Loch Lomond 12 Year Old Organic Single Blend Review

Loch Lomond 12 Year Old Organic Single Blend - 46% abv.

Loch Lomond is a pretty large distillery that most people haven't heard of. It is located on Loch Lomond which, I believe, is the the largest fresh water lake (or loch) in Scotland. Andrew Grey (formerly of Bruichladdich) is one of the key people responsible for the current direction of the Loch Lomond group. I say the "Loch Lomond group" because they also produce Inchmurrin single malts at Loch Lomond distillery (in a different still) and they also now own Glen Scotia over in Campletown.

The 12 year old organic single blend is a blend of 50% organic single malt and 50% organic single blend. They call it 12 year old but it is actually 13 years old... for superstitious reasons (marketing) they chose to call it 12 years old. Interestingly, the 12 year old organic single malt is also available from Loch Lomond. Fortunately, either way you get 46% alcohol that is non-chill-filtered. I believe this is the most aged organic whisky available as well, which is cool.

click photo to enlarge

Colour: straw.

Nose: every time I nose this I think about two things: that's nice and light; and wow I smell cream soda. I've found the cream soda note seems to show up in a few products from the Loch Lomond distillery. 

With some water I get vanilla cream or maybe creme anglaise is more accurate.

Palate: light and fresh and a little sweet. I get cream soda here too. I get a little cereal with milk and a sugar. There's other more bitter (pleasantly) notes that balance off these tastes like maybe under-ripe strawberry. There's a nice thread of vanilla throughout it as well.

Water does wonders here. It spreads the whisky out and you really get more of those lovely cream soda notes, you get some salt, and with some time you get a pretty clear note of sweet grapefruit.  Good stuff!

Finish: of medium persistence and makes its way to about the back of the palate and mid-throat. 

When would I drink this? This is really one of those any time kind of drams. On colder days it may not have the richness to serve as a night cap but this is very drinkable and probably would fit well as a summer whisky. You can also drink this and share this when you want to appreciate something that is organic. Truly a high quality product and a real bargain for the price.