Origin: Highlands (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Gradation: 40%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon
Chillfiltered: Yes
Added coloring: Yes
Owner: Loch Lomond Distillers (Hillouse Capital Group)
Average price: € 29.00
Official website: www.lochlomondwhiskies.com
Vote: 80/100
A distillery under the name of Loch Lomond existed in 1814, at Arrochar near the head of Loch Long on the Cowal Peninsula, but closed just three years later.
The modern one is on the south side of the loch from which it takes its name, and was established in 1964 by the former owners of Littlemill Distillery in Bowling, starting production the following year but stopping only in 1984.
Three years later it was bought by Glen Catrine Bonded Warehouses, which started producing grain as well in 1994, making it the only distillery at the time to produce both single malt and single grain, so much so that it’s still one of the few to work on site on both types of whisky and blends.
The distillery was then privately owned in 2014 and finally acquired in mid-2019 by the current Chinese owners, who also took over the other Glen Scotia and Littlemill brands.
The distillery’s portfolio is quite extensive, divided between NAS (including the present one) and declared ages, which in turn are diversified between single malt, single grain and blended.
It’s certainly not a label that enjoys great renown, but it has a respectable production that deserves attention.
Tasting notes
Herbaceous and pungent nose, with a massive contribution of cereals, and an acidic note of grapefruit. Vanilla, unripe apples and pears, almonds, hint of caramel. Classic and linear.
Light on the palate as expected, with a light puff of smoke caressing the heart of cereal and vanilla with the addition of apples, a touch of tropical fruit (pineapple, coconut) and a drop of honey. Impression balsamic and mentholated background.
Medium-long, smoky and slightly spicy finish with cereals, vanilla and hazelnuts.
Light and easy to drink but not banal for this reason, it can offer some points of interest without standing out, but then again it was born as an introductory whisky and as such it does its job well, in a solid and linear way.