The Cooper’s Choice Campbeltown Malt  (10yr old 2014 Vintage) – Select Scotch Whisky Australian Exclusive 

The Cooper's Choice: The Cooper's Choice range of single cask whiskies from Scotland's finest distilleries are releases from the Family owned Independent Bottlers; The Vintage Malt Whisky Company. The range is a homage to the passion and skill of the Coopers, the craftsmen, who build the barrels for maturation of Scotch Whisky. The range focuses on the impact of maturation in oak and includes several obscure and rare wood finishes.

The Cask:  8+ years Refill American Oak before 18 months in Muscat French Oak Finish.

In the world of independent bottling, a label that simply reads "Campbeltown Malt" is usually enough to set the rumour mill spinning. When that bottle is also a 2014 vintage with a magical 10 years of cask maturation, exclusive to Australia, and finished in a French Muscat cask, it becomes a genuine detective story.

Technically, this release is a "Blended Malt." In reality, this is a "teaspooned" single malt, a cask from a famous distillery with a spoonful of another malt added to legally prevent the use of the brand name. But which distillery is it?

The Usual Suspects
Campbeltown is a small region with only three major operating distilleries at the time this was distilled. Usually, the "safe bet" for these unnamed malts is Glen Scotia, known for its coastal salinity and availability to independent bottlers.

However, the chatter surrounding this specific release suggests something far rarer might be sitting in the glass.

The "Unicorn" Theory:

Maybe Hazelburn or Glengyle?
Whisky sleuths have pointed out that the profile of this spirit lacks the heavy, industrial peat often associated with the region's mainstays. Instead, the spirit is cleaner, oilier, and waxier.

The Hazelburn (Springbank) Theory: Some educated palates suspect this could be Hazelburn. Teaspooned casks of Hazelburn are virtually unheard of, making this a potential "unicorn" bottle hiding in plain sight.

The Glengyle (Kilkerran) Theory: Others point to the "prickly" attack and mineral edge as a hallmark of Glengyle. Similar to the Hazelburn theory, teaspooned Glengyle is just as rare. Could this bottling really be a "unicorn" after all?

The Cask Wildcard
Regardless of the spirit source, the maturation here is fascinating. The whisky spent 8+ years in Refill American Oak, a gentle vessel that preserves the spirit character, before an 18-month finish in a 1st Fill Muscat French Oak cask.

Muscat is a heavy, sweet, floral dessert wine. The risk with such a finish is that it can overpower a delicate spirit. But if the base spirit is indeed the waxy, oily distillate of a Hazelburn or Glengyle, it has the weight to stand up to the wine, creating a tension between "coastal funk" and "French dessert."

So, does the liquid inside confirm the rumours? Here is what I found in the glass.

Tasting Notes

Nose: The influence of the French oak is immediately apparent but welcoming. It is sweet and full, offering a basket of stewed peaches and dried oranges. There is a richness here that suggests the spirit hasn't been lost behind the wine.

Palate: The initial attack is surprisingly fresh and sweet, carrying a lovely, creamy mouthfeel. The fruit profile expands into fresh grapes, oranges, and more of those stewed peaches hitting the mid-palate. As it develops, the Campbeltown character begins to peek through the fruit, earthy characteristics and a hint of ginger spice ground the sweetness.

A Note on Water: Adding a few drops of water is optional but @ 54.5% ABV for some it might be the right move. Adding water however transforms that early creaminess into something a little waxy and fulfilling, enhancing the mouthcoating texture.

Finish: Lovely and long. The luscious fruits from the palate slowly dry off, allowing the oak and some pleasant tannins to shine through delightfully.

The Verdict

The Muscat finish has added a layer of dessert-like fruit, but the oily, earthy weight of the spirit ensures this remains a Campbeltown whisky at heart. A fantastic study in balance and a rare opportunity to taste this spirit profile in an independent bottling.

The best part is, this bottling is still available here.