Have worked with the team at Lochlea, and been out to the Distillery/Farm (it's hard to tell it apart!), and it's a fantastic place. Everyone is so passionate and enthusiastic and they really are producing some incredible liquid.
I took a gamble on a bottle of this earlier this summer and am really pleased that I did. I found it fascinating, I am now looking forward to the second edition but unfortunately due to my enthusiasm have none left of the first edition to compare it with.
Great informative review as always Ralfy....a really interesting distillery to watch that some are predicting could eventually be the new Springbank given their ethos and methods. Time will tell! (Malt mention: Malty Meandering Memory Makers)
Thanks for reviewing a Lochlea whisky. People at Lochlea distillery are doing a good job. I have a bottle of the Our barley at home and from each other a sample including the Lochlea Cask Strength Batch 1. I will follow their future releases and keep an eye on their whiskies getting older.
Hi Ralfy Very interesting! I think the most of the new distillerys have a very good hand for young whiskys. I've tasted new make and spirit that was almost two years old from Holyrood. Oustanding stuff already and it's not even whisky yet. I was impressed how good that already is! Lochlea i still have to try. Thanks for this review! 👍🏼
I've really been enjoying Lochlea since I discovered them at a festival just about a year ago. Sure it's young, sure it can be a bit light or rough, but for what it is, essentially 3yo single malt, that is showing some real promise and I'm really excited to try them in about 5 years and more. The only one I was not really a fan of was the "Harvest" one, but I did enjoy the rest of the range, including the Cask Strength they released earlier this year. Can't wait to see how they develop! There is much worse at much older statements for much more money...
such a beautiful and useful word “anorak” is… i’m a young american with a pretty flippant attitude towards many british colloquialisms but that is one i wish we would use more over here
I bought a bottle of 'Sowing' earlier this year and it was a wee rough around the edges, but in a very charming and promising way. A good sip for an American rye whiskey fan.
Glad you enjoyed it Ralfy. I just did a tasting of Lochlea's inaugural releases including the First Release, Our Barley and the four seasonal releases all 1st crop and I was pleasantly surprised. The spirit seems to take on the casks pretty well and yes they're young but it feels they're very well made. I think they have a bright future ahead of them and why wouldn't it with locally grown barley, passionate people working on the distillery and a powerhouse of experience like John Campbell at the helm. Cheers Ralfy 🥃
St. James's Church, 121 - 122 James's Street, Dublin 8 has been The Pearce Lyons Distillery since September 2017. The 1 hour Legacy Tour costs €30.00 and the Trilogy Tour is about €85.00. It LOOKS like a church inside except for the 2 stillpots sitting in the Sanctuary and the Organ Loft is completely empty as seen from ground floor level
Thank you for the review Ralfy! Glad you lifted the NAS ban at least for new distilleries! I purchased a bottle of Lochlea ‘Our Barley’ last month and it’s very unique, I don’t think I ever tasted another whisky from Scotland like that.
Reasonably priced at $65, but I will wait for a few years. Plenty of good 12 year olds like Deanston, Glen Garioch and Buunahabhain at this price point. 80 is a fair score.
I love the Sowing Edition Second Crop, which in my opinion, is Lochlea in its purest form. Its an exceptionally well made, young Lowland. Whatever they've done with the Sowing Edition, they want to bang that in some knackered old clapped-out refills and then leave them locked away for 20+ years, its going to be pure magic.
Interesting whisky this one, am looking forward to trying. Am currently very much enjoying Lindores Abbey Whiskies (the friar john corr chapter 2 cask strength is excellent) & would be interested to see youy take on their output. Am looking forward to the new Harris whisky due October but am a bit wary of the 'gushing wordage' on the website..we will see.
Now, that's a very interesting take on this malt. I've not had it but I've only heard the positive comments with not much apprehension with regard to the age of the spirit. It was mentioned, of course, but I don't recall anybody saying it might not be for everyone. Super curious how this brand develops in the coming years. Cheers Ralfy for a great review. As ever. (MM: Malty Marvelous Mirthful Masters of Magnificent Malt Moments
I finally watched this review and enjoyed it, as usual! One of my friends poured this Malt during our blind tasting and I enjoyed it too. It’s young, but it is well done. Not complex in and for, but a nice sipper for the summer. I recently had a chance to try the „Our Barly“ too and found it very interesting and pleasant. Did you try this as well?
I bought one of these for my secret wardrobe stash, and for once, my gut instinct seems to have been right. But now I don't know whether to open it or save it!
Hello Ralfy It doesn't mention at all on the front label the region Lowlands Single Malt Scotch Whisky which it should. Lindores 1494 has Lowlands Single Malt Scotch Whisky on the front label
Ralfy are you going to review a Kingsbarns whisky? You have videos of visiting the distillery, and it seemed like you approved of what they are doing but I don’t think you have reviewed anything from them yet?
Thanks for getting back to me! The Kingsbarns Balcomie is at a pretty good price in my area in the USA so I was curious about your thoughts since I have seen mixed reviews.
Ive got to stop watching these reviews, now i have another one to add to the long list of whisky's to get. I feel like a dog chasing his tail i can never catch up.
Time to drop the ratings all together isnt it? Time for a new way of telling what you concider the whiskys pro´s and con´s. I love Macallan. Do i appreciate their marketing and branding, noooo. Does this make it less good? It could be better but you really got to appreciate it for what it is and not compare it to something could be. Say like, just by tasting it you would give it 85 but due to chill filtration colouring and low abv and branding you give it 80. That gives you a point of reference that is way off. Nose, smell and taste should be the only three things you rate. BUT here is the catch, you appreciate fx peat, someone else not, does this Ardbeg you give 90 points to mean that its that good for the peat hater? This is where i mean we should be more "simple" and just point out the clear stated facts about what we drink. FX = Chill filtered ? E150? Craft oriented? Price? Peated? double or triple destilled? Casks involved? Taste profile? And maybe lastly your personal opinion on a 1-5 scale. Those FACTS will give me so much more to go on than just 80 vs 82 malt points. just an opinion.
It is nice to try these newbies once, but I don't share the excitement. They are all trying to get their investment back as quick as possible. For the same price you can get much better whiskies. So who is fooling who?
Hi Ralfy, I'm curious what your opinion is on another new young whisk(e)y. W.D. O'connel Pill Phil Peated small batch Irish whiskey, it's got the similar appeal as this Lochlea and I found it way above expectation and surprisingly full of flavor knowing its young age. I think the combination of triple distillation, careful cuts and good quality casks are the key to excellent young whiskies which put many 10+ yo household names to shame.
