Clan Campbell whiskies

History

The brand was created in the second half of the 20th century for the mass-market blend segment, with an identity closely tied to the tradition of the Scottish clans and their tartan. For years it was part of the portfolio of one of the big international drinks groups and then changed hands, as has happened with many brands in its segment. Its strength has always been in southern Europe, where it has sold mainly as a whisky for mixing.

House style

Clan Campbell is a light, sweet blend, with cereal, honey, some apple and vanilla, and almost no smoke. It has no great nuances: it is smooth, clean and short on the finish. It works best on the rocks or with a mixer, in a long glass. It is a whisky with a neutral, friendly profile that doesn’t try to compete with malts or aged blends, but to offer a smooth drink at a good price. With soda or cola it behaves well, and on the rocks it is fresh and light.

Where to start

Clan Campbell is the catalogue’s entry. If you’re after a cheap blend for mixing, it does the job. If you like it and want to try something with a bit more character in the same price range, look at Ballantine’s Finest or Grant’s Triple Wood, and to make the jump to malt, a simple Speyside one such as Glen Moray 12. All of them are easy to find in the supermarket and let you compare styles without spending much.

• Clan CampbellBlend · 40% ABV