In keeping with my longstanding traditions here and my interest in whisky, today I’m reviewing Loch Lomond 12, a single malt Scotch. As per the usual in my beverage reviews, I’ll start with a few words about the company, and single malt scotches in general. Following that, I will cover my usual tasting procedures for this kind of spirit. To round out the review of this whisky, I’ll end with some commentary on how I think it best to enjoy it. With all of that said, let’s get right into understanding this excellent whisky that can be had for a surprisingly affordable price.
The original Loch Lomond distillery began operating just before the outbreak of World War One: in its current location, it’s been producing for half a century. Interestingly enough, since whisky is flammable and prone to fires, most distillers participate in a tradition where they keep some of their competitors’ stores in their warehouses, and the reverse is also true. This is something of a social insurance policy so that a single fire does not end the life of a distillery overnight.
Single malt Scotches are aged in a single barrel, and are bottled right from that barrel: blended Scotch, on the other hand, is blended from different barrels, often of different ages. For the former, the age is how long ago the whisky went into the barrel. For the latter, the youngest age is always the one reported, but, for instance, a 10-year-old blended whisky might well have some 12-16-year-old whiskies in the mix.
Single malts tend to have a slightly thinner palette than blended Scotch, though both vary wildly The single malted varieties also tend to have a more smoky flavor, but, again, Scotches vary as much, or more, than tartan patterns so the only believing should be from the tasting.
Speaking of: Scotch is really good. The first time you try a new one, do not mess with it. Pour about a finger width into a clean glass, swirl it, smell it, and take a sip. If you find that there’s too much burn try a few drops of cool water or a single ice cube made from distilled water. If you’re near a can of soda and want to mix, please do not.
I found this Scotch to be highly interesting: the primary note was a burn that reminded me a lot of rye bourbons: this is not uncommon, considering most Scotch is made in bourbon barrels. There was also a light, smoky aftertaste that I find highly pleasant.
Since I also like a good cigar, I would recommend drinking Loch Lomond 12 neat with a slow-burning but light cigar so as to not overwhelm the relatively light palette of the Scotch. I enjoyed mine with a Cohiba, watching the sunset over the Miami skyline and listening to Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. It was, to say the least, an exceptionally pleasant evening that I hope you, dear reader, can recreate soon.