Loch Lomond Original
Methylated spirits and pine
0 663
tReview by @thewhiskydoctor
- Nose17
- Taste14
- Finish16
- Balance16
- Overall63
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Distribution of ratings for this:
- Brand: Loch Lomond
- Type: Scotch
- Region: Highland
- ABV: 40%
From a 3cl sample bottle. Loch Lomond is one of the most unusual distilleries in Scotland, producing both grain and malt whisky, and has sets of standard pot stills and Lomond stills (although apparently they technically aren't, they are pot sills with rectifying columns). They produce a variety of single malts with varying peat levels and cut points, and this is their standard NAS unpeated malt produced in the 'regular' pot stills.
Nose - Very light, pine, sap, slightly floral geranium, then something slightly weird and industrial-solventy, Airfix glue, acetone, methylated spirits, turpentine, rubber, possibly bubblegum, later on with hints of vanilla, butterscotch and caramel.
Palate - Light again with a sweet arrival of pine, sweet vanilla essence, icing sugar developing into a hit of sour oiliness and rubber, still industrial, some mint sweets, Fox’s Glacier mints, some white pepper towards the end.
Finish - Short with a return of the pine, digestive biscuits and a hint of pepper and green oak bitterness.
The saying goes that there are no bad whiskies, just some that are not as good as others, except Loch Lomond. Ok, so that's not how the saying goes, and is also a little unfair. This is definitely young and rough, but then it sort of alternates between some quite nice pine and floral notes and that weird industrial solvent flavour, which is not altogether pleasant. The finish is barely there, but is actually relatively normal. I'm almost tempted to buy a bottle, just because it's so different!
Wow—except for when Ralfy* did a video on this a while back, I think this is the first review I've ever seen of nasty old Loch Lomond. I think 63 is just about right in my book too.
I had no idea what it was but I came across a bottle in at petrol station/convenience store in northern Scotland during my one trip there a few years ago. Being on a mission to bring home interesting bottles that we don't get in the US, I snatched it up almost without hesitating for the low low price £19 as I recall. I admit that the cool-looking bottle & label sold me.
I got it home, opened it, hated it. Gross. Is "industrial floral" a thing? Loch Lomond was the reason I started making my own home blends—because I was trying to blend away this nasty beast.
Nice review.
As I recall, Ralfy has quite some appreciation for it. Not that he says it's good or that he likes it, but I recall him describing it as a real throw-back, working man's kinda whisky. I should dig up that video again. It's been a few years since I watched it.