Campbeltown Loch Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

I really enjoyed this when I had every expectation of hating it. Somehow, this blend of single malts admirably encapsulates the whisky regionof Campbeltown. It certainly has a lot of Springbank, but it's not just a variation of their profile,. Also, this is apprently one bottle the scalpers and resellers fell flat on and lost money from the initial release because it isn't "trendy." I love a story of the secondary market getting a little justice. If you can grab some, this is a great bottle to add some variety to any library, or even just to try at a bar. Don't turn your nose up because it's "a blend," especially when the blend is of such quality single malts.

Nose: Funky, dry putty, Campino sweets, strawberry laces, vanilla, Cremola foam, floral Finish: Sweet, berries, icing sugar, white pepper, baked fruit, saline, light dry peat smoke Palate: Long finish. Hot and spicy, dried fruit, slight funk/farmyard, ginger, gristy, light oak Not a bad blend from Springbank. All the Springbanks and Glen Scotias are represented. It tastes like an amalgam of Campbeltown but a bit watered down. If you like the Campbeltown profile, it's an interesting blend. On its own it's a decent blend, but, in my opinion, it's not worth the hype. Generally OK.

The nose is soft and subtle starting with honeydew, effervescent lemon lime and fallen leaves then cocoa powder dusted golden raisins, charred hay bales and seaside rocky minerality followed by pears, mangoes and charred pineapple that transitions to light baking spices and mild black tea with low ethanol burn. The taste is a medium mouthfeel starting with creamy tropical fruits before a mild spice that quickly fades to honeycomb, effervescent lemon lime and leaf mulch then cocoa powder dusted golden raisins, burning hay bales and seaside rocky minerality followed by caramelized pears, mangoes and charred pineapple that transitions to light baking spices and mild black tea with medium ethanol burn. The finish is medium length with a mild spice, dark chocolate covered raisins, baked oranges, burning hay bales, seaside rocky minerality and mild black tea. I was a bit skeptical on how the combination of Springbank, Glen Scotia and Kilkerran would turn out, but this one turned out really well with a balanced mix of honeyed citrus fruits, mild peat smoke, light farmyard funk and seaside rocky minerality that is a soft and easy sipping dram that would be perfect for anyone that enjoys the distilleries in Campbeltown. At the MSRP price of around $55, this is an absolute steal if you can find a bottle. Thanks @Richard-ModernDrinking for the generous sample.

I’ve recently returned from the delightful wee ‘toon of Campbeltown, so as the temperature in New York finally drops to a level where I can tolerate drinks that don’t require refrigeration my first thought is to dig into the suitcase of treats I brought back with me. But it’s still too hot for my high-proof bounty, so instead I’ve returned to this taste of Campbeltown secured on a previous trip to the Cadenhead store in London. It’s an easy drinking blend that ticks all the boxes you’d expect of a Springbank/Glen Scotia/Kilkerran combo: the nose is creamy and prickly smoky that recalls toasted marshmallows. The palate is malty barley with a hint of lemon and some oak spice that extends through the medium length finish. It’s not worth silly secondary market prices, but at its retail price of 45 pounds it’s as delightful as the view from the loch’s harbor.