Scotland, Western Highlands: Single malt whisky through the producing distilleries: history, making, production and tasting notes

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Loch Lomond

The distillery

Loch Lomond distillery
Loch Lomond Distillery
Alexandria
Dumbartonshire G83 0TL
+44 1389 752 781

Owner: Loch Lomond Distillery Co Ltd

Creation date: 1965

photos

The Loch Lomond distillery has been settled in 1965 in the buildings of an ancient dyeing plant called United Turkey Red. In the beginning of the 19th century, another Loch Lomond distillery was situated at the other end of the loch. The first Loch Lomond distillery is closed since 1817. The current distillery has itself been closed between 1984 and 1987 and has been restored by Glen Catrine Bonded Warehouse, independent bottler and blender from the area.
The name of Loch Lomond for a whisky is particularly famous thanks to Tintin.
It is indeed the favourite whisky of Captain Haddock.... However, the whisky produced by the current distillery Loch Lomond cannot be the favourite of the captain, as the distillery has been build many years after the adventures of Tintin where Haddock drinks it. Another distillery, called Lochlomond (or Tarbat) has also existed, but this one is too old, as it stopped its activities somewhere round 1817. The captain Haddock's Loch Lomond has really been made up by Hergé.
Beside the Loch LomondLoch Lomond train single malt (dear to Haddock's heart), the distillery produces two other single malts: Inchmurrin and Old Roshdhu. Some other less known (because not marketed as single malt) are also produced by the distillery: Loch Lomond HP, Craiglodge, Croftengea, Glen Douglas and Inchmoan.
The production of different malts in the same stills is possible thanks to special stills, called "Lomond stills". The difference between Lomond still and a traditional pot still is that the lyne arm is replaces by a system of horizontal and parallel plates, just like the Coffey still. But, contrary to the Coffey still, the distillation is not continuous.
The distillery has acquired a Coffey still in 1993 in order to produce grain whisky, and so to produce its own blends.
A blend called Loch Lomond is also available. Other blends of this distillery are Loch Lomond Single Blend, High Commissioner Blended Whisky and Scots Earl blended whisky.
The distillery also has its own cooperage. All this make Loch Lomond one of the few distilleries who take the whole whisky making process in charge, from the grinding of the grain till the blending. On the other hand, it does not produce its own malt.

The whisky

A propos des notes de dégustation Your own tasting notes

List of the bottles

Description of the distillery

Loch Lomond
whisky
O.B. Pure Malt 12 1/2
See Help 0 - 40 € 40 - 80 € 80 - 120 € 120 - 160 € 160 - 200 € 200 - 240 € 240 - 280 € > 280 €
 Loch Lomond official bottling
 

Loch Lomond
Pure Malt


Age
No age statement
Alcohol percentage
40%
Bottler
Official
=25 euros< 25 euros
 
The colour is gold to amber. The nose is sweet, slightly peaty with a hint of sugared butter flavored with cognac.
The taste is sweet, smoky with a touch of madeira, and the final is long, sweet and reminiscences of raisin Christmas pudding.
What a program... .
That'll take some doing....
 No wonder that Captain Haddock is always in a bad mood. What a strange whisky, with strong malted smells. An uncategorizable bottle. A relatively long finish lets a very vague taste in the mouth. This whisky should be exclusively reserved to "tintinophiles", because it does not add anything to the whisky science, while all Tintin's adepts remain a drunken Bobby, after having drunken this beverage leaking out of this tank wagon with a certain nostalgia.

A second tasting just confirmed the bad memory left by this whisky which reinforce those who claim hating whisky... The first impression was rather pleasant, even if it was rather flat, but while going along the taste seems to worsen, and the finish (which is unfortunately rather long) does not help matters....
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Loch Lomond
Croftengea
2001-2006


Age
5 years
Alcohol percentage
45%
Bottler
Official
=25 euros< 25 euros

Commentaire de Johannes Sauer

Colour: Very pale, oily, vinho verde Nose: Very interesting and appealing for such a young spirit: At first very few peat but much of overripe fruit. Below strong aromes of the oak cask together with deep malty flavors.
Palate: Milk chocolate pralines filled with dried fruits and nuts. Surprising soft and flattering and finally, peat shows up beneath all the other impressions.
Finish: Long and soft, the peat leaving the very longest traces.
Concl: A very surprising expression: young and so vehement, that there must be some problems with the balance. A bottle reminding of Cptn. Haddock, strong but lovable.
18/20

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Western Highlands

Campbeltown map

This wild and hilly area with a windy seaside was not favourable for distillation. Only two distilleries in the North of the area and two others in the South are still active.

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Click on the map for a list of the distilleries of the area, on the title for further information about the Western Highlands area, and if you want to make an "alphabetical journey" through the area, please click on one of the pagode roofs, according to the direction you want to follow

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