Loch Lomond 12-year-old

https://whiskylovingpianist.wordpress.com/2026/02/01/loose-ends-feb-2026/ N: Yeasty Mortlach-esque fruity funkiness, slightly peppery oak, the cask’s previous contents, vanilla pancakes/custard, and various candies are all separately identifiable. Porridge, flour, toffee, and Blu-Tac towards putty, elevate that funk to new vistas, the phenols only encouraging more subjective images & references to various indoor & outdoor spaces. Dried citrus baking pieces, Wine Gums, plenty of burnt and/or burning stuff, there’s a surprising amount of detail here, that it’s impossible not to be even slightly drawn in. T: Citrusy, vanilla custard, phenolic, and coastal, I can’t not think of Talisker – the 10yo especially, and even Port Charlotte’s 10 – if really either of them.  Peppery charred peat-sweet chocolate,… one can assemble their own tasting gallery from a wide gamut. F: A varied last step with the decisive introduction of grapefruit-sourness and some [phenol and char?] bitterness on the turn, whilst the fruity-chocolate vanilla custard wriggles its way back to a less familiar place from whence it all started. Smoked chocolate to finish. C: Even if the flavour centres don’t suit everyone’s palate, there’s no denying this one’s positive attributes for one so affordable and largely available. One of the most interesting 12s around, suitable for many an occasion

After 1 month of opening the bottle and trying 3-4 drams it gets better. For me it has too much vanilla and too strong a barrel char in the finish. But - The whisky costs around 35 euros and is bottled at 46%. For beginners who have already explored a few bottles or drams, it is recommended as it offers a very different experience than many other smooth-running malts in this price range. But there are also better ones in this price range.

As a lover of Loch Lomond, I think this is a decent version and reasonable priced.

I wouldn't say it's a perfectly balanced 12 year old, but it's a whisky with great cask play and decent depth and complexity of flavour! And I was especially enchanted by the taste. It reminded me of the single pot still theme of Middleton. Difficulty of note breakdown: 6/10 21 22 21 21

NoseCrisp green apple, ripe pear, and fresh lemon notes emerge from the mature grain.PalateFlavors of lemon meringue and rich pear, with hints of lemon and biscuit sweetness.FinishA gentle smoky and lingering peaty finish.

Delicious whisky that actually gets a little better the longer the bottle sits. Oxygen makes the whisky even fruitier. The big wood bitters and big bowl of spices make the aftertaste a bit less and therefore just under 85 points.