Campbeltown – 46% ABV – 750ml bottle – $50 | £30 | €29

What can I say?  I am a *huge* Campbeltown fan.  So unique. So different compared to any of the other whiskies from the various regions of Scotland (the regions of Scotland being: Highlands, Lowlands, Speyside, Islay, Islands and Campbeltown).

I’ve always identified Campbeltown malts with a sharp brininess, almost fishy.  Strong malt & grassy notes.  Delicious peat (as if the vegetation were comprised of pure seaweed).  This being said, I was very excited to taste the Glengyle Kilkerran “Work in Progress”!

Campbeltown has the fewest number of working distilleries as compared to all of the other regions.  You’ve got Glen Scotia, Springbank (who also distills both Longrow and Hazelburn whiskies) and that’s… about it.  Seriously folks, Campbeltown is some different stuff.  Cool, cool malts!

All this in mind, let’s taste the Kilkerran (thank you to “JJY” for the sample!):

On the nose — Very Campbeltown, fruity, brine, grapefruit and dirty, dirty peat, white pepper.  A nice but not VERY inspiring nose as compared to the Springbank 15yr or the Longrow 100 proof – what a sec, some nice grassy notes popped up, ok, cool.

On the mouth — Butter, salted butter and some fruit but, where’s the beef? (not looking for actual beef – I’m speaking figuratively people!)  Did my taste buds stop working or something?  A bit of citrus, perhaps kumquat but, not much there – no real trace of the peat I found on the nose – coming back again after a few minutes, some papery notes (think damn cardboard or corrugated box) and star fruit – very subtle though.

Finish — It left my mouth tingly in a seltzer-going-flat sort of way.

In sum — In all, I am somewhat disappointed with this malt – the balance is all off.

I was looking back at my reviews and realized that, with the exception of this posting, I have not yet posted any Campbeltown reviews.  I’m sorry to say that this is my first Campbeltown malt post.

I don’t know… Maybe I had an off night.  I just did not find this to be a very good malt – not for my tastes.  I am glad that this is a “Work In Progress” and I am looking forward to tasting the Kilkerrans on their way to a 12yr expression.  There is true potential here but for this one expression… I could pass on for further tastings.