Origin: Lowlands (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Gradation: 46%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Islay
Chillfiltered: No
Added colouring: No
Owner: Lochlea Distilling Co.
Average price: € 60.00
Official website: www.lochleadistillery.com
Vote: 84/100
Sealing Lochlea’s connection to the land, their core range includes four expressions related to barley cultivation, punctuated by the changing seasons.
After the version dedicated to autumn and the fallow phase, today I try the winter one in its first release in early 2023, celebrating the moment when the fields are plowed to prepare them for planting.
This is their first peated bottling, albeit by hetero-directed route thanks to maturation in casks that have contained peated whisky, divided between barrels and quarter casks, from Laphroaig, a choice unrelated to Campbell’s current role since at the time of filling he was still not working for Lochlea.
Tasting notes
The nose is delicately fruity, with the preponderance of white fruit (apple, pear, white melon, peach) and pineapple, marzipan, sugar paste, lemon cream, malt and toasted marshmallows. The peat smoke is subtle as is a bit of all the aromas, alternating vegetal and mineral impressions with those of rubber and grill, most evident in length as burning wood and a vague salty note.
In the mouth it debuts with hazelnut chocolate and nuts (almonds, walnuts, macadamia), surrounded by an iodine smoke with a strong mineral vein. Pinch of black pepper and ginger with some foray of herbs (anise, thyme) on the fruity side here more muted, with lemon watering the white fruit. Toasted sugar, wood and malt.
Not very long finish with dull ash, vegetal notes, white fruit, nuts, cereal.
Although it doesn’t start from peated malt, the smoky part is well present but integrated with the qualities of the Lochlea distillate, in a concert that is perhaps still not very harmonious and at moments messy especially on the palate, but curious.