Multi-award-winning Campbeltown distillery Glen Scotia has launched the fourth bottling in its annual Icons of Campbeltown series: a limited-edition 12-year-old unpeated single malt finished in Vin Santo wine casks.
The new release pays tribute to the Griffin, the half-eagle, half-lion creature said in local folklore to have watched over Campbeltown harbour, protecting the town’s whisky, people and distinctive character.
A guardian of Campbeltown
Glen Scotia’s five-part Icons of Campbeltown collection draws on the folklore surrounding Scotland’s smallest whisky-producing region. Each annual release takes inspiration from figures and carvings found on Campbeltown’s 14th-century market cross, which features saints, beasts and symbols steeped in local myth.
The Griffin is among those depictions. Traditionally associated with strength, vigilance and protection, the legendary creature was believed to have stood watch above the harbour, guarding what Campbeltown held most dear: its whisky.
The story provides a fitting theme for a distillery rooted in a town once known as the whisky capital of the world during the Victorian era. Campbeltown’s character, history and close connection to the sea have long helped define the distinctive profile of its whiskies.
Vin Santo cask finish
Icons of Campbeltown Release No.4 has been matured for 12 years before being finished in Vin Santo wine casks.
The Italian dessert-wine casks bring a rich, honeyed sweetness to the whisky, alongside notes of dried apricot and sultana. Toasted almond and hazelnut add warmth and depth, while cinnamon spice develops on the finish.
Glen Scotia said the distillery’s signature coastal character remains central to the expression, with a gentle maritime salinity underpinning the fruit, sweetness and spice.
Ashley Smith, master blender at Glen Scotia, said: “Our small town has so many exceptional stories to tell, and The Icons of Campbeltown series brings this incredible folklore to life.
“The Griffin stood watch over Campbeltown for hundreds of years, and that’s exactly how I think of our distillery team, as the guardians of Glen Scotia’s whisky. Every cask that leaves here has been shaped by people protecting a character that has come to be beloved all over the world, through skill built up over generations.
“For this release, I wanted a cask that would truly complement that character, so we finished the whisky in Vin Santo casks. They’ve brought a honeyed sweetness and dried fruit, with toasted almond and warming cinnamon on the finish, with our distinctive coastal salt character anchoring it all.”
Artist returns for latest chapter
Glen Scotia has again partnered with artist Joel Holtzman for the release artwork. Holtzman, whose previous projects include work for Disney, Marvel and Lucasfilm, has created the visual identity for the Icons of Campbeltown series as it traces the town’s legendary figures and folklore.
The distillery is also marking the launch with a competition offering purchasers the opportunity to win a trip to Campbeltown.
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The prize experience will include a visit to Glen Scotia, the chance to meet the distillery team, a guided exploration of the site and a tasting in the town that shaped the whisky’s character. The competition is open to customers purchasing Icons of Campbeltown Release No.4 through Glen Scotia’s website, subject to terms and conditions.
Availability
Icons of Campbeltown Release No.4 is bottled at batch strength of 53.8% ABV. It is non-chill filtered and natural in colour.
The limited-edition 12-year-old is available now through Glen Scotia’s website, specialist retailers across the UK and selected global markets.
