Whisky: Lochlea First Release

Country/Region: Scotland/Lowland

ABV: 46%

Cask: First Fill Bourbon, PX Sherry

Nose: Sweet fruity hard candies and hay, candy corn, honey, malted wheat, a touch of earth and sandstone.

Palate: Medium-bodied, candies, lemon, mint, hints of bubble gum, honey, dried grass, hint of nuttiness, pear, and more honey.

Finish: Medium-length with pear and honey.

Score: 4-5

Mental Image: Prairie Candy Store

Narrative & Notes: A candy shop on the prairie came into view like a mirage as the aroma delivered sweet fruity hard candies and dried grassy hay. Peppermint, green apple, and pear came to mind, with sticky candy corn, honey, and hints of Juicy Fruit bubble gum. Cereals and earth ran underneath those candy top notes with malted wheat, grass, dry earth, and dusty sandstone. Medium-bodied, the flavor profile offered up lemon drops, candy corn, chalky mint candies, and hints of bubble gum. Dried grass and honey arrived next with a touch of creamy nuttiness that verged more on sticky toasted sesame desserts. Honey and sweet pears lingered at the end and carried through on a medium-length finish.

Simple and pleasant, the Lochlea First Release made for an inoffensive introduction to the distillery. A good buddy described it as “very generic ‘new lowland distillery’” vibes, and I agree with that sentiment. No significant flaws stood out in the whisky, but it lacked a whole lot of defined character. I am curious to see how the malt performs with a bit more maturity as this was a fine introduction from a distillery that only began distillation in 2018 and sources all of its barely from the farm on which it sits. That might sound familiar to Draftmill, another Lowland distillery, though Lochlea has about three times the theoretical production capacity as Daftmill.

Overall, straightforward fare; I thought it shined best in a high ball.