This 18-year-old Loch Lomond, bottled by North Star Spirits, is a beautiful example of how maturation and cask selection come together in a deep and layered whisky. With an outturn of only 168 bottles and an alcohol percentage of 51.1%, this is a distinct and limited bottling for lovers of rich, sherry-driven styles.
Loch Lomond is known for its versatile distillation, but in this expression, it's all about warmth and depth. The influence of an Oloroso sherry cask is unmistakably present here, giving the whisky a full and rounded character. Notes of caramelized nuts, spice, and soft sweetness build up layer by layer, without the whole becoming heavy or ponderous.
The higher alcohol percentage provides structure and intensity, but remains beautifully integrated into the whole. This is a whisky that allows itself to be discovered slowly, revealing new nuances with every sip.
An elegant and powerful bottling that perfectly demonstrates how well Loch Lomond and sherry casks can work together.
