1996 Masam SRL Loch Lomond 25 Year Old Cask Strength Single Grain Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Even for seasoned whisky lovers, Loch Lomond remains one of the more mysterious distilleries in Scotland, partly because they produce such a variety of styles depending on the way they 'tweak their stills' and switch the condensers and similar devices on and off. While they make a wide range of single malts, it should be noted, this is a Single Grain, not a single malt. Yes, Highland Single Grain exists and Loch Lomond continue to market one to this day. Their official NAS bottling has taken out numerous significant awards including Best Single Grain at the World Whisky Awards in 2017. The twist is that while this is created using a continuous still, Master Distiller, Michael Henry prefers malted barley instead of corn or wheat or other grains typically associated with the category. It's our understanding that this is essentially a Coffey distilled single malt, which explains why it delivers extra body and mouth feel. Add Masam to the mix and you're in for a treat. Aromatically this hits all the right notes: Pure, deep and poised with a heady arrangement of gold rum-like sugars, high quality Bourbon wood, Bounty bar and sticky date pudding. That profile follows on the palate in a slow rush of Bourbon sugars dappled with honey-drizzled sponge cake, sweet spices and medium dry rum flavours. The mid palate richness is balanced by cinnamon and gentle astringency, followed by a lingering aftertaste of vanilla wafers and dried coconut. Drawn from cask No.42954, 182 bottles are available worldwide. 55% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. Collectable.

Notes from the importers... Nose: Green pears, ovaltine, mango yoghurt, bounty bar, turkish delight. Palate: Wood spice, dutch liquorice, bounty bars, anzac biscuit. Finish: Raspberry and vanilla.