Loch Lomond 14 Year Old 70cl Whisky

“Nose: Toasted coconut mushrooms (you remember them from when you were a kid surely?) stewed orchard fruit and a hint of peppery spice. A little air offers some citrus peel notes along with that hint of toast or smoke. Palate: Very smooth sweet creamy arrival, loads of typical Inchmurrin (I've got to stop using that word) notes: toffee apples, peaches, sweetened stewed pears, digestive biscuits and oaky vanilla. As the liquid disappears the spices really come into their own - cinnamon and nutmeg biting at the tongue leaving a citrus fizz. Nice! A little time and air offer liquorice and bitter dark chocolate notes. Finish: Lingering spiced apples, a hint of smoke and some tropical fruit. Thoughts: Coming from unpeated barley distilled in straight necked pot stills with a high collection strength this would have been called an Inchmurrin in a past life - the Fruity and Sweet in the new range. But with the spicy kick from the French Limousin Oak finish this whisky is similar to an SMWS release: the 2004 15yo 112.53 "Sophisticated seductive Sazerac cocktail" which also balances fruit notes with spice and bitter citrus. For all this is distilled from unpeated barley there is a definite smoke note - probably from the toasted casks it's been maturing in. A lovely dram, slightly older than the core range and definitely worth hunting out.”

Brian Blackett