Lagavulin Distiller’s Edition
Lagavulin Distiller’s Edition is the most popular expression in Diageo’s Distiller’s Edition collection. Bottled at 43% ABV, it is finished in Pedro Ximinez casks, the sweetest of Sherries. This 16-year-old whisky is an incredibly rich, distinguished smoky Islay expression with complex layers of Sherry sweetness and coastal characters. Here is my take!
Nose: Peat smoke, sweet honey, rich dark fruit, cherries, plums, dried apricots.
Palate: Herbal, beach fire, orange peel zest, ocean spray on a stormy day.
Finish: Smoldering bonfire, apricot jam, spice and peat.
Loch Lomond – The Open Special Edition Distiller’s Cut
This one is a limited edition celebrating the distillery’s partnership with the golfing’s original Championship. This Loch Lomond malt is comprised of three different American oak casks that were hand selected by their master blender.
Loch Lomond The Open Special Edition is bottled at 46% ABV.
Nose: Light, crisp, orchard fruit, vanilla wafers.
Palate: Honey, wildflowers, fruit cobbler and vanilla bean.
Finish: Light smoke with more stone fruits, honey and vanilla.
Loch Lomond 18-year-old Peated
A little bit of heaven is Loch Lomond 18-year-old Peated.
Bottled at 46% ABV.
Nose: Orange, leather, tobacco, salty giant pretzel dough, honey, smoky BBQ pork rib.
Palate: Baked bread, dark berries, butter and more leather.
Finish: Long, lingering gentle peat
Rating: 8.8/10
Loch Lomond Inchmurrin 18-year-old
Day 1 in this beautiful Kensington Wine Market Advent Calendar bore an engraved KWM Glencarin Crystal Whisky glass along with a Loch Lomond Inchmurrin 18-year-old. Bottled at 46% ABV.
Nose: Rich and Complex. An interesting citrusy fresh hops vine or dandelion note. Then it gave way to a caramel and fruity scent.
Palate: Smooth, velvet creamy vanilla, Milk Chocolate fruit and nut bar.
Finish: Long, Tropical Fruit and Ginger spice.
Having never tasted anything from this distillery and not typically favouring fruity whiskies, I was absolutely amazed at the quality and delicious sweetness of this dram. I will definitely be on the lookout for anything from Loch Lomond Distillery in the future!
Rating 9.5/10
Lum Reek Blended 12-year old, peated
McNair’s Lum Reek Blended 12-year-old Peated. This expression was blended by GlenAllachie Distillers in 2018. This whisky is a blend of peated malts from Islay (Caol Ila) and Speyside (GlenAllachie) distilleries. These malts are a minimum 12 years old and drawn from Bourbon, red wine and PX Sherry casks. The name was inspired by a well-known Scottish toast “Long may your Lum Reek!” “Lum” is a term used for chimney.
Bottled at 46% ABV.
Nose: Dark Chocolate, coffee, sweet peated chimney smoke, butterscotch.
Palate: More chimney smoke from a crofters cabin, spices, toffee and more butterscotch.
Finish: Long, sweet and smokey.
Rating: 8.8/10