Loch Lomond: Single Grain (Scottish Highland Single Grain Whisky :46% ABV)
Visual: Pale. Light yellow grain. Fast, thick streaks come from the spirit.
Nose: Apples and pears. Light polish. Oats and other cereals. Soft vanilla. Waters adds grapes and bubblegum.
Body: Light alcohol prickle. Bubblegum. Lemon drops. Unleaven bread. Water adds mineral water. Pear drops. Slight rougher alcohol.
Finish: Lemon drops. Alcohol air. Peppery. Sesame seeds. Water adds mineral water notes.
Conclusion: I am, mixed on this one, let us say. First impressions were great. As I got in and got the first whiff of the aroma I got lovely fresh bright green fruit with a soft cereal set behind that. It smells like it will be so easy drinking, with a lot of promise of maybe something more. There is a light alcohol prickle but that doesn’t mar that promise too much and I’d expect water to smooth that out.
Sipping it for the first time is when things get weird. It is still lovely and drinkable with a mix of lemon drops and an interesting and unusual bubblegum character – but now there is a slightly rough alcohol character to it. Only slightly so, but it results in a slightly odd whisky feel that doesn’t quite appeal to me.
The way out in the finish is better, lemon drops again now with a peppery underline that helps ground it. So overall a mixed whisky with some good points.
Water, well I had hoped it would settle the rough alcohol issue. Instead it brings out a minerally ..erm..mineral water character, a touch that I am never really a fan of, except in very small amounts. Though this does lower over time, which helps let the more fruity notes come out.
It gets better over time definitely, but still a mix for me. Some lovely apple, pear, lemon drops and such notes. Lots of good stuff now, just not 100% for me, still some sign of the bits that don’t work, however very much reduced. Definitely will be 100% the whisky for easy drinking for some, and still an interesting one for me.
Background: So, Single Grain Whisky, what do you think this was made with? A mix of cereals? Nope, despite being a grain whisky this is made with 100% Malted barley, however since it is made in a column still it is a grain whisky despite that. Interesting. First of five whiskies in a very good Burns Night’s whisky tasting at Independent Spirit. There is also a peated version of this, taking advantage of the fact it is malted barley to make the rare peated single grain. I have to admit I have that one on my list of something to try at a later date. As always with tastings like this I had more scattershot notes than normal but I did my best.
