Independent distiller, Loch Lomond Whiskies, has unveiled a new 50-year-old single malt, the latest addition to the brand’s premium portfolio.
A whisky five decades in the making, Loch Lomond 50 Year Old is drawn from Loch Lomond Distillery’s oldest reserves and is exclusively limited to 100 individually-numbered bottles worldwide.
Distilled in 1973 in the distillery’s unique straight neck pot stills, using 100% unpeated malted barley, this distinctive single malt whisky has been aged in a combination of refilled American oak casks, first fill bourbon casks and Oloroso sherry hogsheads.
The maturation process is carefully managed by Loch Lomond Whiskies’ master blender, Michael Henry, who joined Loch Lomond Distillery in 2007. The distillery’s oldest and rarest whisky casks remain exclusively under his personal care.
Loch Lomond 50 Year Old was initially crafted with gentle maturation in refilled American oak casks, providing the spirit with enough time to develop a rich character. Additional maturation in first fill bourbon casks in 2011, followed by a re-cask in Oloroso sherry hogsheads in 2017, have further enhanced the complexity of this elegant single malt.
The spirit’s six years in bourbon casks has imparted a rich, creamy vanilla flavour that complements the whisky’s fruity aroma. The influence of the final six years in an Oloroso sherry cask is evident on the nose, with notes of nutmeg developing into a warming cinnamon flavour that leaves a long finish of woody spice.
The result is a light whisky with notes of white flesh fruits, crisp citrus and a tropical character that pays testament to its remarkable age, the company said.
Since production began in 1966 at the current Loch Lomond site, ingenuity has been at the heart of the distillery’s methods.
It is home to Scotland’s only set of straight neck pot stills, installed as part of its founding and exclusively responsible for the first 30 years of production, which allows Michael Henry and his team to carefully shape the character of the whisky at the point of distillation, creating a lighter spirit with a distinctive fruit flavour.
To taste the Loch Lomond 50 Year Old is to go almost right back to the beginning of this distillery’s incredible journey – one defined by innovation and exploration in its craft.
In homage to these unique stills, a careful selection of copper finishings and touches have been woven 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 nods to Michael Henry’s careful selection of casks and the beauty of the surrounding forests of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.
Contour lines and the deep turquoise colours outlining the shape of the loch from which the distillery takes it name, further pays respect to the hidden depths of this remarkable whisky’s history and heritage.
Hidden within the display cabinet is a 50ml sample of the liquid and a hardback book that provides its lucky few owners with an in-depth account of the liquid, its distinctive flavour and distillation and maturation journey.
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.”
