Loch Lomond Original

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!

Loch Lomond is a Highland distillery, built in 1965 as a joint venture between Duncan Thomas and Barton Brands of America, that produces both malt and grain whiskies. It is currently owned by Glen Catrine Bonded Warehouse Ltd. (whoever the hell they are). Their entry level single malt carries no age statement and is double matured (I'm guessing mainly in bourbon casks with some finishing in Madeira casks).

The colour is a burnished gold. On the nose, candied almonds, pralines, barley sugar and the slightest hint of peat. A little bit of dark honey - also slightly perfumey. Nothing too exciting going on here, but water gives it a little more depth.

On the palate, quite young and lively, and rather sweet: candy cane, buttered toast and butterscotch. As with the nose, water contributes more depth and body. Not terribly complex.

The finish is a little hot, with some raisins and a bit of smoke. The sherry cask influence seems to be more apparent here. This is an extremely light, sweet, young malt. Certainly not terrible, by any means, but not really to my taste.

Loch Lomond is a factory. Their core business is the production and sales of fillings, bulk whisky at very young age. They do not make a secret out of it. Their whisky is hence not very well regarded, except maybe by Capitain Haddock, the faithful sidekick of Tintin. Today we try the NAS-version from 2010, probably a very young whisky as well.

The nose is very light and grainy. I am reminded first and foremost of a slice of white bread, with (do not laught) peanut butter spread on it. Then some cardboard and warm milk. Lucikily there are some hints of apples and sugared breakfast cereals to make up for things. A little bit of honey. But oh, so light!

On the palate as well, it is very light. Make that watery. Absolutely not good. Mild spices follow a bland palate of cardboards and sugared iced tea. Soft hints of vanilla cannot repeal the mediocrity.

The finish is mercifully short, on more cardboard.

Pouring this in a whisky-cola would be a waste. Of the cola, mind you. One of the least interesting single malts ever tasted.