On the bonnie, bonnie banks…
Loch Lomond distillery in Alexandria dates from 1964, though a much earlier distillery operated under the same name at Arrochar between 1814 and 1817. The current distillery was built by the owners of Littlemill with the first spirit run taking place in 1965.
The distillery ceased production for a time in 1984 but was bought by the Glen Catrine Bonded Warehouse Company who resumed distillation and later expanded in 1993 to include a grain distillery adjacent to the original. At the time, this made Loch Lomond the only site in the country with both malt and grain facilities onsite.
As of 2014, Loch Lomond (and sister distillery Glen Scotia) have been owned by Equinox under the name of the Loch Lomond Group and the single malt has seen something of a rebranding with a completely new range introduced to the market. One of the latest additions is the 12 year old Inchmoan single malt.
Named after one of Lomond’s many islands, Inchmoan literally means ‘Island of Peat’, so named due to its historical use as a fuel source by the population of nearby Luss.
The Whisky
The Inchmoan single malt is distilled from suitably peated barley and aged for 12 years before bottling at 46%. It is readily available in the UK for around £45.
Smell: Earthy Peat Smoke with Vanilla and Oak, Charcoal and Berries.
Taste: Oily on the palate, with Spice and Smoke. Vanilla, Raspberry and Cherry and warming Cinnamon.
Thoughts: Bigger flavour and more complexity than many 12 year olds. Well worth the £45 asking price. The new Loch Lomond malts continue to impress with this latest addition offering a heavily peated expansion of the range.. Very much one for the smokeheads, but there’s so much more than just peat influence here. Great stuff.
For more on Loch Lomond and Inchmoan…
