Only £25 for Campbeltown Loch 25 Yrs?

Related whiskies : Campbeltown Loch 25 Years Old

by **r0b** » Tue Apr 15, 2003 11:39 pm

How is this very attractive price-tag possible? *scratches head*

by **BruceCrichton** » Wed Apr 16, 2003 6:30 pm

At the risk of talking a load of rubbish and being corrected again by David Stirk, this is a one-off.

Most of the constituent whiskies were not bad but were rejected for single-cask bottlings. They were then poured into a sherry cask and left for many years.

Do not, however, look a gift horse in the mouth. It is exactly what it says on the bottle - a minimum of 25 yr old.

by **adogranonthepitch** » Wed Apr 16, 2003 8:29 pm

Dear r0b and BruceCrichton

A Phrase with words...gift horse dont mouth look. Come to mind. Its a very nice dram. Not too complex. It's like a Whist Drive meeting........

All the constituants are very old, but don't make a fuss.

Buy a bottle today! But dont buy two, its not that brilliant. It may be old, it may be cheap, but it doesn't mean you should buy gallons of the stuff.

Ever yours

adogranonthepitch

by **r0b** » Wed Apr 16, 2003 8:41 pm

True, I have no intention of buying more than one bottle. I've seen it being praised by many "experts" and enthusiasts, but the price made me suspicious. As if there's quite a lot of substandard whiskies in it which are "camouflaged" by top dressings and whatnot.

Someone told me that the Mitchell's blend is better. Any thoughts on this?

by **adogranonthepitch** » Wed Apr 16, 2003 8:59 pm

r0b

Haven't tried the Mitchell's.

Having just come back from Islay with 8 bottles, I dont think I will for a few weeks, whilst I make up some brownie points with the Mrs !

by **BruceCrichton** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 5:42 pm

Why not get a bottle of the 25 yr old (which was popular with everyone who had it at the September Dufftown festival) and a bottle of the common or garden variety which is about half the price and compare the two.

BTW, if Springbank didn't sell those old whiskies, they would get zero for it. As it is, they'll get some money for the stuff they sell.

by **BruceCrichton** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 5:44 pm

Why not get a bottle of the 25 yr old (which was popular with everyone who had it at the September Dufftown festival) and a bottle of the common or garden variety which is about half the price and compare the two.

BTW, if Springbank didn't sell those old whiskies, they would get zero for it. As it is, they'll get some money for the stuff they sell.

by **BruceCrichton** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 5:49 pm

BTW Adog, why don't you re-read my first post?

by **r0b** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 8:04 pm

Brucey, could you please inform me as to what the expression "gift horse in the mouth" means? I've never come across it before...

by **Ash** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 9:12 pm

Means: If someone is offering you what seems like a good deal, take it, don't ask questions, just take it.

by **dstirk** » Mon Apr 21, 2003 8:12 am

Bruce,

you're just about spot on. The whisky, in this case, wasn't 'rejected', but it was what we call 'dead' whisky. I.e. whisky that has little use in what J & A Mitchell are famous for (Springbank and Cadenhead bottlings). In days gone by this stuff would have been used in the Moidart vatted malt but it was turned into a blend instead (I think originally to commemorate the tri-centenary of Campbeltown - those are the rare Campbeltown Loch ones).

The reason it's so cheap and tastes so good? Well, it's cheap because there is very little packaging, marketing (and little of it). Tastes good because Frank McHardy was instrumental in putting it together.

Isn't it a shame when we are sceptical about something that tastes good, is quite old but doesn't cost the earth!

Regards,

David Stirk

by **Peatfreak** » Mon Apr 21, 2003 10:00 pm

Speaking of Frank McHardy - when will his Springbank bottling be available?

Will you be getting a birthday bottling David! Or do you have to be older to get one of them!

by **BruceCrichton** » Tue Apr 22, 2003 7:40 am

Cheers David.

I'll get it spot on one of these days.

by **dstirk** » Tue Apr 22, 2003 8:09 am

see note below

[This message has been edited by dstirk (edited 22 April 2003).]

by **dstirk** » Tue Apr 22, 2003 8:11 am

Well Peatfreak,

Frank's bottling is in recognition of his years of service to the industry.

I don't really believe in recognising the marketing guys too much so I don't think I'll ever deserve such a bottling. Marketing is the easy part, ensuring years upon years of quality, now that's worth recognition.

Isn't it odd how much the marketing receives awards and yet the makers are often overlooked!

That's like giving the chairman of a football club the trophy at the end of the season rather than the players.

Just a thought

David

[This message has been edited by dstirk (edited 22 April 2003).]

[This message has been edited by dstirk (edited 22 April 2003).]

by **Peatfreak** » Tue Apr 22, 2003 9:26 am

oops

[This message has been edited by Peatfreak (edited 22 April 2003).]

by **Peatfreak** » Tue Apr 22, 2003 9:26 am

Nae funny

[This message has been edited by Peatfreak (edited 22 April 2003).]

by **Peatfreak** » Tue Apr 22, 2003 9:28 am

No dosrespect David - but I was only jesting, however you are right, there should be more recognition for the people who make the stuff, and not just distillery managers.

Although anyone who can sell (fill in your own hated whisky here) convincingly may deserve a medal.

by **Peatfreak** » Tue Apr 22, 2003 9:28 am

No disrespect David - but I was only jesting, however you are right, there should be more recognition for the people who make the stuff, and not just distillery managers.

Although anyone who can sell (fill in your own hated whisky here) convincingly may deserve a medal.

by **dstirk** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 8:13 am

I was not having a go at you peatfreak. And you have a good point - there are many sales folk out there who must be banging their head against a brick wall trying to sell their brand X.

Takes blends at the moment. Nobody really wants to talk about them - well except Bruce. So to be the salesman for Bell's (which is a fine blend) deserves accolades for his/her struggle.

I just think it is a shame when a mashman enters his/her fortieth year of service with nothing more than a handshake (if that). At least Frank's years of dedication are being recognised by J & A Mitchell.

David

by **Peatfreak** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 11:23 am

Hi David,

I agree with you and did not think you were having ago - I think we just got our wires crossed.

Willie

I fecked up and posted the same thing 4 times!

[This message has been edited by Peatfreak (edited 23 April 2003).]

by **adogranonthepitch** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 7:48 pm

Dear David and Peatfreak

Just a quck note to thank you both for an excellent discussion on this 25yo / marketing and all that jazz.

adogranonthepitch

by **BruceCrichton** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 9:35 pm

Nice to get the recognition, David. I try to get people to try blends even when they're discussing a 29 yr old single cask of Glen Obscure.

As for Bell's, I'm impressed to find someone who actually drinks the stuff. That marketing guy deserves his money. To be fair, I know someone who drinks Bell's precisely because it is rough.

BTW, I still think that whoever makes their way to their local stockist of 25 yr old Campbeltown Loch should get the common or garden version for a comparison.

by **Peatfreak** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 10:35 pm

bruce,

I thoroughly encourage blen drinking - often when doing blind tastings i through in a blend Te Bheag, Isle of Skye and islay mist usually out score many wel known malts

Willie

by **Ize** » Thu Apr 24, 2003 7:58 am

Darn, my whiskyprovider does not have this temptating bottle.

Kippis,
Ize

Related whiskies : Campbeltown Loch 25 Years Old