Campbeltown Loch is the name of the blended malt produced by J&A Mitchell, the owners of Springbank distillery. Different versions exist, some of which are blends, while others are blended malts, and some come with an age statement. I tried Campbeltown Loch 21 Years some time ago.
The 2022 version we’re trying today (in fact bottled at the end of 2021) is a NAS composition made of 100% Scotch malt whiskies, more precisely of Campbeltown’s five single malts: Springbank, Hazelburn and Longrow, together with Glen Scotia and Kilkerran.
Campbeltown Loch (46%, OB 2021, blended malt)
Nose: something from every distillery indeed. There is a rather round core of apples and peaches, lemon peel and floral honey, pimped with subtle mineral notes and wet chalk. Light waxy touches and a wee mentholated note. Quite harmonious, it is certainly less funky than most of these single malts.
Mouth: fairly oily and really mineral, with chalk standing out, as well as a light bitter edge of grapefruit. Then it becomes rather grassy and grainy, as if there was a small portion of grain whisky inside. White pepper, mint, wet limestone and mild heathery peat. It is quite naked and a tad austere, but a nice composition.
Finish: good length, with more coastal minerals and a light metallic note.
It’s nice to see Campbeltown Loch return. While I find this version a tad austere, it offers a price-conscious, characterful introduction to this unique whisky region. Especially Glen Scotia is leaving a big footprint, I’d say. The original price is around € 40-50 – pretty good value – but even this is already prone to speculation, lowering its appeal to those who actually drink whisky. Available from The Whisky Exchange.