18/02/2024
Chapter 33
A chat with...John Campbell (Lochlea Distillery) - #29
In this chapter we will talk about Lochlea distillery, a relatively new distillery from the Lowland whisky region. Since their inaugural release, launched on the 25th of January 2022, we have always tasted great drams, regardless of their young age.
Lochlea is an independent family owned distillery, and farm, based in the heart of Ayrshire in Scotland. Their single malt Scotch whisky is distilled and matured using barley that they grow and harvest on the farm.
Their very first age statement whisky was released on Burns Night this year, a 5 year old bottling presented at 50% ABV. Obtained by the vatting of five different casks; 2 of which are from the distillery’s very first filling in August 2018 (both first-fill bourbon), and a first-fill Oloroso sherry, a double matured PX sherry and a double matured Oloroso sherry cask.
Apart form the great whiskies tried so far, what moved my curiosity to develop this interview, is that the distillery is currently under the management of ex-Laphroaig Distillery Manager John Campbell. His work at Laphroaig meant a lot to me and for my whisky journey in the early days, so I really wanted to have this chat with him, now that this really promising new chapter of his career has begun.
Let’s see what he told us…
Photo courtesy of Lochlea distillery
Hi John, thank you for taking the time to chat with us. Please introduce yourself, and tell us a little bit about your whisky journey so far.
Hi my name is John Campbell and I am currently Production Director and Master blender for Lochlea Distilling Co Ltd and have been doing this role for 18 months now. *
I have been in the whisky industry for over 28 years now and most of that time I was at Laphroaig distillery and I completed all the roles there. I started with painting the numbers on the barrels and ended up being the longest serving distillery manager in its history.
I have also worked at Ardmore, Tormore and Miltonduff distilleries as part of my learning experience within Aliied Domecq.
*Leo’s note: this was at the time of the interview in Spring 2023.
Photo courtesy of Lochlea distillery
When and how did you join this growing industry?
I joined the whisky industry on November 14th 1994 at Laphroaig Distillery. I was a lobster fisherman before this and making much more money and wanted to buy a house.
The bank manager would not give me a mortgage due to being self employed and so I took a 50% pay cut and bought a house!!
Photo courtesy of Lochlea distillery
Now tell us a bit more about Lochlea Distillery, what is it that makes them stand out in the whisky industry?
Lochlea Distillery stands out from the rest of the industry in a few ways:
- We are an independently owned distillery.
- We grow all our barley needs in the distillery within 1.5 miles of the distillery.
- We do some seasonal floor malting.
- We fully mature all our casks at the Distillery.
- We despatch all cased goods from the Distillery.
Photo courtesy of Lochlea distillery
Can you tell us what your target audience is?
Our target audience is people who love whisky, who care about how its made, who demand integrity and compassion in their brand and love great depth of flavour.
Photo courtesy of Lochlea distillery
Can you tell us how you select your casks, and anticipate anything about what we can expect to see next?
Selecting casks can be a very intense process and requires a lot of preparation and equally flexibility.
You must remain open to possibilities you had not prepared for and just accept the moments when you find something that’s amazing that you were not expecting. It happened with a new product we launched at the end of May (2023) when I assumed something in my head but it came out almost the opposite recipe!! I am very happy with the result though and I am sure it will be received very well. A clue towards the product is that it will be our first undiluted product we have released! *
* Leo’s note: the new product launched in May 2023, in case you missed it, was clearly the Lochlea ‘Cask Strength’ Batch One)
What advice would you give to a beginner that is approaching this world and perhaps starting his/her own collection?
Lastly, what is, generally speaking, your favourite whisky style (cask type, ageing, peated/unpeated etc.)? What’s your dram of choice at the moment and/or your go to drams on a Friday evening?
Whisky style depends on my emotions so sometimes only a Laphroaig cask strength will do!!
I like heavier weighted spirits like Mortlach, Glenfarclas and Springbank, but equally always looking for whisky depth in its character, I love the exploration and learning more so will be open to trying anything once.
Go to dram right now on a Friday has to be Lochlea, as you would expect, as we are improving and will continue to evolve and improve going forward so just really want to pay close attention to this and what we are doing!!
Official website: https://www.lochleadistillery.com/
Drams
and more...
Today's drams
- Lochlea ‘Our Barley’ – 46%
- Lochlea ‘Cask Strength’ Batch One – 60.1%
- Lochlea 2018, 5yo (2000 bottles) – 50%
Limited Edition Seasonal Releases:
- Sowing Edition (First Crop) – 48%
- Harvest Edition (First Crop) – 46%
- Fallow Edition (First Crop) – 46%
- Ploughing Edition (First Crop) – 46%
- Sowing Edition (SecondCrop) – 46%
- Harvest Edition (Second Crop) – 46%
- Fallow Edition (Second Crop) – 46%