Glen Scotia 12 Year Old Icons Of Campbeltown Release #3 Review

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Glen Scotia 12 Year Old Icons Of Campbeltown Release #3 Review

Name: Glen Scotia 12 Year Old Icons Of Campbeltown Release #3 Review
Item: Glen Scotia 12 Year Old Icons Of Campbeltown Release #3 Review
Rating: 8
Author: Phil Dwyer

Unveil the third release in Glen Scotia's Icons of Campbeltown series with this 12 Year Old unpeated single malt. Finished in Tawny Port casks, it offers a rich tapestry of dark chocolate, roasted nuts, and ripe fruits, perfectly balanced with a maritime character.

by Phil Dwyer
October 18, 2025

Phil Dwyer is a freelance whisky writer and consultant with over a decade of experience in whisky retail and online whisky education. Best known for hosting Whisky Wednesday on YouTube, he is dedicated to making whisky accessible and enjoyable by cutting through jargon and complexity.

Tasting Notes:

About:

Release No.3 in the Icons of Campbeltown Series turns its attention to the wolf — a symbol that has long loomed large in Scottish folklore, most notably in tales of the Wulver. While the marketing leans heavily on the mythic imagery, the whisky itself tells a more grounded story. This is a 12-year-old unpeated single malt, given a nine-month finish in Tawny Port casks.

Appearance:

Dark Orange

Nose:

Candied orange, dark chocolate, smoked pistachio, salted peanuts, dates and marinated fruits covered in chocolate. This is a weirdly specific note but in the UK there is a drink called Vimto. It’s a fruit cordial that is normally served cold and diluted with water. This reminds me of warm Vimto, a drink that is normally served in the bitter cold of a football match in winter.

It has that warm, welcoming, jammy fruity notes to it. This is an unpeated liquid but you would think there is a little bit of it floating around somewhere. The saltiness is so aromatic and ethereal, it’s very warming and coastal

Palate:

More fruits and a lot of dark chocolate! You get those jammy fruits again and this aromatic saltiness.

Burnt herbs of rosemary and sage, cinder toffee, hazelnuts, walnuts and an overall feel of coastal Christmas time.

Finish:

Wonderfully balanced and has a lot of gravitas to it. A very long finish that is full of rich, sweet fruits with contrasting dark chocolate, salt, dried fruit and nuts. Along with this very rounded saltiness that pops up everywhere, you have to give Glen Scotia immense credit for getting the balance of house style spirit and a very jammy port finished absolutely nailed down.

Comments:

Excellent! Deep, dark and quite decadent whilst being very moreish, too.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Phil Dwyer

Phil Dwyer is a freelance whisky writer and consultant. With a decade of experience in whisky retail and nearly as long running Whisky Wednesday on YouTube, Phil is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with fellow whisky lovers. His goal is to make whisky accessible and enjoyable, dispelling the jargon and complexity that can sometimes surround the spirit. In addition to his online presence, Phil managed The Whisky Shop Manchester, where he curated an impressive selection of some of the finest drams available.

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