whiskies
Trip to Johnnie Walker Princes Street
Distillery of the Month: September 2024
Tomintoul Distillery Tour

Planet Whiskies had a fantastic trip up to the Speyside Whisky region of Scotland in February 2024 to visit Angus Dundee Distillers Tomintoul Distillery within the Cairngorms National Park. Then, after the distillery tour and tasting, which was hosted by Iain Forteath, the master blender of Tomintoul, our press group travelled and stayed the night at the recently bought country home of Tomintoul House in the Aultmore Estate (previously called Aultmore House). Planet Whiskies has made the Tomintoul Distillery, Distillery of the Month for both March/April 2024. Read more Planet Whiskies Tomintoul Distillery Tour
Distillery of the Month: February 2024
Bushmills Distillery Tour

Planet Whiskies visited the new Bushmills Distillery in Northern Ireland on the 25th and 26th of September. Read our review of the experience of Bushmills and Northern Ireland at Planet Whiskies tour of Bushmills and Northern Ireland
You can also read the whole section about Bushmills Distillery at Bushmills Distillery Information on Planet Whiskies... So Bushmills was Planet Whiskies Distillery of the Month title for January/February 2024
Drams Delivered To Your Door
Drams Delivered To Your Door - The World’s Biggest Whisky Club Drops New Monthly Subscription Service

Whisky enthusiasts can now take their passion to the next level and have exceptional cask strength single malt whiskies delivered to their doors every month thanks to The Scotch Malt Whisky Society's new 'Drop & Dram' subscription service.
Click for more details
Whisky Tasting Sets
Advertisement
Stay Connected
Get Newsletter
Subscribe to our newsletter to get latest news, popular news and exclusive updates.