Maclean Foundation Glen Scotia 2016

Maclean Foundation Glen Scotia 2016

Region: Campbeltown

ABV: 59.1%

Price: £115.00

Today's review features the 2nd release from the Maclean Foundation, a family charity founded by whisky industry veteran Charles Maclean and his three sons, Lachlan, Ewan, and Jamie. Charles Maclean, in collaboration with Iain McAlister (Master Distiller and Master Blender at Glen Scotia), personally selected the cask for this release. The distillery has generously donated the cask to support the charity's initiatives.

This exclusive single cask release is being sold through Royal Mile Whiskies, with all profits directed towards clean water projects in Madagascar. Each bottle sold provides at least one person with clean water for life.

Distilled in 2016 and aged in a first-fill bourbon barrel, this whisky was bottled in 2024 at 8 years old. A total of 210 bottles were released.

Nose

The nose opens with lemon sherbet, vanilla fondant, musky dunnage warehouses, alongside a coastal salinity, sea spray, green apple and a handful of green grapes. There's an oiliness about the nose, not industrial, but almost incense-like. The alcohol is fairly prominent, but works well with the aromas presented, giving a light spritz and pepperiness rather than overwhelming spirit punch. Time and air brings out mild orange peel, buttery filo pastry, and poached pears.

Palate

The palate begins with a touch of lemon, fairly light and zesty, but quickly moves into a slightly more earthy, oaky flavour, wafer cones, butter biscuits, before finishing off with a tingle of key lime pie and Maldon sea salt. It's a palate that changes as it sits on your tongue, taking you through a range of sweet, salty, sour and bitter flavours. Going back, we're finding Battenberg cake, almond paste, pistachio skins, grape must and fudge. The mouthfeel is decent, not the most viscous we've tried, but the finish does linger for a good length with a bit of fino sherry-like dryness and a breadiness reminiscent of the crusts of white sandwich bread.

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose introduces punchy aromas of fresh vanilla pods, white sugar cubes, merengue, more fondant, salted caramel and milk chocolate. This has removed most of the citrus and orchard fruits previously found, and turned this into a proper dessert dram. As we go back, we get a hint of lemon, and a bit of that funky Campbeltown musk, but water really does transform this dram.

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate goes in an almost opposite way to the reduced nose at first, becoming more coastal, slightly murky, vegetal even, bitter melon and high percentage dark chocolate, but then mellows out as the palate develops into freshly squeezed apple juice, lemon oils and a tingle of spice. Again, it's a palate that takes you on a journey with each sip.

Conclusion

This is a great example of the unpeated, bourbon matured Glen Scotia spirit shining through, lots of sweet, fruity aromas and flavours balanced with a bit of coastalness, and accented with that little bit of funk from Campbeltown that we love. It doesn't pretend to be old, and shows this with a fair amount of warmth on the palate and finish, however it manages to present itself in a complex and interesting way.

Score: 8/10

Value

This is a great whisky that supports a worthy charity. We bought a bottle and are confident you won’t be disappointed if you decide to purchase one too.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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