Campbeltown Loch Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

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.

No grain nas blend of all the Campbeltown malts how can you go wrong. Seriously with the rarity nowadays of Springbank and others this is a major score. Who cares if its young its got a damn SB stamp on the f-ing bottle. Dusty creamy malt with some salted caramel/toffee. Tanned leather hung up by the seashore with ocean breeze blowing in. There are hints of the farmy SB funk but the pungent grapefruit/blood orange zest is not here, think Hazel is more forefront. There are some nice medicinal notes and hits of char and wispy smoke with earth tones. Its a bit dirty in a good way and overall worth a purchase. That said all the other offerings from region Ive had were better. Prices have shot up so much this appears to be a strong value but in reality its probably not. I think I (we) are so desperate for SB products that just acquiring raises score a bit. Its good solid quality malt blend I just wish it was $10-15 cheaper and I would feel good......88/100... cant go 4 star...yet

The nose is mango, tangerine, pear, raisin, dried cherry, salty ocean spray, slight industrial funk. On the palate the fruit basket continues, then pepper, then dark chocolate. Supposedly Longrow is in the mix, but I’m not getting much in the way of peat. There was the slight industrial note more on the nose than the palate. Seems like Hazelburn and Glen Scotia are playing the most prominent roles in the blend, although there are moments when it feels as if Springbank and Kilkerran pop in for brief cameos. I’d prefer they had starring roles, but as a fan of pretty much anything out of Campbeltown, it’s still a winner for me. Price is fair-ish for what you get, but I’m not sure I’d go much higher than the $60 I bought it for. Update: halfway through the bottle, it seems like some peat is emerging and the fruit flavors are receding. Interesting, and makes me enjoy this even more.

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.

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.

Some call it the poor man's Springbank, a blended malt of young, subpar or leftover casks. Well, let's find out! Citric, funky and youthful, the nose starts off with spiced oranges, mild pepper and whiffs of peat smoke. Engine oil, brine and raisins appear. The firm arrival is accompanied by marmalade, lemon drops and slightly earthy notes before it shifts towards baking spices, pears and melon. Lime, black tea and emerging peatiness carry over into the zesty, fresh and mildly dry finish. It is not more than the sum of its parts, but it gives me a Campbeltown fix. RATING: 3.7/5.0 stars ≙ 85 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE [+]