Brand: Campbeltown Loch
Produced by: Springbank Distillers Ltd, Campbeltown
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: NAS (Said To Be 5 Years Old)
ABV: 40 %
Colour: Pale Gold, White Wine
Nose: It's Light but certainly not unpleasant considering the price. I find some Sweet Peat, light Smoke, Brine, Salt, Cereals, Grain Alcohol, Vanilla, Toffee, Banana - and Apricot Flavoured Candies, Grass, Refill Ex-Bourbon Casks and traces of Leather, Espresso Coffee and Cinnamon. It's a bit too Light for my liking and the Alcohol is not integrated. But other than that it's quite okay when considering the price.
Palate: Thin Delivery. The slightly weaker part of this Blend as far as I'm concerned. I find Sweet Grains, Corn Syrup, Earthy Peat, light Smoke, light Caramel, New Make Spirit, light Vanilla, light Banana, light Herbs, Pepper, Salt, Clove, Licorice and a hint of Rubber.
Finish: Middle-Long with Sweet Peat, light Smoke, Cereals, Citrus, Pepper, Oak, Licorice (quite a bit), Salt, Caramel and Alcohol. Nothing to get excited about but not bad in its category.
I added a bit of Water and on the Nose, the Oak and Grains start to dominate. Palate and Finish do not benefit from added Water either. Better sip it neat.
Rating: 84
Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 20.5 - Finish: 21 - Overall: 21
General Remarks: The Springbank Distillery is one of the very few remaining producers of Campbeltown Single Malt. It's owned by J & A Mitchell & Co. Ltd. and produces three types of Whisky namely Springbank, that is distilled 2,5 times, the peated Longrow that is distilled twice and the unpeated and triple-distilled Hazelburn. Most of the Spirit is sold as Single Malt but a small quantity is reserved for the House Blends Campbeltown Loch (5 Years) and Mitchell's (12 Years). The Campbeltown Loch I'm tasting today is made of 40% Single Malt (Mainly Springbank and Longrow) and 60% Grain Whiskies. It costs an average 30 US Dollars.
Drinking Experience Neat: Good
Conclusion: This is a Cheap Blended Whisky that is good enough to sip. There is nothing really special going on but it's utterly drinkable. I like the Nose. Nice interplay between Sweet Candy and Medium Peat. The Grain Alcohol does not bother me that much as it does in the majority of Blends in this category. This spirit really deserves more (quality) cask time. The Palate does not convince me in the same way. No Off-Notes here but it's all a bit too Thin for my taste. The Finish is not bad and invites you to have another sip. It's very drinkable to the point that you need to remind yourself that this is Whisky with an ABV of 40%. I think it's a pity that this Blend is not more widely available and at this price level you should certainly give it a try when you find it somewhere.
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