Loch Lomond 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Big age statement + direct import pricing = Guilt free dramming.
Pay $100 elsewhere.

Bargain hunters know how rare it is to find 18 year old Highlanders anywhere near this price point - let alone one that earned a Double Gold Medal at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. This single malt super-buy promises Loch Lomond's classic orchard fruit profile, complexed by a whisper of peat. It's also non chill filtered and bottled at a solid 46%. Unanimous praise from all quarters below. Elsewhere pay $100.

Other reviews... The 18 year old is Loch Lomond’s flagship single malt and marks the improvement in quality from this distillery during recent years. The nose offers peaches and vanilla, mild spice, pipe tobacco, and a hint of sweet wood smoke. Nicely textured, with bold, sweet, citrus fruit flavors, vanilla, almonds, and cocoa. Nutty, gently spicy, with cocoa and a hint of coffee in the lengthy, subtly peated finish. 90 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Gavin Smith (Spring 2017)

...There is always something slightly irresistible when you come across a single malt where the peat beats a gentle rhythm rather than its own chest. 89.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2020

...The earthy scent of this whisky suggests oak and hints of vanilla and caramel. On the palate, look for drying, oaky flavors: Tea, cigar wrapper, espresso, plus clove and black pepper on the biting finish. Dilution coaxes out a mellow honeyed note and faint puff of smoke, but overall it's dry as a bone.
89 points - wineenthusiast.com

Double Gold - 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Gold Highlands & Islands 13-18yo - 2019 - The Scotch Whisky Masters (The Spirits Business)

Loch Lomond Distillery was commissioned by the Littlemill Distilling Company in 1964 with first distillation in 1966. In 1984, the distillery closed - or fell silent, to use the traditional term. Happily though, Alexander Bulloch and the Glen Catrine company acquired the business and resumed malt production in 1987. Grain whisky production began in 1993 and two new malt stills were added in 1999. At the time the Grain distillery opened in 1994, it was the only distillery in Scotland producing both Grain and Malt whisky. Nowadays it also operates a unique set-up of three sets of stills which allow it to produce a variety of whisky styles. It's partly why Loch Lomond is marketed under several different labels including Inchmurrin, Croftengea, Inchmoan, Inchfad and Rosdhu... Hence, it's difficult to pin down a general house style. What's clear is the spirit is capable of long ageing with a 50 year old recently selling for 25K! Now is a great opportunity to acquaint yourself with an underdog of the Highlands.