Loch Lomond Distillery Edition Eight

@LochLomondMalts have just released the eighth in their Distillery Edition series going back to their Continuous Copper Coffey Stills.

This time it's a 15yo - one of the oldest 100% malted barley single 'grains' they've released, let's try it!

Loch Lomond is a distillery that's a little under the radar, it's really two distilleries - a malt one and a grain one sitting side by side in Alexandria on the southern shore of Loch Lomond. Their Continuous Copper Coffey Stills sit within the Malt half of the distillery as they distil 100% Malted Barley.

High, Narrow & Handsome! The stills not the whisky!

Loch Lomond say:

"The Distillery Edition Series is a concept developed and crafted by our Master Distiller, Michael Henry. This series celebrates our distillery’s commitment to innovation and  showcases our whisky-making ability and capability to produce flavour like no one else."

Distillery thoughts:

Distillery Edition 8 is a 15-year-old aged single grain whisky, distilled in 2010 in our continuous 'Coffey' still using 100% unpeated malted barley. It is taken at a narrow cut point, which means the spirit has a high collection strength of 85%.


Michael Henry, our Master Blender, has opted to use a combination of M and MX yeast during fermentation for this edition. It is then matured for 15 years in refill bourbon barrels. The result is a handsome, vibrant single grain whisky, rich with peach, apricot, velvety vanilla syrup, and a touch of cinnamon spice.


Bottled at 56.4% ABV, non-chill filtered, and with natural colour to keep things as nature intended.

Nose: A delicate blend of vanilla and honey aromas are met with apple, peach, and soft floral notes of rose.

Taste: Rich layers of smooth caramel, velvety vanilla syrup, peach and apricot, and a hint of fresh coconut.

Finish: Long finish, sweet with warming ginger and cinnamon spice.

My thoughts:

Appearance: Bright gold in the glass, swirls leave thin lines which take an age to bead up and eventually fall as slow thin legs.

               

Nose: Orchard fruit to start: pears, apricots, plums and a hint of spiced apple. There's honey, dry icing sugar, vanilla and a little sweet floral note.

Palate: Thick sweet arrival: golden syrup and runny honey combine, there's some dry icing sugar in here for good measure - a lot of sweetness but perfectly balanced with peaches and stewed pears. A little penny toffee, a hint of cask char and some vanilla. Then the spice kicks in, bold but not overpowering: cinnamon and a little black pepper. The spice and icing sugar leave the mouth dry and ready for another sip or two! A little time and air bring the peaches to the fore, a little ginger is added to the spice mixture and hints of milk chocolate and spearmint appear.

 

Finish: Lingering cinnamon spice, peaches and a little vanilla.

Summary: Yummy! As you can see from the picture this first bottle won't survive much longer, replacements have been ordered, I think there are around 70 left on the website. This is one of, if the the oldest single grain Loch Lomond have released, they only installed the stills in 2007, the 3 casks for this release were filled in 2010. The releases are back on track, following the 4 release pattern of CWY, Blend, Long Fermentation, Grain after the mysterious #7 Long Fermentation went AWOL... Each of these Distillery Editions is a moment in time, a glimpse of what Michael Henry and the team can create from their wonderful array of still, grain and yeast combinations - get one while you can and look forward to the next one!

 

Loch Lomond Distillery Editions:

Edn	Released	Year	Age	Name	Information	ABV	Price
8	Apr '25	2010	15	High, Narrow & Handsome	Rhosdu spirit - 3 cask vatting.	56.4%	£55
7	Nov '24	2012	12	Tropical Refill	Glen Douglas spirit, Chardonnay Wine Yeast fermentation - 3 cask vatting	55.7%	£70
6	Sep '24	2016	8	Single Distillery Unpeated Blend	80% Rhosdu & 20% Glen Douglas spirit - vatting	56.9%	£50
5	Apr '24	2015	8	Orchard & Vineyard	Inchmurrin spirit, Chardonnay Wine Yeast fermentation - 3 cask vatting	59.1%	£57
4	Nov '23	2016	7	Supercharged Floral & Tropical Fruits	Rhosdu spirit - 3 cask vatting married for a month in wood	58.9%	£45
3	Jul '23	2012	10	Extra Long fermentation	Glen Douglas spirit - 3 cask vatting	57.2%	£70
2	Apr '23	2017	5	Single Distillery Peated Blend	80% Rhosdu & 20% Croftengea spirit, vatting	57.7%	£40
1	Nov '22	2010	9	Chardonnay Yeast	Glen Douglas spirit, Chardonnay Wine Yeast fermentation - Single Cask #119	57.1%	£65