Whisky Focus - Loch Lomond 50 Year Old Distilled 1973

Loch Lomond Whiskies has unveiled a new limited edition Loch Lomond 50 Year Old Scotch single malt whisky. This whisky, half a century in the making, comes from Loch Lomond Distillery’s oldest reserves and is limited to only 100 individually-numbered bottles worldwide.

Distilled in 1973, only 7 years after the distillery first went into production, it was distilled using 100% unpeated malted barley in the distillery’s unique straight neck pot stills, this new Loch Lomond 50 Year Old has been matured in a combination of refilled American oak casks, first-fill bourbon casks, and Oloroso sherry hogsheads.

Michael Henry, the master blender at Loch Lomond Whiskies since 2007, meticulously oversees the maturation process. The distillery's oldest and rarest whisky casks are under his personal care. Initially matured in refilled American oak casks, the whisky then spent six years in first-fill bourbon casks from 2011 and another six years in Oloroso sherry hogsheads from 2017, enriching its complexity.

Loch Lomond tells me that the bourbon cask maturation imparted a rich, creamy vanilla flavour that complements the whisky’s fruity aroma. The final six years in Oloroso sherry casks added notes of nutmeg and a warming cinnamon flavour, leaving a long finish of woody spice. The result is a light whisky with notes of white flesh fruits, crisp citrus, and a tropical character, showcasing its remarkable age.

Since the current Loch Lomond site began production in 1966, innovation has been central to the distillery’s methods. It houses Scotland’s only straight neck pot stills, exclusively responsible for the first 30 years of production, it was these rather unique stills which helped the Loch Lomond distillers shape this whisky's character during distillation, resulting in a lighter spirit with distinctive fruit flavours. Tasting the Loch Lomond 50 Year Old will certainly take one back to the distillery’s beginnings, defined by innovation and exploration in its craft and off course the distillery's unique straight neck pot stills

In tribute to these unique stills, copper finishing's and touches are integrated into the design of the 50 Year Old's lead crystal decanter, crafted by Glencairn Crystal Studio in Scotland, and the external wooden display cabinet. The natural oak finish reflects Michael Henry’s careful cask selection and the beauty of the surrounding Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park forests. Contour lines and deep turquoise colours outlining the loch’s shape, from which the distillery takes its name, further honour this whisky’s history and heritage. The display cabinet also includes a 50ml sample of the whisky and a hardback book detailing its flavour, distillation, and maturation journey for its fortunate owners.

Michael Henry, master distiller at Loch Lomond Group, said: "Loch Lomond 50 Year Old is a rare example of our timeless distillation innovation.

"The decision to re-cask a whisky of this quality and age is not something I take lightly. However, the complexity and depth of flavour brought by the first fill bourbon and the Oloroso sherry casks have made this a truly special single malt, which provides a window into our past and captures the original style of whisky making at Loch Lomond Distillery.

"The expectations are high when you are working with liquid as special and as scarce as this, but it is a true honour to be the final custodian of such a special piece of history."

The Loch Lomond has been bottled at a cask strength of 42.6% ABV, it is non-chill-filtered and natural in colour and as you can imagine for such a rare limited release of only 100 bottles you will need deep pockets if you want to taste this one, it has a price tag of £25,000 and you will find it available from specialist online whisky shops such as The Whisky Exchange and Master of Malt
 

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