Origin: Highlands (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Gradation: 46%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon
Chillfiltered: No
Added coloring: No
Owner: Loch Lomond Distillers (Hillouse Capital Group)
Average price: € 85.00
Official website: www.lochlomondwhiskies.com
Vote: 84/100
Until recently, this was the highest maturing expression in Loch Lomond’s fixed portfolio, recently surpassed by the introduction of the 25 year old at a rather significant price (£385).
Following a redesign in 2015, which resulted in the style of labels you can see in the picture, in 2020 the packaging went through another rethinking, with a more modern and appealing style and partially revising the composition of the core range.
Eighteen year old whiskies generally represent a ‘turning point’ in ageing, a maturity far enough advanced to offer a more complete and multifaceted view of the spirit.
Will this also be the case for Loch Lomond?
Tasting notes
The nose has a strong herbaceous component, of toasted malt and wet cereals, with an acetone streak over green apple, pineapple, cucumber, caramel, lemon and a curious impression of raw beef burger. Leather, tobacco, chocolate appear on the length, and in general it becomes rounder and smoother, although the meaty note remains in the background. Curious.
The palate becomes warmer, with a hint of pepper and ginger on a more classic profile, where malt remains present (more subtly) alongside banana, apple, peach, vanilla, nuts (almond, walnut), blond orange and a very vague hint of smoke.
Medium-long finish of pepper, smoke (stronger than on the palate), orange, nuts, vanilla.
It has an original start on the nose and then flattens out on the palate, making for a pleasant dram but without any particular reasons for interest, something you wouldn’t expect from such sustained ageing. Pity.