Side by side : Loch Lomond Core Range 12yos

As you know I'm a bit of a fanboy when it comes to @LochLomondMalts distillery, it comes top in the list of distilleries I've tried the most drams from! 

They have recently launched a new packaging range so I thought I'd take some time to try the three 'new' 12 year olds central to the core range.

I've written before about the different stills used and cuts taken that go to make the extensive range at Loch Lomond, you can read about it here, so in this blog I'll just summarize and get on to the whiskies!

Each of the dots represents a spirit style which is aged individually in ex-bourbon casks: 10% 1st fill, 10% recharred 1st fill and 80% refill. They are then married together, 4 different styles in the case of the Loch Lomond 12yo and 3 different styles in the case of the Smoke & Spice Inchmoan 12yo.

12yo Loch Lomond

12yo Inchmurrin

12yo Inchmoan

Master Blender Michael Henry selecting casks (Photo: Gary Mills)

With 80% refill casks you can see that the wood isn't going to do too much to mask the flavours of the spirit, trying all three alongside each other will allow you to experience this.

Dram	Perfectly Balanced  12yo (Loch Lomond)	Fruity and Sweet 12yo (Inchmurrin)	Smoke & Spice 12yo (Inchmoan)
Characteristics	46% ABV, Unchillfiltered but coloured 10% 1st fill, 10% 1st fill recharred and 80% refill ex-bourbon casks
Distillery notes	This exquisite 12 year old single malt has a deep fruity character of peach and pear layered with a vanilla sweetness and the characteristic hints of peat and smoke found in Loch Lomond whiskies. Aged in three types of cask - bourbon, refill and re-charged - these whiskies are brought together delivering a perfectly balanced single malt under the watchful eye of Michael Henry our Master Blender. Nose: Crisp green apple, ripe pear and refreshing citrus lemon with background notes of golden cereal. Taste: Orchard fruits and lemon meringue. The deep fruity character of pear lead into citrus lemon, vanilla meringue and light biscuit sweetness. Finish: Medium length with gentle wood smoke and a lingering peaty tang.	It is somewhat fitting that the ‘grassy isle’ lends its name to this exquisite 12 year old single malt. Unique as the island itself with grassy notes and floral hints of pear drops, crème caramel, soft fruits, vanilla and fudge. Aged in three hand selected types of cask - bourbon, refill and recharred - these whiskies are then married together in a balance known only to our Master Distiller Bill White. Non-chill filtered to allow the whisky’s natural characteristics to shine through. Nose: Distinctively fruity with pear drops and toffee sweetness. Light notes of freshly cut hay in summer sun. Palate: Seville orange citrus notes build in intensity before mellowing into softer fruits of peach and apricot. The fruit character gives way to creamy fudge and vanilla. Finish: Medium length with peppery finish.	Inchmoan 12 year old single malt is born from a combination of malt whiskies from our traditional swan neck pot still and our unique straight neck pot still to create an unconventional peat character with a lot of depth marrying smoke and spiciness. It is matured for 12 years in a mix of recharred American oak and refill bourbon American oak casks giving sweet vanilla background notes that complements the soft peat style of Loch Lomond’s unique still set up. Nose: Dry, smouldering peat smoke with vanilla syrup and cracked black pepper. Palate: 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 as fruit character develops Finish: Long, waxy peat with citrus hop note and gooseberry.
My thoughts:
Appearance
	Mid gold, swirls cling, bead up slowly and fall as slow thin legs.	Mid gold, swirls cling, bead up slowly and fall as slow thin legs.	Mid gold, swirls cling, bead up slowly and fall as slow thick legs.
Nose	Stewed orchard fruit - apples, pears and apricots. Some vanilla, honey and citrus notes. All covered with a thin blanket of smoke.	Grassy notes with hints of toffee apples and toffee pears (is there such a thing?) Sweet honey and orchard fruit notes.	Spicy woodsmoke, a little honey and a dry peppery spice. This isn't medicinal Islay smoke by a long way - think  Benromach Peat Smoke or Highland Park - heather and hay.
Palate	Smooth oily arrival, sweet honey and peppery spice vie for attention on the tongue.Orchard fruit - apples, pears and apricots along with cereal notes follow along afterwards with a dry smoky citrus left as the liquid disappears.	Sweet buttery arrival, honey and toffee apple notes. Masses of orchard fruit - pears, peaches and apricots. Drying citrus follows leaving a fizz on the tongue as the liquid disappears.	Smooth spicy arrival - peppery spice bites at the tongue before the peat arrives to give smoky bacon crisps and drying oak notes. There's a little sweet orchard fruit here too.
Finish	Lingering peppery spice with a little smoky citrus.	Lingering peppery spice with a backdrop of honey.	Long lingering heathery smoke, slightly drying with a gentle spice bite.
Overall	Three very different drams from seven different spirit styles - it would be interesting to try all seven separately - but here we have three. The Loch Lomond is a lovely fruit dram with a spice bite and a gentle peat smoke background. Inchmurrin strips away the peat and spice (for all but the finish) but adds some fresh grassy notes and a big dollop of sweet honey. Inchmoan is a completely different beast - the fruit notes have all but disappeared, the spice is back but all of this is overtaken by a heathery peat smoke. In preference I'd go Inchmoan, Loch Lomond then Inchmurrin but I guess it depends on your preference for peat?  My only issue is with the colouring - yes it's needed in certain markets where colour consistency is more important than taste and for Loch Lomond that's a bigger market than here in the UK.

But don't take my word for it - see what Michael Henry thinks:

     

The rest of the Loch Lomond range has been revamped, there's some new bottlings and some have been discontinued.

The Global Travel retail selection has also been updated.