Campbeltown Loch

Origin

Campbeltown (Schotland)

Type

Blended Malt Whisky

Barrel

Not Specified

Age

No Age Statement

Alcohol

46°

Value

40 points

About the product

Campbeltown Loch Blended Malt is a much-loved but under-known whisky. It is a blended malt, which means that it is composed exclusively of single malts from different distilleries. In this case, Campbeltown Loch is also a tribute to where it comes from - Campbeltown.

Campbeltown is a town on the Kintyre Peninsula with a rich history. There are currently three different distilleries operating, making a total of five different single malts: Springbank produces Hazelburn, Longrow and Springbank, Glen Scotia make Glen Scotia single malt and at Glengyle Distillery they produce the Kilkerran single malt. For Campbeltown Loch blended malt, a quantity of single malt from each of these 5 different brands is used in the composition, making it the ultimate blend of Campbeltown.

This whisky matured in a combination of bourbon casks and sherry casks. This gives it a rich flavour profile. On the nose, you get a distinct buttery touch and the hint of sea salt typical of Campbeltown, combined with sweeter elements like ginger and pecan pie. On the palate, the palette opens up further to creamy coffee, salted caramel, date syrup and crystallised brown sugar. All this is accompanied by a gentle peat smoke. The finish is surprisingly pronounced for a 46% ABV blended malt, with a building peat smoke that, over time, also takes on an element of leather.

A delicious whisky for the price-conscious enthusiast, which has also won several awards.

About the brand

Behind the famous blended malt Campbeltown Loch is the firm J&A Mitchell & Co. That company operates Springbank and Glengyle distilleries as well as the independent bottler Cadenhead.

Springbank Distillery was founded in 1828 on the site where ancestor Archibald Mitchell was already using an illegal boiler at the time. It would grow over the years to become one of the most popular distilleries for whisky lovers. Springbank was also one of only two distilleries to survive the crash of the 1930s after Campbeltown's heyday as the capital of the whisky world in the late 19th century - more than 30 other distilleries had to close in Campbeltown during that period. Three different single malts are produced at Springbank. Hazelburn (made since 1997) is unturped and is distilled three times. Longrow is heavily-turfed and is distilled twice and finally Springbank itself is distilled 2.5 times and is medium-turfed. At Glengyle, its youngest brother, a small amount of single malt has been distilled since 2004, marketed under the brand name Kilkerran. Cadenhead is one of Scotland's oldest independent bottlers, founded in 1842 and joined J&A Mitchell in 1969. They are known for their quirky independent bottlings, of which the Original Collection is the most famous range.

The other distillery currently operating in Campbeltown is Glen Scotia. It also survived the crash of the 1930s, but does not belong to J&A Mitchell & Co. It does matter for the Campbeltown Loch blended malt, as it consists of the 5 different single malts produced in Campbeltown: Springbank, Hazelburn, Longrow, Kilkerran and, consequently, Glen Scotia.