Scotch whisky is best enjoyed when you take your time and stay open to discovering new flavors. Glen Scotia 10-Year-Old and Loch Lomond 12-Year-Old Perfectly Balanced both show how much where a whisky comes from matters, even though they taste very different. One reflects the fresh, salty air of the coast, while the other leans toward smooth fruit and gentle sweetness. Together, they give American drinkers an easy way to explore the wide range of styles Scotland has to offer, just as both distilleries are expanding their presence in the U.S. market.
Glen Scotia 10-Year-Old comes from Campbeltown, a small seaside town that was once known as the “Whisky Capital of the World.” In the 1800s, more than 28 distilleries operated there, but today only three are left. Glen Scotia is one of them and continues to make whisky in the traditional Campbeltown style. Whiskies from this region are known for flavors you won’t find anywhere else, often showing a salty, coastal influence with a rich, slightly oily texture shaped by the nearby sea and long-standing tradition rather than modern trends.
Aged entirely in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels, Glen Scotia 10-Year-Old is a vivid expression of that heritage. Non-chill-filtered and crafted from 100 percent malted barley, the whisky opens with aromas of sea spray, crisp apple, lemon zest, and toasted oak. On the palate, syrupy richness unfolds into a blend of melted brown sugar, orange marmalade, tangy pineapple, and creamy vanilla oak. The finish lingers with gentle ginger and cinnamon spice, leaving a warm, coastal echo. Distilled on copper swan neck pot stills and matured in maritime-adjacent warehouses along the Firth of Clyde, it tastes like Campbeltown in liquid form. Now rolling out more widely across the U.S. through a new partnership with Foley Family Wines & Spirits and priced at $74.99, Glen Scotia 10-Year-Old is rolling out the welcome mat for a new generation of drinkers, offering a taste of Campbeltown the old-school way: bourbon-cask aged, boldly traditional, and proudly itself.
Loch Lomond 12-Year-Old Perfectly Balanced offers a contrasting, Highlands-born perspective, one rooted in innovation and meticulous control. Crafted in the shadow of Ben Lomond Mountain, Loch Lomond has built its reputation on precision, guided by Master Blender Michael Henry. Named 2024 Scotch Whisky Producer of the Year by the International Wine & Spirits Competition, the distillery is known for its proprietary Straight Neck stills, extra-long fermentations, and hands-on maturation philosophy.
That philosophy shines through in the 12-Year-Old Perfectly Balanced, a non-chill-filtered, 46% ABV single malt aged exclusively in American oak casks. By balancing first-fill, refill, and re-charred barrels, Loch Lomond achieves a profile that is approachable yet layered. Aromas of peach and pear lead into a palate of ripe orchard fruit, lemon citrus, vanilla meringue, and light biscuit sweetness. A whisper of soft smoke, derived from a modest use of peated spirit, gently seasons the finish rather than dominating it. The result is a whisky that feels precise, clear, and welcoming, priced at $59.99 and well-positioned for American drinkers ready to explore beyond familiar borders.
Side by side, Glen Scotia 10-Year-Old and Loch Lomond 12-Year-Old Perfectly Balanced feel like two voices in a lively Scottish conversation. One speaks with a salty, sea-worn accent shaped by history and coastline, while the other answers with polished craft and careful precision. Different paths, same destination: a reminder that great Scotch whisky finds its sweet spot somewhere between oil and salt, fruit and honey.
