Loch Lomond 12 (The Open Special Edition 2020)

For obvious reasons, The Open golf championship wasn’t able to go ahead in 2020, but that didn’t stop Loch Lomond distillery releasing their annual special edition whisky to mark the occasion. Distilled in December 2007 and bottled in June 2020, the whisky has been matured in ex-bourbon American oak for those years and 3000 bottles were produced.

The real interesting thing about this whisky is the use of Chardonnay yeast when making the spirit. Experimentation with yeast has gone on for a number of years, but it is gathering momentum and being discussed more and more regarding it’s influence on the flavour of the finished product. There’s no doubt it has an effect with this one!

Nose : Bright with lemon and apple aromas. Vanilla, caramel, oak and a little bread dough. Opens up with time in the glass and a drop of water.

Palate : It’s the palate that’s the real winner here. The effervescent “fizz” that comes from the Chardonnay yeast is a revelation. Creamy vanilla pannacotta, fruity citrus lemon. Saline with black pepper spice and oak towards the finish.

Conclusion : The nose is good and really opens up after a while, but if it was as good as the palate then this would be a really special malt. Nevertheless, it still delivers plenty and is something worth experiencing for the palate alone. Loch Lomond are starting to grab the attention of more and more malt fans, and it is no surprise when you try a whisky as good as this.

Score : 8/10

Vital statistics
ABV : 46%
Non-chill filtered : Yes
Natural Colour : Unspecified, but looks pretty natural
Maturation : American Oak Casks
Distillation : Distilled December 2007 and bottled June 2020
Region : Highlands
Colour : Gold