Loch Lomond Cooper's Collection 2024 - Spanish Oak Edition

As we start 2025, the first bottle I’m opening is another first for me - a special edition. All of the bottles that I have tried so far on this journey have been from core ranges from readily available distilleries. However, as I’ve gone down this rabbit hole with Loch Lomond today’s whisky is their 2024 Cooper’s Collection expression, the annual release from Master Blender Michael Henry.

Special edition expressions really highlight the difference between whisky and nearly every other food or drink. Imagine if Cadbury decided to make just 9,000 of a new chocolate bar that you thought was delicious but once those 9,000 bottles were gone that was it - never to be produced again. Obviously for Cadbury that would be a simple decision to make more or not but for distilleries that is likely not the case. They need to take some stock of a particular age (or blend) of whisky and do something different with it - finish it in a different cask type, mix it with a different aged whisky or something else. Ultimately they can repeat the same steps but, without careful planning, only years later. I guess this is why special-edition whiskies are so beloved by whisky fans - they offer something different and unique and there is (practically) no limit to the different expressions that will exist as techniques and mixes change.

There is a small part of me that likes the dependability of being able to get a core expression again and again knowing that if I like it, it will likely always be available.

Anyway, let’s see what this whisky is like.

Bottle

This bottle is totally, completely, absolutely black! As you can see in the image below you cannot see the whisky at all, even against a bright background. In some ways, this is frustrating - having to guess how much liquid is left in the bottle - but it does mak for a beautiful bottle. Taller than the standard Loch Lomond bottle (as we’ve covered in recent weeks), the special edition bottles have an exquisite embossing of the distillery’s name around the stag’s head logo that looks fabulous on the glossy black bottle. Not my usual style but I love it!

Colour

Refreshingly this whisky is bottled as its natural colour - unsurprising as there is no standard for this to be adjusted to! I would say that it is closest to a muscat colour on the colour chart - beautiful!

Nose - A whole load of cherry is the most noticeable aroma but nice and floral around it too - not dissimilar to a florist to be honest. The aroma suggests quite a light whisky.

Palate - It has a beautiful, velvety mouth feel with a soft sweetness like honey. But then the spiciness hits, plenty of pepper and clove give it a real kick.

Finish - A medium finish that leaves the mouth feeling a little dry but again the spiciness stays on your tongue and lips for a good while after the flavour has rescinded.

Overall

This is probably not the most desirable special edition whisky but it is my first and for that, I have to hold it fondly. I think one of the things that many whisky fans like about special edition whiskies is that they are nearly always bottled at a higher ABV - as is this at 50%. I have to say that I prefer my whisky at a slightly lower ABV but that is the beauty here - I can always add a little water. The overriding character of this whisky is the spice - even with a little water, that takes away some of the burn, the dram packs quite a punch which may not be to everyone’s liking.

I first came across this whisky from the folks on the Honest to a Malt podcast (episode. 53 I think) and it is a great recommendation. It is by no means an everyday sipper but I will certainly savour it!