Loch Lomond is quite an interesting distillery since it is the only one that is able to create a single blended whisky (meaning whisky that contains both single malt and single grain distilled at the same distillery), but this Single Grain my friends is not ANY single grain, but something quite unique … I am not speaking about quality, but about the process in which this whisky is made. Well, usually single grain is made from maize, wheat or some other grain, that is not malted barley, right? and malt whisky is made in pot stills out of malted barley, right? well almost.
This whisky is distilled from malted barley ,but instead of a Pot still, Loch Lomond is using its column Coffey still. Now, SWA maintains that single malt whisky can ONLY be distilled in pot stills from malted barley – hence this whisky is called Single Grain whisky even though it’s made from malted Barley. Confused? I am too. I had an opportunity of tasting this whisky twice : the first time last week at the Maltstock 2016 , along with a few new-ish released present by their brand ambassador Don Mcleland. I also got a wee sample by snail mail (snail, meaning it got here a week on delay). This is a young grain, and I did not have high expectations, but it is always interesting to try to see for yourself how a single grain from malted barley would feel…
Loch Lomond Single Grain Scotch Whisky, NAS, 46 abv
Nose: quite light and sweet with a fruity touch , strawberry yogurt and lemon peel. Some sweet grain going on, vanilla and grassy notes too, and a hint of cereal too. Quite tame.
Palate: fruitier and quite exotic with canned pineapple, wood shavings and vanilla. Bitter wood and a bit of an earthy feeling and drier, feels young and peppery with alcohol bite. Could use more age.
Finish: bitter citrus, bubblegum , wood shavings.
This is a young whisky, which i guess is not meant for sipping, but rather than mixing. It’s fruity and fresh, but it’s not quite well-rounded, and there’s an alcohol bite, which you can expect from a young grain whisky. If you’re looking for a mixing whisky, this might be a good option, depending on pricing… I can’t really see myself enjoying this neat. I tried some with a few ice cubes, as a summer refreshment, and well, it was not bad.