Tasting note by Best of Wines

Sea Banquet

What is it they do in Campbeltown? There is something in the sea air that just lifts these whiskies to a whole new level! Paul McCartney's tribute to the Mull of Kintyre should be one that every whisky lover feels - regardless of whether you like the song or not. Somehow Campbeltown whiskies are so recognizable by their balanced flavour profile. It is very little wonder that this town was once the capital city of Scotland's whisky production!

COLOUR
Yellow gold, the colour of barley
NOSE
A rather sharp nose with some salinity and small amounts of peat. At first the smell of maritime influences is dominant and the whisky has a savoury touch to it, like seaweed. After some breathing more friendlier notes enter the nose with hints of orchard fruits, vanilla and even some tropical touches of banana. This last one keeps developing and becomes more and more dominant, after two minutes becoming full-blown banana cake. This dram really needs some time to open up, which could have sent you in the right direction for the age. After having breathed for a couple of minutes a very nice balance is reached where the fruitiness intertwines with the salinity, peatiness and maritime influences as well as some aromas of tangerine.
PALATE
The mouth tends to continue the savoury hints we already caught in the nose, with more of this maritime goodness! Oysters, seaweed and some dirty oiliness as well. The whole is wrapped in a blanket of banana bread and some more orchard fruits play along in the mouth, but not as present as they were in the nose. The alcohol is rather warm and emphasises the briny character of the whisky. This is a nicely balanced whisky, but certainly has some dirtiness for those who love this style.
FINISH
The finish is long, remaining in the coastal theme. The salinity remains along with some further hints of the banana bread which slowly forms into a more grainy kind of flavour.

CONCLUSION
The combination of a slight peatiness, orchard fruits and sea air along with the funky kind of flavours, should have led you towards Campbeltown. It was mainly the banana cake that could have hinted in the direction of Glen Scotia, where tropical fruit flavours are no exception. Getting Campbeltown as your region guess, is already an amazing feat! Well done to those who guessed any of the other distilleries, and additional compliments if you also correctly guessed Glen Scotia.