"One of apple, two of oak,
Orange, allspice, yet no smoke."
A single grain whisky from Loch Lomond, who are pretty big on sorcery. How else do you explain how they're able to produce both grain whisky as well as 8 different single malts at one distillery?! As well as the eponymous, unpeated Loch Lomond single malt, there's Inchmurrin, Rhosdhu, Inchmoan, Craiglodge, Croftengea, Glen Douglas and Inchfad. It's clearly all magic. I might give it a go myself. I put on my robe and wizard hat...
Batch 1 is a release of 191 numbered bottles.
‘That Boutique-y Whisky Company’ bottles single malts, single grains, blended malts, blends and bourbons from a variety of renowned distilleries. These whiskies are adorned with cultish graphic-novel-style labels.
Some initial gingerbread fades to reveal more delicate, slightly creamy notes of soft allspice, a little apple and split oak. Caramelised dates.
Bang! Where were you hiding? A big ginger and red liquorice whack in the chops.
The finish is a return to spicy subtlety, with Italian nut biscuits and a little red fruit.
Nose is overpowering and the taste isn't much over that. Slightly harsh especially when compared to a single malt benrinnes of the same distillery
After reading the description above and opening my bottle, I wondered what wizardry had happened. I couldn't discern any apple, orange or allspice. The nose was overwhelmingly suggestive of a pine forest or juniper. Side-by side nosing with some gin confirmed my suspicion - this whisky smells and tastes like an toned-down oak-aged gin. I'll have to try it with some tonic and a twist of lime...neat or with water, this one doesn't do much for me.
