Whisky: Loch Lomond 12 Year Old
Producer: Loch Lomond Group
Distillery: Loch Lomond Distillery
Whisky Type: Single Malt Scotch
Region: The Highlands
Age: 12 years
ABV: 46%
Cask: ex-bourbon. refill, re-char casks
Price Range: $
Loch Lomond is a distillery located in the Scottish Highlands (town of Alexandria) built in 1965 by the Littlemill Distillery Company Ltd, under the ownership of Duncan Thomas and American Barton Brands.
From the website:
“Loch Lomond Distillery was commissioned by the Littlemill Distilling Company in 1965 with the first distillation in 1966. In 1984, the distillery closed – or fell silent, to use the traditional term. Happily, though, Alexander Bulloch and the Glen Catrine company acquired the business and resumed malt production in 1987. Grain whisky production began in 1993, and two new malt stills were added in 1999.”
In 2014 businessman Colin Matthews, backed by a Private Equity firm, acquired Loch Lomond Distillery and Glen Scotia distilleries.
Loch Lomond is known for its versatility in terms of production by being able to create different styles of whiskies ranging from peated and unpeated single malts, single grain, and blended whiskies under one roof.
There are three sets of stills. Coffey Stills to make grain whisky, pot stills to make single malts, and hybrid stills (known coincidentally as Lomond stills) to create lighter and floral single malts. This last type of stills has a pot still shape with a rectifying cylindrical column at the top instead of the traditional swan neck.
These distillation techniques have enabled Loch Lomond to produce at least eight single malts of different styles on site, with most single malts destined toward the company’s blends. However, in addition to making whisky in bulk for blenders, the company bottles and markets its malts under brands like Inchmurrin, Inchmoan, Glengarry, Clansman, Inchfad, Glen Douglas, Craiglodge, Croftengea, Old Rhosdhu, Glen Douglass, Craiglodgeand, and High Commissioner blend.
The style of Loch Lomond is that of fruits and honey with varying degrees of smoke.
Tasting Notes for Loch Lomond 12 Year Old Single Malt
This 12-year-old malt represents the signature style of the distillery. A fruity character combined with a hint of peat and smoke. Matured in a combination of three cask types – bourbon, refill, and re-charred. Bottled at 46% ABV.
Nose: The nose is mild with some fruit with aromas of peat, and smoke.
Palate: Pear and oily arrival but falls a bit flat in the mid-palate with smoke and peat following. Adding water brings down the peat and smoke and slightly improves the palate making it sweeter. Overall, not very impressive.
Finish: A medium astringent oak note with peat and smoke.
Conclusion: The nose of this malt is nothing special. The palate starts sweet, but something is missing here. Suddenly, the peat and smoke arrive (although not overwhelming), and the finish does not feel very complex. This can be a disappointing malt for those who have been tasting malts for a while. Not terrible if you are getting started, but you can do better if this is not your first rodeo.
Score: 2,75/5⭐
Check this video on the Loch Lomond Distillery. You can also check more single malt reviews here.
Don’t forget to visit my Instagram account, with hundreds of posts and stories on everything related with whisky, distilleries from the United States and abroad, and more.
Legend
$50 or less $
$51-$100 $$
$101-$150 $$$
$151 or more $$$$
