Loch Lomond Single Grain Scotch Whisky

Whisky Lovers Rejoice! A multi-award winning (and rated 93 by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible), Highlands, Single Grain Scotch Whisky for a price that is going to make you share a dram with all of your friends. Welcome to the Australian premier of the Loch Lomond Single Grain Scotch Whisky!

Ok, let’s get it straight out of the way, on the table and up front and centre right off the bat – this month we’re not featuring a Single Malt Whisky (gasp, shock, horror)…but this is a 100% malted barley, single grain whisky from Loch Lomond…made from exactly the same ingredients as their single malt whisky, fermented in exactly the same way as their single malt whisky and aged exactly the same way as their single malt whisky and matured in the finest American oak casks.

So what’s the difference? Well, in this case – the only difference is the type of still used to distil the whisky (hold on we explain below).

We’ve chosen this as it’s a truly fantastic whisky and has been recognised as such multiple times. Released in 2016, it won Gold at the World Whisky Awards in 2017 for ‘Best Scotch Grain’ as well as Gold in Berlin Spirits Awards of the same year. More recently, it’s just picked up a Double-Gold medal at the San Francisco Spirits Awards earlier this year and it’s rated at a sterling 93 in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.

Single Malt Whisky, by definition, is distilled in copper pot stills.  These are a ‘batch at a time’ as the fermented wash is transferred to the still, it is closed and run – then stopped and emptied, then filled with the next batch etc etc. Essentially a big pot that is filled, boiled, then emptied.

The Loch Lomond Single Grain Whisky is distilled in a ‘Coffey’ still, which can run essentially continuously. As long as you keep adding ‘beer’ it will continue to separate the alcohol and the waste. These are ‘industrial’ stills and due to their continuous run process are used to make huge quantities of alcohol – and usually at a higher ABV than a pot still does and they are usually run with a fermentation of cheaper grains that malted barley.  But not in this case!

The definition of Single Grain Whisky allows for any type of grain or blend of grains to be used. In this case, 100% malted barley is used. Once again, the single difference between this whisky and Loch Lomond single malt whisky – is the still it is distilled in. And this Coffey still’s continuous production capability is what makes this whisky relatively inexpensive to produce – hence the fantastic price of this amazing whisky.

We’re proud to offer the multi-award winning Loch Lomond Single Grain Scotch Whisky for the very first time in Australia. Once again, our members get ‘first dibs’ on a new whisky to hit our shores. We know you’re going to love this whisky for much, much more than the relative lack of damage it will do to your wallet!

Colour: Rather pale straw

Nose: Sweet Pineapple juice, citrus zest and

Palate: Warm spice, lots more of those pineapple notes, some ginger, malt biscuits and vanilla.

Finish: A sweet, light and fruity finish with some spice to keep the palate warm.

This is a light, smooth and fruity – easy sipper that ‘s both an easy entry for newbies… and offers enough complexity to satisfy the most experienced whisky waffler!

Our distilling heritage at Loch Lomond dates back to the very start of Scotch production. In 1993, our grain whisky production began and at that time, our distillery was the only one in Scotland producing both grain and malt whisky on the same site.

We now produce 2 expressions of our Single Grain Scotch Whisky, peated and unpeated. Distilled in our continuous still using exclusively malted barley, results in a smooth and sweet spirit with an added complexity not usually found in a single grain whisky.

Nose: Fresh cut barley fields with a malty edge, biscuity with baked apples alongside gentle lemon peel.

Taste: Crisp and delicate. Pineapple juice and a lemon zestiness with a lovely vanilla sweetness at the end.

Finish: Gentle with soft fruits alongside a juicy sweetness.