I’m rounding out my little ‘side quest’ through Loch Lomond’s whiskies with arguably their base expression - the 12-year-old from the core range (ie. not Inchmoan or Inchmurrin - confusing, I know). I covered the different ranges in this post a few weeks ago but essentially the core Loch Lomond range has a mixture of sweetness (accentuated in the Inchmurrin range) and just a hint of smoke (which is heavier in the Inchmoan range).

I was very grateful to have received this 20cl bottle as a gift (along with the Loch Lomond engraved glencairn glass) and it seems like a fitting way to round out my foray into some of the Loch Lomond expressions by finishing up where it starts. I’m sure this won’t be my last Loch Lomond whisky!

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.

As I fall down this rabbit hole of Loch Lomond’s whisky, the next stop for me is the 14-year-old “Spiced Apple and Soft Smoke”. I’ve been so impressed by the last two bottles I’ve tried (Inchmoan 12 yr and Loch Lomond 10 yr) so I’m really looking forward to this. I’m coming to the realisation that Loch Lomond is a pretty unique distillery. Their selection of expressions is vast and in addition to their pot stills, they also have Coffey and column stills giving them so much variation in the spirit they produce. Let’s take a closer look.

Loch Lomond is surely the Scottish distillery producing the widest variety of whiskies. Their whiskies fall into one of three ranges each with its own subtlely different brand. So Loch Lomond’s core range comes in a few options. There are three 12-year-olds and today we’re diving into arguably the most beloved - the peated Inchmoan 12-year-old.

I was recently gifted this vivid orange bottle of Loch Lomond 10-year-old. I went to do a little research online and was surprised, and a little confused, to find that it is not available in any of the usual specialist whisky retailers (in the UK at least). It is, however, available through all the major supermarkets (Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsburys, etc). I think this is the first time I’ve ever come across, what I would consider to be, a core range product that is only available through high street retailers. I am intrigued! And is it any good?