The Spoils of Scotland

We have returned from our 4,500-mile trek through Scotland! Seven of us have unpacked, settled back in, and are ready to share some welcome-home drams with our fellow MASC members.

Let’s start with Arran 10, from the Lochranza Distillery on the Isle of Arran. It is a terrific elixir, bottled at 46% ABV without chill filtration or artificial coloring.

My favorite release ever from Bruichladdich Distillery on Islay is the “The Links” series. Between 2003 and 2011, there were 11 official releases in the series, plus two commemorative bottlings and one regional bottling. Tonight, we’ll try the 4th Edition, honoring the 10th hole at Turnberry, DJT’s golf resort in Ayrshire.

Next up is Glengoyne 18 Year, a tasty and elegant expression from one of the top distilleries in the world. It is a rare Golden Promise barley elixir celebrated for its rich, unpeated sherry profile. Glengoyne patiently draws its middle cut from the spirit still at a rate of just 7 litres per minute—three times slower than standard—to eliminate impurities and promote the development of esters.

Glen Garioch: The nerds argue that its name is one word and point to the sign on the front of the distillery as proof of their contention. Whatever, I say.

Glen Garioch 12 Year is one of my favorite whiskies. The name comes from Pictish rather than Gaelic, and Garioch is pronounced GEAR-ee… as in, “Glen Garioch is cheery.”

If your home bar doesn’t have a bottle of Glen Garioch 12 or Founder’s Reserve, put adding one ASAP at the top of your to-do list.

Now, under the heading of “Can you believe this?”, Martha requested two peated whiskies!

Diageo owns both Caol Ila, Islay’s largest distillery, and Lagavulin, at the other end of the island, as well as Port Ellen Maltings near Lagavulin. Both distilleries use Port Ellen-malted barley, peated to approximately 35–38 PPM, yet their respective single malts are about 179 degrees apart in style.

Let’s discover why: distillation speed, still shape, still charge as a percentage of capacity, and the dimensions of the middle cut.

So, we are in for a fun evening of friendship, conversation, and, of course, some terrific drams.

Do bring a friend, because as we like to say:

“Good whisky is made great when shared among friends.”

WHISKY MENU

1. ARRAN
Single Malt / 10 Year / 46% ABV / NCF / OB
Lochranza Distillery
Distillery Owner: Isle of Arran Distillers Ltd. (Messrs Auchincloss, Pierce & Mitchell)
Island — Arran

2. BRUICHLADDICH
Single Malt / The Links Series: Edition 4 — “Turnberry 10th Hole” / 14 Year / 46% ABV / NCF / OB
Distillery Owner: Rémy Cointreau (E. Rémy Martin & Co., S.A.)
Islay — West Shore
President Donald J. Trump owns Trump Turnberry Golf Resort.

3. GLENGOYNE
Single Malt / 18 Year / 43% ABV / OB
Distillery Owner: Ian Macleod Distillers (Peter J. Russell & Co.)
Highland — Southern

4. GLEN GARIOCH
Single Malt / 12 Year / 48% ABV / NCF / OB
Distillery Owner: Beam Suntory UK Ltd. (Suntory Holdings Ltd.)
Highland — Eastern

5. CAOL ILA
Single Malt / 12 Year / 43% ABV / OB
Distillery Owner: Diageo Scotland Ltd. (Diageo plc)
Islay — North Shore

6. LAGAVULIN
Single Malt / 12 Year / 2025 Special Release — “Grain & Embers” / Cask Strength — 56.5% ABV / NCF / OB
Distillery Owner: Diageo Scotland Ltd. (Diageo plc)
Islay — Kildalton