Loch Lea
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Loch Lea
Barley had historically been grown on the farm land, largely as livestock feed, so in 2015 we embarked on an experiment, growing 50 acres of malting barley.
Working away quietly, learning from our (not too frequent) mistakes, exploring the possibilities and making contacts in the malting industry gave us the confidence to make a big decision: we’d develop and operate a single malt distillery here at Lochlea.
Construction got underway in 2017, converting the former piggery, byre and midden in the heart of the farm steading into the distillery, and repurposing the cattle sheds into bonded warehouses. We secured all our licences in 2018, and the distillery was commissioned in August 2018.
Since then, we have been growing our barley, and the distillery team have been skillfully and patiently making spirit.
The land at Lochlea is important, and not just to the distinctive taste of our whisky. This was the land that Robert Burns tended when he lived at Lochlea Farm, inspiring his thinking and development as a poet. Burns toiled the same soil that we are privileged to grow our malting barley in today.
We like to think he’d approve.
Capacity 200.000 Ltrs
Wash still 10.000 Ltrs, Spirit still 6250 Ltrs
LOCHLEA 'HARVEST EDITION' (FIRST CROP): A SNEAK PEEK
LAUNCHING 06.09.22
Harvest can be an unpredictable time on the farm, as we require the one thing that Scotland isn't well known for: good weather!
On Monday evening, the rain finally stopped and we're delighted to say that this year's harvest is now complete.
After a busy few days of harvesting, Jim is here to give you a sneak peek of our new whisky!
On Tuesday 6th September, we will launch Lochlea 'Harvest Edition' (First Crop). This is the second expression in an annual limited edition series, following on from Lochlea 'Sowing Edition' (First Crop).
We've chosen an ashy, coral red label to reflect the summer sunsets and Ayrshire soil, which changes colour to a deep red hue once the barley has been harvested.
Lochlea 'Harvest Edition' (First Crop) is matured in Port hogsheads, Oloroso Sherry butts and first-fill Bourbon barrels.
John Campbell, Production Director, explains that the introduction of Port casks will help to "elevate summer fruits and
creaminess to the Lochlea signature flavour profile.”
On the nose, expect flavours of pear drops, oat biscuits and stewed apples, giving way to a palate of strawberries, violet and toasted marshmallows.
Lochlea 'Harvest Edition' (First Crop) sits at 46% ABV and, as with all Lochlea whiskies, is non chill-filtered with no added colouring.
Lochlea release Harvest Edition single malt whisky
The team at Lochlea Distillery have revealed the release date for their second seasonal limited expression, Lochlea ‘Harvest Edition’ (First Crop
September 5, 2022
Launching on the 6 September 2022, it is the second expression in an annual limited edition series, following on from Lochlea ‘Sowing Edition’ (First Crop) which launched in March 2022.
Lochlea ‘Harvest Edition’ (First Crop) is inspired by the busy harvest season on Lochlea Farm, when the barley is ready to be harvested and eventually used for next year’s whisky.
The bottle’s ashy coral red label and carton were chosen to reflect the summer sunsets and Ayrshire soil, which changes to a deep red hue once the barley has been harvested.
John Campbell, Lochlea Production Director and Master Blender, said: “’Harvest Edition’ (First Crop) is a combination of three cask styles.
"The main point of emphasis is to introduce Port cask flavours into Lochlea single malt.”
“Port casks will help to elevate summer fruits and creaminess to the Lochlea signature flavour profile.”
Commercial Manager David Ferguson added: “We have been overwhelmed again with the response to this second limited edition in the First Crop Series. These small batch releases sit perfectly alongside our core ongoing whisky, Lochlea ‘Our Barley’.”
“With ‘Harvest Edition’ I can’t wait to find out what our customers think, as the introduction of Port casks adds a whole new layer of flavour to our signature Lochlea fruit and cereal notes.”
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With demand far greater than available stock, Lochlea ‘Harvest Edition’ (First Crop) is on allocation to key UK retail and wholesale partners, and across 15 export markets.
There are only 9,000 bottles globally. At 46% ABV, Lochlea ‘Harvest Edition’ (First Crop) will retail for £50 and, as with all Lochlea whiskies, is non chill-filtered with no artificial colouring.
Lochlea ‘Harvest Edition’ (First Crop) Official Tasting Notes:
Nose: Stewed apples, pear drops, oat biscuits
Palate: Strawberries, violet, toasted marshmallows
Finish: Signature Lochlea cereal, freshly cut grass
ABV: 46%
RRP: £50.00
LOCHLEA 'FALLOW EDITION'
(FIRST CROP)
LAUNCHING 03.11.22
We'd like to introduce Lochlea 'Fallow Edition' (First Crop).
The third in an annual series of four seasonal small batch bottlings, Lochlea 'Fallow Edition' represents the season of autumn on the farm, when the fields are left fallow to rest after a busy harvest.
Production Director John Campbell has chosen 100% ex-Oloroso Sherry butts for this whisky, providing beautifully warming flavours of freshly baked banana bread, dark dried fruits and malt biscuits - perfect for the cold, autumnal months ahead.
Earlier this year we welcomed the team from The Angel's Share Journal to the distillery. We're delighted to be featured in their second issue, now available to purchase via their website. Enjoy two in-depth interviews; one with John discussing his work at Lochlea and one with Neil all about what it takes to grow the perfect barley crop.
We received a wonderful review of our core single malt, Lochlea 'Our Barley' in the latest issue of Whisky Magazine. As our only ongoing product until our age statement whiskies, we will strive to keep 'Our Barley' on shelves and bars for our customers to buy and try! We do regular bottlings of this whisky so that you should (hopefully) always be able to get hold of a bottle of our core single malt whisky! Remember that you can shop Lochlea 'Our Barley' in over 200 UK retailers. For a full list of these, as well as our export partners, click here
INTRODUCING LOCHLEA 'FALLOW EDITION' (FIRST CROP)
We're delighted to introduce our third limited seasonal release, Lochlea 'Fallow Edition' (First Crop). The first Lochlea whisky to be matured in 100% ex-Oloroso Sherry butts, Lochlea 'Fallow Edition' is a beautifully warming and indulgent whisky, perfectly suited to the autumnal months.
LOCHLEA 'PLOUGHING EDITION' (FIRST CROP)
LAUNCHING 25.01.23
Hello!
We'd like to introduce Lochlea 'Ploughing Edition' (First Crop).
The fourth and final in an annual series of limited seasonal bottlings, Lochlea 'Ploughing Edition' represents the season of Winter on the farm, when we start to plough the fields in preparation for sowing the barley seed in Spring.
Production Director John Campbell has chosen a combination of ex-Islay barrels and peated quarter casks for this release, to create a warming, smoky version of our signature Lochlea whisky.
Our tasting notes include boiled sweets, cooked apple and brazil nuts all intertwined with a comforting haze of lingering peat.
INTRODUCING
LOCHLEA 'PLOUGHING EDITION' (FIRST CROP)
Hello!
We'd like to introduce the fourth and final in an annual series of limited seasonal bottlings, Lochlea 'Ploughing Edition' (First Crop).
Sporting an ice-blue label, Lochlea 'Ploughing Edition' represents the frosty Ayrshire winters, when we plough the fields in preparation for sowing the barley seed in Spring.
Production Director John Campbell has chosen a combination of ex-Islay barrels and peated quarter casks for this release, to create a warming, smoky version of our signature Lochlea whisky.
John says:
“Lochlea ‘Ploughing Edition’ is our first peated release and showcases all the expected Lochlea flavours with a wee touch of Islay."
“We have matured our unpeated single malt in ex-Islay peated barrels and this delivers a lightly peated version of Lochlea that I am sure you will enjoy.”
Nose: Baked fruit with a light peat smoke in the background
Palate: Old fashioned boiled sweets, cooked apple, brazil nuts
Finish: Lingering fruit and nuttiness, all intertwined with a haze of Islay peat smoke