As the temperature starts to drop across the country and we spend a lot more of our evenings inside (especially those in Sydney), Loch Lomond has released its range of whiskies to the Australian market.
Established in 1814, the Loch Lomond Distillery, based in Scotland, knows full well how to blend a perfect spirit and ManSpace magazine was lucky enough to get their hands on six samples. The drams contain no other added substances except for water, barley (or other grain, yeast and occasionally caramel.
To kick things off, my favourite spirit was the 12-year-old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, a staple, smoky and slightly spicy blend. Apparently, I wasn’t the only fan of this drop as it won Gold at the 2021 International Spirits Awards.
On the nose, it has dry peaty notes with vanilla syrup and cracked black pepper. The taste, well, as the distiller describes it: “Sweet, medicinal peat and smoked bacon lead into roasted coffee bean with spice notes of clove and star anise. Warming spiciness combines with green apple and pear.”
The sample I was most excited to try was the 21-year-old single malt that is aged in American oak casks. I’ve typically found the older blends to be a bit too much but this one was delicious.
The notes that come through are peach and pear, two of which I haven’t experienced before but am pleasantly surprised to enjoy. The Loch Lomond tasting notes nail the finish: “Long and dry with a wisp of peat smoke and lingering oak spice.”
In the rest of the tasting kit, there are two more 12-year-old single malts and one 14-year-old as well as a very interesting single grain scotch that’s much lighter in colour than the others. It hails from a Coffey still and is more floral than sweet – not my favourite but something different in the evening doesn’t hurt.
This entire range, as well as others from Loch Lomond and Glen Scotia Distillery, are available to purchase at Liquorland, Vintage Cellars and First Choice Liquor Market stores across Australia. Right in time for the chilly winter nights.
