Enigma 15 Campbeltown Cadenhead’s

Review by: Raygun

Cadenhead’s started coming out with these Enigma releases a few years ago. Mainly regional single malts from unnamed distilleries, but there are a few blended malts thrown in, such as this one. Reputed to be Hazelburn and Kilkerran. Reviewed from a sample. Rested about 15 minutes.

Distillery: Said to be Hazelburn and Kilkerran

Bottler: Cadenhead’s  

Region/style: Campbeltown blended malt Scotch

ABV: 48.2%

Age: 15 years old. Distilled in 2008, bottled in September 2023.     

Cask type: Bourbon hogsheads, 3306 bottles

Color: 0.4 jonquil. Natural color and non-chill-filtered.

Nose: Some tropical fruit, Asian pear, vanilla, toffee, a hint of peat, and medium wood. Great first impression. Getting some of the coal smoke I identify with Kilkerran.                

Palate: Waxy and bringing lots of toffee and vanilla. A touch of pineapple, but overall less tropical than the nose, with the fruit more pear and grapefruit. Slight but noticeable peat. Nice mouthfeel. Now picking up passion fruit curd. The somewhat grungy flavor practically shouts Campbeltown.   

Finish: More woody than I’d expect for 15 years. Vanilla, wax, furniture polish, apricot, and pear. The same grungy and sooty flavor as the palate, dialed back a little. 

Conclusion: You wouldn’t think a blend of Hazelburn and Kilkerran would be bad and…it’s terrific. It’s got fruit, it’s got toffee, it’s got some soot. A nice, comforting hug of a pour, for me anyway. Almost dangerously drinkable with the moderate proof. This wouldn’t last very long if I had a bottle. I’m a fan.

Score: 86

Scoring Legend:

  • 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky. (Convalmore 36)
  • 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category. (Bruichladdich Black Art 4.1)
  • 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram. (Ledaig 13 Amontillado)
  • 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff. (Tomatin 18)
  • 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting. (Glen Scotia 15)
  • 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better. (Aultmore 12)
  • 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink. (Glenmorangie 10)
  • 50-59: Save it for mixing. (Old Pulteney 12)
  • 0-49: Blech. (Muirhead’s Silver Seal 16)

Published by Raygun

Unknown's avatar

I drank Scotch occasionally (mostly at family gatherings) for years, but started getting more interested after an introduction and tasting from a Scottish acquaintance. That led to buying my first bottle (Highland Park 12). Now 600+ spirits later, Scotch is still my first love, but I drink other whisky and dabble in brandy as well.

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