Tasting notes·Lochlea

Lochlea Fallow Edition (First Crop)

The Lochlea distillery plans four special bottlings a year. The Fallow Edition follows the Harvest Edition and is intended to embody an autumnal-winter profile.The single malt Scotch whisky was matured 100% exclusively in Oloroso sherry butts. There are a number of whiskies on the market that have also undergone such ageing - will the Lochlea distillery manage to stand out once again?

The panel

Marcel
79
Sascha
81

Mean 80.0 · spread 2

Value for money 3/5

Distillery
Lochlea
Type
Single Malt
Region
Lowlands
Country
Scotland
Age
3 years
Strength
46% ABV
Character
rich

Tasting

Nose

Crystal clear: Ripe dark fruits, leather, dark chocolate. We expected this and got it. Pleasantly, raspberries, strawberries and cinnamon still resonate. Somewhere, after some time in the glass, we find a few wine aromas and some burnt wood. Beautifully defined profile with exciting secondary aromas.

Palate

Fresh and at the same time heavy-oily, the Fallow Edition lays in the mouth. As in the nose, we have a red berry mix, some tannins and oak spice. Not as dry as we would have expected, the Lowland single malt qualifies as an excellent sherry bomb.

Finish

In the warming, medium-long finish, we find the dark chocolate from the nose again.

Verdicts

Marcel

For a young Lowland whisky, the Fallow Edition is a real delight – the blend of dark chocolate and berries almost evokes a winter mulled wine with a kick. Sure, it’s not the most complex sherry bomb, but the fresh fruitiness and smooth oiliness make for endless drinking pleasure. If you’re into autumnal flavors, this one’s right up your alley.

Sascha

The Lochlea Fallow Edition presents a balanced aromatic interplay of Oloroso sherry, dark fruits, and oak spice, which is remarkably well-structured for a three-years single malt. Despite its youth, the profile is well-defined and harmonious, with a finish that remains pleasantly warming. A convincing example of the quality of young Lowland sherry casks, it once again raises the bar for the distillery.

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.

Source

Tasting note and scores by WHISKY:EDITION — tasted by Marcel and Sascha, published 2022-12-14.