CAMPBELTOWN TASTING

For me, the flavor profile of the Campbeltown Region trends towards a lovely combination of Highland, Lowland, and Islay.  No matter what malt whisky path you take, all roads eventually lead to Campbeltown. 

* FLIGHT ONE *

Expression 1
 Springbank 10 Year 

Background: Before World War I, Campbeltown was the center of Scotch whisky production and exporting. Now, Springbank is not only one of the last privately owned distilleries in Scotland, it's also one of the last in the entire region.  Furthermore, they produce their whisky from grain to glass, all on site.  And, all of their expressions are distilled 2.5 times, non-chillfiltered, and no added color. 

Stats: Bourbon + Sherry Casks.  ABV = 46%. Bottled ~2005.

Tasting Notes: Cracked this dusty and it was smooth as honey right out of the bottle.  Whereas the last 10 Year I had was probably a 2013 bottling, and the experience was dramatically different.  That one needed some air in the bottle to get to where this one was right away.  One of the most complex 10 Year Olds you'll ever enjoy.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	YES

Expression 2
 Hazelburn 12 Year  

Background: The original Hazelburn Distillery existed in Campbeltown from 1825-1925, a victim of the aforementioned post-WWI decline.  The Mitchell Family, owners of Springbank, resurrected the name to market their triple-distilled, non-peated product.  Their first release in 2005 was an 8 Year expression.  Next up was this 12 Year, followed by the current 10.

Stats: Bourbon + Sherry Casks. ABV = 46%.  Bottled 2012.

Tasting Notes: While this is unpeated, I still get some medicinal notes, or perhaps it's more mineral?  Not a big range on the taste, I'm afraid that extra distillation removed all the interesting stuff!  I'll have to compare this sometime to the Auchentoshan 12.  Easy drinking for sure, just not a lot going enjoy.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	NO	NO

Expression 3
 Kilkerran 12 Year 

Background: Glengyle operated in Campbeltown from 1872-1925, but found itself another victim of the post-WWI decline.  In 2004, the Mitchell Family resurrected the distillery, but could not name its spirit Glengyle as the other whiskymaker in town, Glen Scotia, owns that name.  Thus it was dubbed Kilkerran, in homage to the founder of the city.  

Stats: ABV = 46%.  Bottled ~2017.
 

Tasting Notes: Nice kettle corn nose and delicious from the get go. Creamy vanilla and cinnamon spice, plus a long finish.  Worthy of being a regular 'go to' at home and at the local bar.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	YES

Expression 4
 Longrow Peated 

Background: Named after another mothballed Campbeltown distillery, this is Springbank's heavily peated malt.  While production commenced in 1973, the first official distillery release wasn't until 2000 with their 10 Year expression, which evolved into this NAS version in 2012.

Stats: ABV = 46%. Bottled 2017. 
 

Tasting Notes: Regular Springbank's are lightly peated, of course, but Longrow's like this one deliver big peat on the nose as well as a  smokey finish, all the while remaining well-balanced.  The taste is brown sugar and a mix of corn sweetness and vanilla.  While this is very enjoyable, there's not a huge range of flavor.  Save your money and apply it to high proof age statement Longrows.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	NO

* FLIGHT TWO *

Expression 1
 Cadenhead 1992 Glen Scotia 25 Year 

Background: Founded in 1832, the 'other' distillery in Campbeltown is Glen Scotia.  Operating on and off since then, ownership fell to Loch Lomand in 2000.  Recently, the brand has made a big push into worldwide markets with their excellent Double Cask, 15 Year, and Victoriana expressions, among others.  Cadenhead is an independent bottler based in Campbeltown, and owned by Springbank's Mitchell Family.  A two horse town, to be sure.  Also worth mentioning is that both Springbank and Glen Scotia operate inside the middle of the city and not on the romantic outskirts or countryside of Scotland.

Stats:  Bourbon Cask. ABV = 44%. Bottled 2017. 
 

Tasting Notes: Spicy Sweet Floral Nose.  Mineral notes on the taste along with marzipan and soft pear-like fruit.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	NO

Expression 2
 Longrow Red 11 Year Port  

Background: Another difference from Springbank is that Longrows are double distilled.  The Red series has been an annual release since 2012 and features 11 to 13 Year old cask strength spirit aged (or finished) in a different type of red wine cask.  This release is the only one so far that was aged entirely in one type of cask.  

Stats: Fresh Port Cask. ABV = 51.8 %. Bottled 2014.
 Limited to 9000 bottles worldwide.

Tasting Notes: Peat salt, plus sweet & spicy Port nose.  Then that taste: rich and bold and complex.  Oily with tingly tannins. The finish lingers and lingers and then some peaty notes creep in at the end.  So good!  Definitely benefits with a little air, but I'd skip adding any water.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	YES

Expression 3
 Kilkerran Work In Progress 7 

WIP 4 thru 7 each
had a Sherry Wood and
a Bourbon Wood release

Background: So why did the Mitchells bring back Glengyle if they couldn't name the whisky after the distillery?  I'm assuming it's because the original Glengyle was also owned by one of the family's ancestors.  Back in the day, a couple brothers had a falling out and one member left Springbank to form Glengyle. Another reason is almost assuredly so there could be a third distillery in the region and thereby qualify Campeltown as an official region for scotch. Kilkerran's first release was in 2007, followed by the annual Work In Progress series which ended with this release.

Stats: Bourbon Cask.  ABV = 54.1%. Bottled 2015.
 

Tasting Notes: This was the only one in the series at cask strength.  Surprisingly disappointing.  Hot on the nose, basic bourbon notes on taste and not a big range.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
NO	NO	NO

Expression 4
 Springbank 1999 Local Barley 16 Year 

Looks like we
saved the best
for last - Again!

Background: This one marks the return of the infamous Local Barley series, missing from Springbank's retail offerings since 2001.  The barley was grown on a farm a few miles away from the distillery and then floor malted, distilled two and a half times, aged and bottled on site. Can't get more old school than that!

Stats: Bourbon + Sherry Casks.  ABV =  54.3%. Bottled 2016.
 

Tasting Notes: Game Changer!  If you haven't experienced Springbank before, after this one, it will be all  you can think about.  Each complex note has a wide range which keeps evolving. Nose is a little briny smoke, a little honey rose, a little spice, and a lot of full maltiness.  Taste is tingly classic Springbank with balance between Sherry and Bourbon.  Oil and mineral notes with a hint of powdered chocolate. Warming honey coated finish.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	YES

[Tasting conducted with the Sneaky Trips Tasting Group which consists of Whisk(e)y Enthusiasts ranging from Beginner to Advanced.  Tastings are held monthly and are usually 8 Expressions based on a particular theme.]