Lochlea is among the new children on the block. It has been quietly producing and maturing spirit since August 2018, launching the Lochlea First Launch in January 2022. Since November 2021 business veteran John Campbell, the ex-manager of Laphroaig, is the manufacturing director and grasp blender for Lochlea.
Lochlea distillery is constructed upon the farm within the Lowlands that was as soon as the house of Robert Burns. The family-run farm grows and harvests its personal barley with draff feeding native cattle, much like what Daftmill is doing. Nonetheless Lochlea is so much larger and can also be making ready its personal malting ground, thus being one of many solely distilleries to do the whole lot on web site.
This primary launch comes from a mix of first-fill bourbon and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. Extra whisky expressions are anticipated to be added from mid-2022 onwards.
Lochlea First Launch (46%, OB 2021, 7385 btl.)
Nostril: freshly reduce yellow apples and peaches, with nice malty notes. It rapidly turns into nuttier, with hints of muesli and hazelnuts. The anticipated vanilla biscuits as effectively, however not overdone. Within the background there’s a light-weight earthy / floral contact. Someway it did remind me of the early Daftmill releases, though it’s undoubtedly a lighter spirit.
Mouth: much less spectacular now, because the youth comes out extra. There’s a peppery chew with some spicy bourbon wooden, in addition to beneficiant grainy notes. A pickled word. White pepper. Mid-palate you get extra caramel sweetness, orange and a touch of toffee. After that it will get drier, with nutmeg and salty notes.
End: a bit brief and easy. Spicy and malty notes, with hardly any fruits.
A positive introduction to Lochlea. It has a horny nostril and a pleasant texture on the palate. I’m guessing the PX casks are serving to to cover a light-weight, younger and barely generic spirit, which nonetheless reveals a slightly harsh edge. We’ll give it the advantage of doubt, however the competitors amongst start-up distilleries is fierce. Bottles had been offered out rapidly – perhaps getting a tasting pattern from The Whisky Trade is a greater thought.
