Till now, Glen Scotia was the only of the three Campbeltown distilleries whose spirits I have not tried. The dark amber liquid and the complex nose give the impression of an antiquated painting — aged canvas and crackling oil paint. I smell black peppercorn, cedar heartwood, thyme, dried apple, and — departing from the dryness — a deep mossy note. On the palate, Glen Scotia 15 is at base exquisitely malty, with notes of salted pretzel, caramel, and nougat. Orange zest and treacle come to mind as well. This scotch balances funk and malt as perfectly as a good abbey ale, with the sweet and rich notes of the palate being tempered by the oily and briny mouthfeel. A tangy and salubrious tamarind finish burns slowly and softly down, like a glowing cedar ember. Glen Scotia 15 is a wonder of a whisky, even if it falls a hair behind Springbank 15 and Kilkerran 12 for me. However, it’s not a matter of craft but of preference. The tang and dry salinity of Glen Scotia can be compared with the richness and decadence of Springbank and the fruity-salty complexity of Kilkerran. At any rate, this won’t be my last bottle.