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    Home » Single Malt Scotch

    Published Jul 7, 2017 · Updated Apr 16, 2022 · by Tammy Spencer · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Loch Lomond Single Malt Scotch Whisky Tasting

    Jump to Reviews

    The Loch Lomond Single Malt Scotch lineup is full of complex flavors, so when sampling a taste, everyone's experience is going to be unique to them. My tasting notes differed from the "official" version, and maybe yours will as well!

    Collage of Loch Lomond whisky lineup in bottles.this …
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    Loch Lomond Whisky (not the song)
    Official vs unofficial tasting notes
    Loch Lomond Single Malt Scotch Whisky
    Loch Lomond Signature Blended
    Loch Lomond Original Single Malt
    Loch Lomond 12yr Single Malt
    Loch Lomond 18yr Single Malt
    Inchmurrin 12yr Single Malt
    Inchmurrin 18yr Single Malt
    Final thoughts
    Related Tasting Notes

    I admit it freely…before I discovered Outlander, I knew nothing about Scotland and even less about scotch.

    (Wait, can you know less than nothing about something? Negative knowledge? Maybe knowledge flows out through your ears? Ok, my head is starting to hurt).

    Loch Lomond whisky? Not on my radar. When I thought of Scotland, Loch Lomond (the song, not the lake, or loch as the case may be) came to mind. “Oh, I’ll take the high road, and you’ll take the low road, and I’ll be in Scotland before ye…”

    (Ok, you don’t want me to sing, or even write about singing, trust me.)

    That song jumps into my head at the oddest time (it's such an ear worm), especially when I'm hiking and there are 2 paths. I’m weird that way.

    Anyway, when I heard that the Loch Lomond Distillery was coming in for a tasting at Gordon’s DTX, in popped that song. I swear, it’s involuntary!

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    Loch Lomond Whisky (not the song)

    Luckily, Forbes McMullin Jr, the VP of Sales - US for the Loch Lomond group, led a tasting that quickly added something else for me to associate with that famous loch, a pleasant line up of scotch.

    Scene of Scotland's Loch Lomand water and hills.
    The beauty of Loch Lomond (photo credit: Scotland Now)

    Yay! Gordon’s introduced them thusly, "The second and current Loch Lomond distillery was founded in 1964 by the former owners of the Littlemill distillery.

    Although the original Loch Lomond distillery and brand dates back to 1814, it was closed at an unbeknownst date to us since record keeping was so poor back then. The legend of this original distillery and style of whisky lives on through the Loch Lomond and Inchmurrin brand."

    Official vs unofficial tasting notes

    Forbes handed out tasting notes for the lineup and I found the specific write-ups for each expression on the Loch Lomond website.

    I thought it would be interesting to see how my impressions agreed with (or totally missed on) the “official” observations (the italicized bullet points below). Just note that their comments are very thorough and I’m...err...not.

    Am I up for the challenge? Are you? Well, here goes…

    Loch Lomond whisky lineup boxes on a counter.
    Loch Lomand lineup (try saying that 3 times fast!)

    Loch Lomond Single Malt Scotch Whisky

    At Gordon’s DTX, presented by Forbes McMullin, Jr., June 28, 2017

    Loch Lomond Signature Blended

    40%ABV
    A deluxe blended whisky, which after a long and slow maturation, is then married and conditioned in our 100 barrel cask Solera which combines Oloroso Sherry casks and recharred American oak
    Type: Scottish

    Tasting Notes

    • Nose: floral, honey, vanilla, latent peat underneath
    • Very aromatic, fortified wine-style nose. Plump rich sultana with subtle but vinous sherried tinges. Not overpowering but clear and direct. Almost a smoky quality once the darker fruit notes subside.
    • Taste: peat at end, med body, cream and toffee
    • A surprisingly malty firm palate. This structure remains throughout but with layers of ripe pears with cinnamon, ginger and dark sugar notes, each taking their turn to appear as the palate develops. Mild hints of dried fruits finish this off. The maltiness is chewy in quality and effect.
    • Finish: peat softly rises, white pepper lingers
    • On the finish the dried fruit notes take on an almost blackcurrant tone, more astringent, the sweetness curbed by notes of lemon tartness towards the end.
    • Comments: If I wanted a blend...this would be good one to have

    Loch Lomond Original Single Malt

    40%ABV
    A single malt scotch whisky aged in oak with a distinctive background character with a hint of smoke and peat.
    Type: Scottish

    Tasting Notes

    • Nose: strawberries, dried fruit, vanilla, pine
    • First impressions of dark, warm leather that then builds into a more Highland heathery character. These darker notes gradually give way to a sweeter, malty presence. All of this aromatic richness concludes with lighter and more subtle wood notes just becoming evident at the close.
    • Taste: cinnamon love to start, chewy & oily, some dryness, mildly smoky
    • A pronounced burst of malt on the tongue with appetizing sweet cereal notes building over time to give an almost creamy texture to the palate. Mid palate there is a pronounced nuttiness, the texture and flavour of brazil nuts. Finally a slightly astringent citrus note appears fleetingly in the background.
    • Finish: butter & creaminess, cloves linger
    • The citrus of the palate subsides and the finish becomes more conventionally sweet. Hints of dark molasses develop into a darker sweeter conclusion with faint hints of citrus peel offsetting the general rich and sweet notes.
    • Comments: nice entry point, I like it

    (This is getting a bit ridiculous!)

    Loch Lomond 12yr Single Malt

    46%ABV
    Aged in three types of cask - bourbon, refill and re-charged
    Type: Scottish

    Tasting Notes

    • Nose: fruit, cream, green
    • Crisp green apple, ripe pear and refreshing citrus lemon with background notes of golden cereal.
    • Taste: more warm spices, get a bit of grass, lots of body, thick
    • Orchard fruits and lemon meringue. The deep fruity character of pear lead into citrus lemon, vanilla meringue and light biscuit sweetness.
    • Finish: pepper rises up & slowly lingers
    • Medium length with gentle wood smoke and a lingering peaty tang.
    • Comments:  stronger than the original, more of a hit

    (I think I’ll stop now. You can look the rest up here if you're so inclined)

    Loch Lomond 18yr Single Malt

    46%ABV
    Non chill-filtered; Matured in Oak barrels to bring out the sweeter character of the wood with a subtle characteristic hint of peat and smoke ensuring a well balanced finish.
    Type: Scottish

    Tasting Notes

    • Nose: candy, almost menthol, butterscotch, a whiff of pineapple
    • Taste: lighter than the last, more grass, caramel
    • Finish: doesn’t linger, fades to light caramel
    • Comments: better than the 12, softer

    Inchmurrin 12yr Single Malt

    46%ABV
    Non-chill filtered; Aged in three hand selected types of cask - bourbon, refill and recharred
    Type: Scottish

    Tasting Notes

    • Nose: bananas, strong caramel, vanilla
    • Taste: tropical fruit, then comes into a strong pepper
    • Finish: pepper lingers long and strong
    • Comments: I like it as an opening dram

    Inchmurrin 18yr Single Malt

    46%ABV
    Non-chill filtered; Has a strong oak character, with hints of summer grass, tropical fruit and zesty citrus notes.
    Type: Scottish

    Tasting Notes

    • Nose: bananas, pineapple, Caribbean
    • Taste: char, smoke, tropical, thick and chewy
    • Finish: pepper all the way, char comes up
    • Comments: pineapple on a grill, my favorite of this line up
    Loch Lomond whisky lineup in bottles on a counter.

    Final thoughts

    So that was embarrassing. How are the descriptions so different? And how are they able to have complete sentences? In my defense, I’m trying to identify descriptions over a couple of minutes while socializing with friends. I can't be rude, after all!

    Actually, one of my good friends keeps telling me that everyone’s palate is unique, so my experience with each expression will be different than yours, Forbes’, and these professionals’.

    Let's go with that, shall we?

    Slainté! L’chaim! Cheers!

    Tammy

    Related Tasting Notes

    Scotland's whisky regions have such a rich and diverse array of flavor profiles and distinct characteristics from which to choose. Here's where you can find a scotch I've reviewed from the Highlands. Slainté!

    • Highland Scotch
    Tammy dressed in her culinary school chef's coat.

    I hope you like this review! If you tried the expressions or have a question, I'd love for you to leave a comment below. Thanks!

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Dianne Sanders says

      July 07, 2017 at 6:53 am

      As usual , entertaining , informative , I am not a drinker but now feel the need to sample a couple of these, clever writing Tammy

      Reply
      • Tammy says

        July 07, 2017 at 10:14 am

        Thanks, Dianne!

        Reply

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