Tag: Loch Lomond Group Page 2 of 4

The Loch Lomond Group operates Loch Lomond distillery at Alexandria in Dunbartonshire and Glen Scotia distillery in the Argyllshire port of Campbeltown.

Additionally, the group’s Glen Catrine bonded warehouse in Ayrshire is one of Scotland’s largest independent bottling facilities. Loch Lomond brands include: Loch Lomond, Glen Scotia, Inchmoan, Littlemill and Inchmurrin single malt whisky, as well as Clansman and High Commisioner blended whisky

Glen Scotia Dunnage Tasting Set

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 08/16/2021

In Single Malt whisky

It has been a challenging year so far. Between covid lock downs, online school and alcohol bans, it feels like we are all trapped in a recurring dream. However, now and again, the year has an unexpected highlight to break the monotonous rhythm.

One of these unexpected moments came when I got the opportunity to sample the Glen Scotia Dunnage tasting 2021 set.

A pack of 5 Glen Scotia single malt releases was specially selected for Glen Scotia’s distillery online festival. Master Distiller Iain McAlister chose five drams from specially-selected casks within the warehouse for people worldwide to experience. The spirit spent time in bourbon casks and was then finished in 1st-fill bourbon, port or oloroso.

Glen Scotia is situated in the small Campbeltown whisky region on the Kintyre peninsula in Scotland. Once this region was once the premier whisky-producing region in the world. At one point in time, Campbeltown was home to over thirty whisky distilleries.

But less than forty years later, Campbeltown became a prime example of the fragility of the whisky industry. By the 1920s, the heavy smoky/oily Campbeltown style that had come to define the region’s whisky was out of fashion. Due to Prohibition and the Great Depression, export was down. Only Springbank and Glen Scotia remained to represent the Campbeltown style on the whisky stage.

The Glen Scotia Dunnage Tasting Review

Glen Scotia Double Cask Whisky

I wrote about the Double Cask before. Released in 2015, the Double Cask single malt is matured in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels and then finished in ex-Pedro Ximénez sherry casks for up to 12 months. A great dram available in South Africa and retails for around R780.

Glen Scotia 1st Fill Bourbon 2015 – Cask 1535 whisky

First up was a single malt whisky from a 1st fill bourbon cask (Cask1535) at a whopping 60.5% ABV. It was distilled in 2015 and bottled in 2021.

NOSE: Grassy freshness, peaches, caramel, vanilla and oak. Rich and fruity.

PALATE: Bit of alcohol heat, warming oak spices, pepper, cinnamon, vanilla, butterscotch, creme brulee with pear. A bit of water softens the pepper spices and makes it very accessible and drinkable.

FINISH: Long and lingering. Just lovely!

RATING: EXCELLENT

Glen Scotia Refill/1st Fill Bourbon 1999 – Cask 257 Whisky

Next was a dram that first aged in refill bourbon and was then finished in 2st fill bourbon. Cask2018/257/2, distilled 1999 and bottled 2021. Another huge ABV of 59%.

NOSE: A more prominent nose. Charred wood, vanilla, oak, brandied fruit, Christmas cake, winter spices with burnt caramel.

PALATE: Toasted oak, pepper (more than the previous cask), Christmas cake, bits of leather and honey. Rich and oily. Water softens pepper notes.

FINISH: Long and lingering with notes of dry oak and honey sweetness.

RATING: EXCELLENT

Glen Scotia Refill Bourbon/1st Fill Oloroso 2002- Cask 618 Whisky

This single malt Scotch release was aged in refill bourbon and then finished in 1st fill oloroso sherry casks. Cask no 2019/618/81, distilled 2002 and bottled 2021. It has an ABV of 58.7%. A beautiful copper colour.

NOSE: Condensed milk sweetness with cherry pie, salted caramel and honeycomb.

PALATE: Drying oak, cherries and pepper with a ripe orange sweetness. Big and bold with lots of complex fruity notes with peaches and dried fruit. Here you can easily pick up the salinity from the coast. However, water kills the complexity and dulls the dram. Not a whisky for beginners. It is an after-dinner or evening sipping drink. Delicious but not easy drinking.

FINISH: Medium with dried fruit and spices.

RATING: EXCELLENT

Glen Scotia Refill Bourbon/1st Fill Ruby Port 2002- Cask 609 Whisky

The colour of the ruby port whisky was just glorious. It reminds me of a bright red sunset. This sample is from cask no 2019/609/80 distilled in 2002 and bottled in 2021. It is from a refill bourbon cask and finished in 1st fill ruby port. Another big ABV at 53.8%.

NOSE: Red fruits, cherries, plums, nectarines. The fruitiest nose from all four samples.

PALATE: Cream covered red summer fruit salad. The port notes come through big and bold. Not as spicy as the other samples. Drying oak with hints of salinity in the background. Bits of cinnamon and faint vanilla.

FINISH: Fruity long and lingering

RATING: EXCELLENT

Each of these individual Glen Scotia Dunnage drams spent time in bourbon casks first and was then finished in other casks. It allows you to better see the impact of the finishing casks on the whisky from both a colour and a taste perspective. A wonderful experiment of sorts that shows what a difference the various finishing casks make.

They are all excellent drams. It took us a while to choose a favourite, but in the end, we both agreed that the first one (1st fill bourbon cask Cask1535) was our favourite dram, followed quickly by the last one (finished in 1st fill ruby port cask 609).

Sample disclosure: I received this whisky from Glen Scotia. The review and tasting notes are my own honest, fair and independent thoughts about the whisky.

Also Read: Noble Rebel Orchard Outburst Whisky

Glen Scotia Double Cask Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 04/19/2021

In Single Malt whisky

Today I look at a whisky from a whisky region that almost disappeared. The Glen Scotia Double Cask single malt Scotch whisky is from Campbeltown.Around a century ago Campbeltown was the most prolific of all of Scotland’s whisky regions.

There were more than 20 distilleries in the small geographic whisky region. It dwindled to just 3. One of the reasons for the decline was the fact that most distilleries in the Campbeltown region had a strong focus on quantity instead of quality.

Thanks to strong international demand, the Campbeltown distilleries could quickly sell their entire output. There was little need to innovate or improve the whisky. Then Prohibition was introduced in the USA, and the demand declined sharply.

Today there are three distilleries in the Campbeltown Region: Springbank, GlenGyle (Kilkerran) and Glen Scotia. Campbeltown whiskies are a mixed bag of flavours. Their characteristics include a dryness with a pungency, smoke and saltiness.

Imagine a cross between the Lowlands and the Western Highlands with a pinch of salt thrown in. Campbeltown sits on the Mull of Kintyre Peninsula protruding from the western coast. Glen Scotia Distillery was founded in 1832 by Stewart, Galbraith and Co and remained in the family until 1919.

It changed ownership various times and spent some years closed down. After years of opening and shutting down, some stability arrived in 2000 when the Loch Lomond Group bought the distillery.

Glen Scotia Double Cask is a single malt, which has no age statement and is matured in oak barrels then finished in a combination of American 0ak barrels followed by time in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks.

The Glen Scotia Double Cask won a gold medal at the 4th Annual Berlin International Spirits Competition in 2017.

Also Read: Checkers Private Barrel Co No 68 whisky

Glen Scotia Double Cask Whisky Review

REGION: Campbeltown

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Reddish copper

NOSE: Sweet red berries and rich dark fruits. There are notes of freshness associated with fresh-cut flowers and honey with hints of vanilla. In the background some dark bitter chocolate.

PALATE: More of the red berries and fruity sweetness with burnt toffee sweetness. The Glen Scotia Double Barrel is quite spicy with woody hints and a medium body. Over time the palette changes to mild citrus and black pepper.

Without water, it has a bit of an alcohol burn. Adding a few drops of water softens the burn. However, it feels like the water separates the elements and the fruity sweetness becomes overwhelmed by the pepper spices.

FINISH: Pepper and berries of the forest.

RATING: VERY GOOD

The Glen Scotia Double Cask is not the most complex dram, and the peppery nature nearly overwhelms the fruity sweetness. The sherry cask also comes through more noticeable than the bourbon cask. It is a great whisky if you like a more peppery bite. I have a sweet palate and prefer something sweeter and fruity.

However, I wonder how this pepper nature will work with a mature cheese? I suspect, it might make for a great pairing. Hmmm, let me go and experiment again.

Another Glen Scotia release I have tried and liked was the Victoriana as well as the Glen Scotia 15 yo whisky. The Glen Scotia Double Cask was also included in the Glen Scotia Dunnage tasting set that I wrote about.

Also Read: McCarthy’s Oregon Whiskey

Loch Lomond Single Grain Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 11/09/2020

In Grain Whisky

It feels like it is Loch Lomond’s year on the blog. It is the fourth release I have tried from this versatile Highland distillery this year. A couple of years ago, I tasted the Loch Lomond Single Grain Scotch whisky. My tasting notes included freshly baked cookies, flowers and grass mixed spicy hints of fruit and citrus zest. I rated it as very good and commented that it seemed a bit young with some rough edges.

During my Inchmurrin chat with Muzi, the Loch Lomond Brand Ambassador, he mentioned that they are bringing out a new Single Grain release. John saw it in the shops and loved the packaging, so he bought it. I added it to my whisky collection and scheduled it for tasting sometime next year.

However, an interesting article on Malt Musings highlighted the fact that the Loch Lomond Single Grain whisky is made from malted barley and not the standard grains like wheat, rye or maize. The article also mentioned the Tweeddale Grain of Truth Peated Grain whisky.

The article explains why it is classified as a single grain and not as a single malt. It all has to do with the unusual still set up of Loch Lomond and the continuous still distillation process.

After reading all of this, I had to try this release, and it jumped my tasting schedule to this week. I asked Muzi regarding the differences in the two releases and he confirmed that both have the same mash bill and continuous still process.

The Loch Lomond Single Grain whisky is matured exclusively in American oak. It is a NAS release.

Also Read: Glenbrynth Bourbon Cask Whisky

Loch Lomond Single Grain Whisky Review

REGION: Highlands

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Pale gold

NOSE: Sweet and fruity. Notes of fresh ripe fruit and malt. Freshly cut mango and pear drizzled with honey, sugar biscuits, hints of vanilla and bits of lemon.

PALATE: Light and easy drinking. More spice than sweetness. Nutmeg and vanilla with condensed milk. Hints of pineapple, banana and tropical notes together with toffee, oak spice, and pepper. Malty notes. Water brings more sweetness.

FINISH: Short and soft with fruity notes.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The Loch Lomond Single Grain Scotch whisky is the perfect summer dram. Fresh and easy drinking and perfect for a braai (BBQ) and a hot summer’s afternoon. It retails for R290 and is readily available at most liquor shops. I like this release more than the previous one.

I am not sure if it is my taste buds, but it feels like the new release is more rounded and matured. Just delicious. Muzi suggested that in this heat, the Single Grain makes for a great ginger ale high ball.

Another delicious Loch Lomond release that I have tried is the Loch Lomond Steam and Fire single malt whisky and the Noble Rebel Orchard Outburst Whisky that I was fortunate to taste during my trip to Scotland.

Also Read: The Belgian Owl Whisky

Loch Lomond Inchmurrin 18 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 10/12/2020

In Single Malt whisky

Trying the Inchmurrin 13 yo from Bottega whisky club made me interested in trying more from this distillery. It was bold and delicious, and when I got the opportunity to listen to the Master Distiller, Michael Henry, talk about the Loch Lomond Inchmurrin 18 year old single malt Scotch whisky and to taste it, I grabbed the chance.

Loch Lomond 12 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 09/14/2020

In Single Malt whisky

Just before SA’s second alcohol ban, I managed to pick up my sample pack of Loch Lomond whiskies for an online whisky tasting with Michael Henry. A few weeks before, I tasted the Inchmurrin 11 year old that was bottled exclusively for the Bottega Whiskey Club.

Savi and Musi, the Loch Lomond Brand Ambassador, set up this interesting online tasting. The online tasting included the Bottega Whisky Club Inchmurrin, the Loch Lomond 12 year old single malt Scotch whisky and the Inchmurrin 18 yo whisky.

Loch Lomond Distillery, situated in Alexandria, a small town south of the beautiful Loch Lomond, produces a broad range of different whiskies. They create single malt as well as single grain and blends.

Micheal took us through the different distilling options that he has available at Loch Lomond, and it was so refreshing to listen to how he works with the various elements that he has available to come up with all the different variations.

Also Read: Inchmurrin 11 yo Whisky

The Loch Lomond stills include special distillation trays in the necks, allowing for more significant contact with the cooling alcohol vapour. These stills can produce alcohol up to 90% ABV where traditional stills deliver the alcohol at around 70% ABV. From there it goes into maturation.

I captured tasting notes for the Loch Lomond Signature and Loch Lomond Single Grain whisky as well as for various other brands within the Loch Lomond portfolio in the past, and you can read all about it there.

The Loch Lomond 12 year old is drawn from a selection of three cask types – bourbon casks, refill casks and recharged casks. In South Africa, it retails for R625.

Loch Lomond 12 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Higland

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Dark gold

NOSE: Apricot, peach and freshly cut green grass. Sweet spices, honeycomb and vanilla. Fruity sweetness with hints of lemon and malt.

PALATE: Fruity sweetness with vanilla and faint hints of smoke. Malted puffs with bits of dry oak, lemon and apricots and bits of pepper. Something green in the background. Adding water releases more spicy notes. Medium body.

FINISH: Medium length with drying oak, vanilla and pepper.

RATING: EXCELLENT 

It was interesting how the water changed the spices in this Loch Lomond 12 year old whisky. For me, adding a few drops of water tones down the spice notes in a whisky and brings more sweetness forward. However, with this release, the water made it spicier. I enjoyed it more without water.

Even at 46% ABV, it is smooth and easy drinking with no alcohol heat. An excellent whisky for autumn as it gently warms you from the inside. Just lovely. It is worth picking up a bottle when you see it.

I have also tasted the Loch Lomond Steam and Fire single malt whisky during my trip to Scotland and loved it.

Also Read: Compass Box No Name No 2 Whisky