Campbeltown Loch is a blended malt made up of spirit from five Campbeltown distilleries: Springbank, Hazelburn, Longrow, Kilkerran und Glen Scotia. Maturation takes place in both bourbon and sherry casks. We already tried the 2022 edition and today we’re reviewing the 2023 edition.
Campbeltown Loch (46%, OB 07.03.2023)
Nose: a sourness is markedly in the foreground. Kiwi and lemon with sourdough. A bit of funky notes (wet carpet, wood oil and slightly rubbery smoke), clay and chalky minerals. Then hints of leather with stewed orchard fruits in the background. Nicely off-beat, typically Campbeltown.
Mouth: quite oily, with the same lemony notes and wet gravel. Dark but lightweight smoke. Faint metallic hints. Cinnamon and black pepper. Then it moves towards more savoury notes like coffee, beef stock and light medicinal notes, as well as some dark chocolate in the very end.
Finish: quite long, with more funky notes again, bittersweet herbs and cold smoke.
Pretty good value again, with a good sense of the dirty, mineral and lightly smoky character of Springbank and Glen Scotia. If you don’t manage to grab Springbank bottles, this may be the perfect introduction to what Campbeltown is all about. A bit young though. Available from The Whisky Exchange although we can’t be sure of the batch. I got a sample from Whisky Agents.