More from All Whiskies R1,001 to R1,500
The second in an annual series of limited-edition cask strength releases from the Lochlea distillery in the Lowlands. Older than the first batch, with the majority of the liquid being five years old and matured in a combination of Pedro Ximénez (60%) and Oloroso (28%) ex-sherry butts, and STR (shaved, toasted and re-charred) wine barriques (12%). Non-chillfiltered, naturally coloured and bottled at a cask strength of 60%.
Nose: Apples, marmalade, peach syrup.
Palate: Rose petals, wild lavender.
Finish: Black pepper, dried fruit.
The distillery is located on Lochlea Farm in Ayrshire, Scotland, surrounded by 220 acres of their own barley fields. Originally a dairy farm, in 2014, under the ownership of Neil McGeoch, the farm began growing malting barley, leading to the establishment of the distillery. After old farm buildings were converted and bonded warehouses were built, production starting in August 2018. Lochlea's “field-to-bottle” approach sees them use only barley grown on the farm, with 20% malted onsite, and an annual production of only 200,000L of alcohol making them one of the smallest in Scotland.