Loch Dhu

SCOTCH SINGLE MALT WHISKIES > L

also see Mannochmore

LOCH DHU

10 years old 40 %
THE BLACK WHISKY
Mannochmore Distillery,
Mannochmore.

A fine malt, patiently rested in charred sweet oak casks to create a whisky as black as night, with a rich velvety taste. Savour the smooth, intense flavour and discover hid¬den complexities in this unique Black whisky.

Het begon in 1995 met een try-out in New York in drie bars en 2 winkels; The Black Whis¬ky en The All Malt Blond Scotch Whisky.

Van elk werden 1800 flessen gebotteld en na een proefperiode werd bepaald dat alleen Loch Dhu 10 years old een interesante omzet zou kunnen behalen.

The Black Whisky komt van Mannochmore, The All Malt Blond Scotch Whisky, genaamd Jack¬son's Row komt van Glenkinchie.

De Loch Dhu is donker, bijna zwart van kleur, maar helaas is deze kleur niet te danken aan de lagering in sherry-vaten maar door bijkleuring met caramel.

Het concept werd ontwikkeld door het bureau Dragon in het Verenigd Koninkrijk.

De marketing afdeling van United Distillers zegt het zo: 'The Loch Dhu is to positioned alongside other premium spirits such as vodka and tequilla to entice a new base of 25 -35 old, image-concious consumers looking for something different!

De Schotse pers reageerde echter met: 'Stop this whisky madnes now, before we all turn into gibbering fools'.

Jackson's Row is daarentegen geen onecht produkt, maar heeft de proef niet doorstaan, zodat het bij een aantal van 1800 gebottelde flessen is geblijven.

LOCH DHU also see MANNOCHMORE and GLENLOSSIE

Elgin, Morayshire. Licentiehouder: John Haig & Co, Ltd.

Mannochmore is onderdeel van Scottish Malt Distillers Ltd. (S.M.D.) De malt divisie van United Distillers Ltd. Eigendom van Guinness.
Mannochmore wordt in 1985 (tijdelijk ?) gesloten.

A fine malt, patiently rested in charred sweet oak casks to create a whisky as black as night, with a rich velvety taste. Savour the smooth, intense flavour and discover hidden complexities in this unique Black whisky.
Het begon in 1995 met een try-out in New York in drie bars en 2 winkels; The Black Whisky en The All Malt Blond Scotch Whisky.

Van elk werden 1800 flessen gebotteld en na een proefperiode werd bepaald dat alleen Loch Dhu 10 years old een interesante omzet zou kunnen behalen.
The Black Whisky komt van Mannochmore, The All Malt Blond Scotch Whisky, genaamd Jackson's Row komt van Glenkinchie.
De Loch Dhu is donker, bijna zwart van kleur, maar helaas is deze kleur niet te danken aan de lagering in sherry-vaten maar door bijkleuring met caramel.

Het concept werd ontwikkeld door het bureau Dragon in het Verenigd Koninkrijk.

De Schotse pers reageerde echter met: 'Stop this whisky madnes now, before we all turn into gibbering fools'.
Jackson's Row is daarentegen geen onecht produkt, maar heeft de proef niet doorstaan, zodat het bij een aantal van 1800 gebottelde flessen is geblijven.

A large distillery with half a dozen stills, here a light style is produced though without the oily background of its sister plant, Glenlossie.

MANNOCHMORE DISTILLERY

Flowers are more to the fore here, with delicate fruits that gain in weight when matured. Although some older expressions have appeared on occasion, it is most commonly seen as a 12-year-old in the Flora & Fauna range.u

Mannochmore is one of the manifestations of the confidence of the 1960s – a situation which is currently being repeated. It was built by DCL in 1971 to cope with increasing demand internationally for blends, and like its sister plant, Glenlossie, it has been closely associated with the Haig and Dimple brands.

For years it worked quietly away until 1996 when its make was used in one of the most controversial single malts of the late 20th century – Loch Dhu, the ‘black whisky’. Although the full tale of how Loch Dhu was created has never been told (and is unlikely ever to be revealed), the enthusiastic use of spirit caramel is seen by most as the most likely candidate for the pitch black hue.

The brand was withdrawn soon after its launch and despite the hostility of the initial response when it first appeared it has now, perhaps inevitably, become a collector’s item.

Production capacity was upped in 2013 to 4.5m litres per annum with new mash tun, more washbacks and a pair of stills – now making eight in total.

CONDENSER TYPE i

Shell and tube

FERMENTATION TIME i

Minimum 65hrs

FILLING STRENGTH i

63.5%

GRIST WEIGHT (T) i

11.1

HEAT SOURCE i

Steam

MALT SPECIFICATION i

Non peated

MALT SUPPLIER i

Mainly in house

MASH TUN TYPE i

Lauter

NEW-MAKE PHENOL LEVEL i

Non peaty

NEW-MAKE STRENGTH i

65-66%

SPIRIT STILL CHARGE (L) i

17,000

SPIRIT STILL SHAPE i

Plain

STILLS i

WASH STILL CHARGE (L) i

13,500

WASH STILL SHAPE i

Plain

WASHBACK TYPE i

Wood

WASHBACKS i

WATER SOURCE i

Barden Burn

WORT CLARITY i

Clear

YEAST TYPE i

Creamed

CÚ DHUB

The name Cú Dhub refers to the legend of the Wife of Laggan who could transform herself into the Witch of Laggan to roam the Forest of Gaick near Kingussie and kill unsuspecting victims. She met her demise when she was set upon by two black dogs who sacrificed themselves to save their master’s life.

Cú Dhub (supposedly meaning ‘black dog’ in Gaelic), a NAS single malt from Speyside distillery with a distinctly black colour, was inspired by the legendary Loch Dhu bottling from Mannochmore distillery in the mid-1990s. Unlike its muse, which drew its dark colour from a 10-year maturation in deeply-charred oak casks, Cú Dhub’s hue is drawn from an excessive use of spirit caramel, offering softer notes of vanilla, liquorice and tobacco.

Cú Dhub was created by Speyside distillers in 2008 exclusively for Danish spirits distributor Mac Y. While the brand continues to enjoy a strong Scandinavian following, Speyside Distillers followed up Cú Dhub with its own dark malt, Beinn Dubh, in 2013.