One of the new exclusive bottlings from The Whisky Exchange is this 10 year old Glen Scotia finished in Tawny Port casks. It is bottled by the Thompson Bros.
The label is inspired by a 1930s Champagne poster, but the original subject has been replaced by TWE’s head buyer, Dawn Davis. Hence the name, Dawny Port.
Glen Scotia 10 yo 2015 ‘Dawny Port’ (53,3%, Thompson Brothers for The Whisky Exchange 2025, Tawny Port cask finish, 317 btl.)
Nose: chimney ashes and herbal notes mixed with raisins, candied ginger, plum sweetness and a hint of strawberry jam. Nicer than expected. Then also lemon notes and sour berry candy. Apple pie with cinnamon dusting. Dark honey underneath and flower petals on top. Quite a complex nose and the Port sweetness is well dosed.
Mouth: a bigger fruity sweetness now, mixed with ashes and oak char. Red berries, plum jam and stewed blackberries. Then roasted walnuts, along with dried herbs, hints of roasted cardamom and some medicinal elements. Bits of bitter chocolate and slightly burnt cinnamon rolls. Liquorice as well.
Finish: long and spicy, with black pepper and ginger, as well as chocolate and a subtle salty edge.
With its warming spice, peat and balanced sweetness, this is a good fireplace dram. There’s an old-school Campbeltown character to it that I do appreciate, but the Port influence feels unnecessary. Only available from The Whisky Exchange.