As I'm sure you've noticed I'm a bit of a fanboy when it comes to @LochLomondMalts and @GlenScotiaMalts whisky - especially the single casks but what about their 'standard' entry level drams? Let's have a look for this latest side by side!
Loch Lomond's Original and Glen Scotia's Campbeltown Harbour are what the distilleries call their 'entry level' drams, these are just about the cheapest drams you can buy from each coming in at around £26 and £35 respectively.
Interestingly the Original has more tasting notes than any other dram on the Loch Lomond website and the Campbeltown Harbour, whilst having a webpage, isn't directly linked from anywhere that I could see on Glen Scotia's website!
| Dram | Loch Lomond Original | Glen Scotia Campbeltown Harbour |
| Characteristics | 40% ABV, NAS, coloured | 40% ABV, NAS, probably coloured |
| Distillery info | Loch Lomond original single malt whisky is carefully matured, before being married in the finest oak casks for the perfect harmony of flavour and aroma. The result is an elegant and full bodied whisky with a smoothness making this exceptionally easy to drink. A single malt Scotch whisky with a distinctive background character with a hint of smoke and peat.
Nose: First impressions of dark, warm leather that then builds into a more Highland heathery character. These darker notes gradually give way to a sweeter, malty presence. All of this aromatic richness concludes with lighter and more subtle wood notes just becoming evident at the close.
Palate: A pronounced burst of malt on the tongue with appetizing sweet cereal notes building over time to give an almost creamy texture to the palate. Mid palate there is a pronounced nuttiness, the texture and flavour of brazil nuts. Finally a slightly astringent citrus note appears fleetingly in the background.
Finish: The citrus of the palate subsides and the finish becomes more conventionally sweet. Hints of dark molasses develop into a darker sweeter conclusion with faint hints of citrus peel offsetting the general rich and sweet notes.
| Matured in 100% first fill bourbon casks with a light peaty character. That enhances the maritime character found in Glen Scotia single malts.
Nose: Briny sea spray, perfumed floral notes of violet and lavender and vanilla.
Palate: Fruity and sweet. Soft peach and green apple followed by toffee fudge and vanilla custard.
Finish: Dry, medium length. Tangy peat complements maritime character.
|
| My thoughts: | ||
| Appearance |  | |
| Coloured to a whisky gold, swirls stick to the glass and fall as thick quick legs. | Coloured to a whisky gold, swirls stick to the glass and fall as thick quick legs. | |
| Nose | Porridge with stewed pears and sweet honey - a tiny hint of smoke. | Stewed apples and custard with a hint of maritime breeze. |
| Palate | Buttery arrival, very smooth, sweet honey and dry apricots with a little hint of peppery spice. | Creamy arrival with pear and apple notes, there's some salt and vanilla hints and a lovely peppery spice. |
| Finish | Short, sweet and slightly drying. The spice note lingers for a while. | Again short and sweet with a little spice but the maritime notes come through well. |
| Overall | I was pleasantly surprised by the nose of these two, for some reason I was expecting the acetone notes of a young spirit but it was absent from both, they weren't overly complex but both shared stewed fruit notes. Both were smooth drinking drams with a little spice, the main difference being the salty noites from the Glen Scotia. I'm sure there were smoke notes from the Loch Lomond - maybe from charred casks rather than peat? Overall both were uncomplex easy drinking drams, ideal for a whisky you don't want to think too much about but want to enjoy. For the price these are offered they are definitely worth a try. | |
Thanks to @whiskyrover and @TheWhiskyNovice for the sample swaps.
Loch Lomond website:
Most of the drams on Loch Lomond's website, like the 18yo for example, get short tasting notes https://www.lochlomondwhiskies.com/our-whisky/loch-lomond/loch-lomond-18-year-old/ but the Original gets paragraphs including dilution! https://www.lochlomondwhiskies.com/our-whisky/loch-lomond/loch-lomond-original/
Whilst all the rest of the standard range of Glen Scotia malts can be found on the main website under "Our Malts" https://www.glenscotia.com/our-malts/ there is no entry for Campbeltown Harbour, but a google search will reveal the page at https://www.glenscotia.com/our-malts/campbeltown-harbour/
No comments:
Post a Comment