Lochlea Cask Strength Batch 1
A young distillery has many "firsts". The first bottling ever, the first bottling of the Core Range and at some point also the first bottling at cask strength. This is what we have for tasting and review today.
The panel
Mean 84.0 · spread 2
Value for money 4/5
- Distillery
- Lochlea
- Type
- Single Malt
- Region
- Lowlands
- Country
- Scotland
- Strength
- 60.1% ABV
- Character
- mellow
Tasting
Nose
The single malt opens immediately with ripe light and dark fruits - there is no need to "let it breathe". Pear, apple, blood orange, rum, cinnamon, tobacco leaves, milk chocolate, vanilla and coffee beans open a true composition of flavours. Red grapes are also perceptible, which flatter with a light wine note.
Palate
Full steam ahead - the usual Lochlea signature is clearly in the foreground. Bright fruits and light nutty notes. Mouth-watering and slightly dry, the whisky shines with caramel, vanilla and forest honey. Surprisingly not spicy at all and really smooth, we taste a big load of buttery cinnamon buns. The palate is rounded off by toasted croutons.
Finish
Medium-long, the cask-strength whisky tingles on the palate with hints of fresh oak and chocolate.
Verdicts
Marcel
A lively cask strength whisky that delights with its fruity variety and sweet notes of buttery cinnamon rolls. No harshness, no off-flavors – just pure drinking pleasure. Lochlea demonstrates here how a clever cask blend can bring a young malt vividly to life.
Sascha
The balanced combination of 70% bourbon and 30% oloroso casks creates a harmonious, complex flavor profile at 60.1% ABV. Despite its youth, the whisky feels structured and well-balanced, with oak and chocolate notes elegantly rounding off the medium-length finish.
What it is worth
No auction record for this distillery, so we cannot tell you what this bottle is worth. We would rather say that than guess.