Loch Lomond is far from the most regarded distillery in scotland, actually I think on the overall impression I get when reading about in online is that it could very well be in the bottom 3 somewhere if not dead last, in many peoples mind. I now it lost a competitor for that title some years back when Littlemill was destroyed. But there's still Speyside, Mannochmore and Glenturret amongst others, of which have been hardly impressive when it comes to distillery bottlings... at least. I have not tried enough of Loch Lomond to make such a verdict for myself, but this tasting should be interesting as it holds two different single cask IB's at 60%+, one blend and one 12yo from Murray McDavid.
Loch Lomond NAS 40% OB Finest Blended
I had one of these a while back from Tormore distillery, or was it Tobermory? Anyway, I remember it wasn't all that bad, if my recollection serves me right I think I gave it somewhere along the lines of 4 or 5 points. Not bad for a young blend. What single malt produce will they put into a distillery blend? Can it be any good? Was the grain whisky also produced at Loch Lomond, yes it is! If the single malt is as bad as its reputation, could this be the winner of this tasting? I hope not... This bottle looks like it was made in the 80's. The color is certainly adjusted with some E's. It smells light and burnt, ashtray, alcohol and skimmed milk, just like any run of the mill bcheap blend. Lacks what I'd call personality. The taste is much better, still light, but with some vanilla fudge and cotton candy, a bit soapy and again this burnt cigar/ashtray stuff that I cannot really decide wether I like or not. For a blend it is quite good. No aftertaste to be found.
I like this one, perfect light-weighter, aperitif whisky: 5
Rhosdhu 12yo 1996-2008 46% Murray McDavid
Should be an interesting whisky, usually when IB's bottle these obscure whiskies at a young age it's got to do with a quality peak in an early stage of maturation. When I think about it, all three IB's in this tasting are bottled at a fairly young age with this one being the oldest, so there could be that the spirit from Loch Lomond usually gets overwhelmed by the oak very early. This one is very dark, somewhere between orange and brown in color, not that usual for a bourbon cask at this age. It smells like roasted almonds, burnt sugar, vanilla, caramel, honey, a sweet treat? The taste is really fat/thick, sweet vanilla and caramel, honey dew, leather and sweet licorice. To some extent it reassembles the blend, but it's so much richer and smoothe on the palate, an excellent surprise. It dies a bit over time, this is one to enjoy right after pouring, for a thicker, smoother, sweeter and rather delightful version of this malt. Definitively my best Loch Lomond whisky so far.
Luxurious whisky... WHAT??? Is it possible???: 8
Rhosdhu 9yo 1985-1994 60.5% Cadenhead's
At this strength, wow! Will it be anything like the rather excellent version from Murray McDavid? I usually like my whiskies at a high strength, but could this be a bit overkill as Loch Lomond whisky usually carries a more spirity palate than most other distilleries? Pale white wine color, Smells spirity at first, give it time, then it turns very light, like smelling wheat flour, like when beating the dough. Also some eucalyptus, mint and bitter, Fernet Branca? The taste is spirity, rather unpleasant, backyard weeds, lots of greens that doesn't work for me. Water is urgently needed. Diluted it comes of as even more spirity, burnt, bitter, rotten tomatoes and brown sugar peas. It's all gone bad in this one.
This one I could easily do without: 2
Inchmurrin 9yo 1985-2004 64% Cadenhead's
I have no idea what could be the difference between Inchmurrin and Rhosdhu as they both are non-peated and usually bottled at a vast variety of age and without any special cask features. I only hope there is some difference what taste is concerned as the last CS Rhosdhu from same bottler was disturbing to my palate. But then again, the 12yo Rhosdhu was stupendously good. Even lighter color than the 9yo Rhosdhu, This is the lighter side of white wine. And at 64%, I'm feeling a bit of enjoyable fear. It smells spirity, but what wouldn't at this strength. No, this is just spirity, nothing else to detect in the nose, maybe the taste will be a bit different? I hope so.. The taste is a bit smoky, burnt, the ashtray sensation I found in the blend. Other than that it is kind of boring, I'll add water to this one as well. Water gives it a small punch, but still it is mostly bitter, sulphury and oh yeah, stale fish stew.
At least there's been one saving grace in this tasting, this is not it: 2.5
Next tasting: Aberfeldy Distillery
Ingen kommentarer:
Legg inn en kommentar