Loch Lomond
SCOTCH SINGLE MALT WHISKIES > L
LOCH LOMOND
LAST BOTTLE AND EMPTY
geen leeftijd vermelding
40 %
Distilled and aged to perfection
in old casks
on the banks of Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond Distillery Co, Ltd,
Lomond Estate.
LOCH LOMOND
Distilled and aged to perfection
in old casks
on the banks of Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond Distillery Co, Ltd,
Lomond Estate.
LOCH LOMOND
21 years old
43 %
SINGLE HIGHLAND
MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Aged in Old Oak Casks,
Finished in Sherry Casks
On the Banks of Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond Distillery Co, Ltd,
Lomond Estate
LOCH LOMOND
SINGLE HIGHLAND
MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Aged in Old Oak Casks,
Finished in Sherry Casks
On the Banks of Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond Distillery Co, Ltd,
Lomond Estate
LOCH LOMOND
18 years old
43 %
SINGLE HIGHLAND MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY
Aged in Old Oak Cask
On the Banks of Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond Distillery Co, Ltd, Lomond Estate
LOCH LOMOND.
SINGLE HIGHLAND MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY
Aged in Old Oak Cask
On the Banks of Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond Distillery Co, Ltd, Lomond Estate
LOCH LOMOND.
PEATED SINGLE MALT
SINGLE HIGHLAND
MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
SINGLE HIGHLAND
MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
46 %
Bottled without Chill - Filtration
Aged in Oak Casks on the
Banks of Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond Distillery Co, Ltd,
Lomond Estat
Bottled without Chill - Filtration
Aged in Oak Casks on the
Banks of Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond Distillery Co, Ltd,
Lomond Estat
LOCH LOMOND
1 9 6 6
40 %
Almost 45 years old
HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY
Distilled 22 September 1966
Bottled June 2011
Only 1640 bottles
Loch Lomond Distillery Co. Ltd,
Lomond Estate
Loch Lomond is one of the finest Single Malt Whiskies produced in the Scottish Highlands
by a family company using knowledge acquired during the last 190 years.
The 1966 Loch Lomond was distilled on the 22nd of September 1966 under the watchful
eye of Distillery Manager Duncan Thomas and filled into oak barrels the following day.
It was then given almost 45 years to mature to perfection in the old bonded warehouses
of Loch Lomond until it was bottled in June 2011.
The 1966 Loch Lomond Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky is the oldest existing Single Malt
Your are one of the very highly esteemed Single malt connoisseurs who now owns one of
only 1.640 very rare bottles.
The Western Highlands
LOCH LOMOND produceert zeven verschillende malt whiskies, in volgorde van turfhoudendheid:
Inchmurrin en Loch Lomond.Croftengea, Inchmoan, Craiglodge,Old Rhosdhu, Glen Douglas,
Gebouwd in 1965 - 1966 door Barton Brands Ltd te Chicago, de bouwkosten bedroegen E 8,5 miljoen.
Gebouwd in 1965 - 1966 door Barton Brands Ltd te Chicago, de bouwkosten bedroegen E 8,5 miljoen.
Barton Brands Ltd is een Amerikaanse groep met vooral activiteiten in de Amerikaanse whisky industrie, en zij maken in 1959 de stap naar Schotland met de aankoop van een belang in Littlemill.
In 1965 toen Littlemill de grens bereikte van zijn produktie capaciteit werd een tweede distilleerderij gebouwd te Alexandria: Loch Lomond.
Loch Lomond ligt aan de rivier de Leven die het meer Loch Lomond verbindt met de Clyde.
Loch Lomond staat op een plek waar al sinds de 18e eeuw een katoenfabriek was gevestigd, en het ketelhuis is gevestigd in het boilerhuis van de voormalige katoenfabriek, de lopende band voor de aanvoer van kolen is er nog altijd.
In 1971 wordt Barton Brands Ltd de alleen eigenaar van Littlemill. In datzelfde jaar wordt Barton Distilling (Scotland) Ltd opgericht.
In 1982 wordt Barton Brands Ltd overgenomen door Amalgamated Distilled Products, de ei-genaar van A.D.P. is de Argyll Group.
Amalgameted Distilled Products was opgericht in 1970 om A. Gillies & Co, exploitant van lagerpakhuizen, makelaars in whisky, blenders en exporteurs én eigenaar van Glen Scotia over te nemen.
In korte tijd werden verschillende ondernemingen overgenomen die betrokken waren bij de
whiskyindustrie, en rond 1980 bezit A.D.P. ongeveer twintig verschillende blended whisky-merken en met een verkoop van een miljoen dozen per jaar die worden afgevuld in een eigen bottelfabriek te Grangemouth.
Amalgamated Distilled Products deed ook mee in een poging om The Distillers Company Ltd over te nemen, maar verloor van Guinness.
Glen Scotia wordt na een verbouwing van 1,5 miljoen dollar in 1984 gesloten.
Loch Lomond wordt in 1985 verkocht aan Inver House.
Gebouwd in 1965 - 1966 door Barton Brands Ltd te Chicago, de bouwkosten bedroegen E 8,5 miljoen.
Barton Brands Ltd is een Amerikaanse groep met vooral activiteiten in de Amerikaanse whisky industrie, en zij maken in 1959 de stap naar Schotland met de aankoop van een belang in Littlemill.
In 1965 toen Littlemill de grens bereikte van zijn produktie capaciteit werd een tweede distilleerderij gebouwd te Alexandria: Loch Lomond.
Loch Lomond ligt aan de rivier de Leven die het meer Loch Lomond verbindt met de Clyde.
Loch Lomond staat op een plek waar al sinds de 18e eeuw een katoenfabriek was gevestigd, en het ketelhuis is gevestigd in het boiler-huis van de voormalige katoenfabriek, de lopende band voor de aanvoer van kolen is er nog altijd.
In 1971 wordt Barton Brands Ltd de alleen eigenaar van Littlemill. In datzelfde jaar wordt Barton Distilling (Scotland) Ltd opgericht.
In 1982 wordt Barton Brands Ltd overgenomen door Amalgamated Distilled Products, de ei-genaar van A.D.P. is de Argyll Group.
Amalgameted Distilled Products was opgericht in 1970 om A. Gillies & Co, exploitant van lagerpakhuizen, makelaars in whisky, blenders en exporteurs én eigenaar van Glen Scotia over te nemen.
In korte tijd werden verschillende ondernemingen overgenomen die betrokken waren bij de
whiskyindustrie, en rond 1980 bezit A.D.P. ongeveer twintig verschillende blended whisky-merken en met een verkoop van een miljoen dozen per jaar die worden afgevuld in een eigen bottelfabriek te Grangemouth.
Amalgamated Distilled Products deed ook mee in een poging om The Distillers Company Ltd over te nemen, maar verloor van Guinness.
Glen Scotia wordt na een verbouwing van 1,5 miljoen dollar in 1984 gesloten.
Loch Lomond wordt in 1985 verkocht aan Inver House.
Littlemill wordt ook gesloten in 1984.
In 1989 is er een management buy-out onder de leiding van twee directeuren van A.D.P. Ian Lockwood en Bob Murdoch en met de hulp van Schenley, een Amerikaans- Canadese firma met whisky belangen.
Gibson International, zoals de onderneming verder ging heropende Glen Scotia in 1989.
In 1994 ging Gibson International bankroet, de Schotse activiteiten, Bartons Distillers (Scotland) Ltd met de distilleerderijen Glen Scotia en Littlemill kwamen in het bezit van Glen Catrine Bonded Warehouse, een firma die lagerpakhuizen exploiteert, botteld en blend en sinds 1985 eigenaar is van Loch Lomond, overgenomen van Inver House.
Eigenaar van Glen Catrine Bonded Warehouse is Sandy Bulloch, wiens familie geschiedenis teruggaat tot 1855 toen Lade & Co fuseerden met Bulloch & Co, die Loch Katrine te Glasgow en Lossit op Islay bezaten en ook nog in moeilijkheden in 1920 en ging in liquidatie en werd in 1927 ingelijfd bij de almachtige The Distillers Company Ltd.
Het merk B L Gold Label bestaat nog steeds en Caol Ila, nu het eigendom van Diageo heeft nog steeds vermeld Bulloch Lade & Co als licentienemer van Caol Ila.
Glen Scotia sloot in 1994 omdat het Glen Catrine Bonded Warehouse alleen om de voorraad whisky te doen was.
Het eerste beslag werd geproduceerd op 9 Maart 1966 en de distilleerderij werd opgestart op 2 September 1966.
Als gevolg van de terugval in de vraag naar whisky in de jaren tachtig ging Loch Lomond in 1985 in de 'mottenballen'.
Loch Lomond heeft vier met stoom verhitte ketels met een kapaciteit van 1,5 miljoen liter spirit per jaar.
De ketels zijn deelsvan het Lomond type.
De Lomond ketel is een uitvinding van Fred Whiting, een medewerker van Hiram Walker, en is een variant op de pot still ketel en bestaat uit een bijna drie meter hoge kolom, inplaats van de normale zwanenhals, met een watermantel aan het bovenste eind van deze kolom, die de hoeveelheid bepaald van de neerslag die terugloopt in de ketels.
De Lomond ketel is een uitvinding van Fred Whiting, een medewerker van Hiram Walker, en is een variant op de pot still ketel en bestaat uit een bijna drie meter hoge kolom, inplaats van de normale zwanenhals, met een watermantel aan het bovenste eind van deze kolom, die de hoeveelheid bepaald van de neerslag die terugloopt in de ketels.
Deze ketels werden voor het eerst gebruikt in de Lomond distilleerderij bij Dunbarton, later ook bij Glenburgie, Miltonduff en Scapa.
Het maakt het mogelijk om verschillende whiskies te produceren in dezelfde ketels. Loch Lomond produceert ook graanwhisky, ongeveer 10 miljoen liter per jaar. De single blend zoals men de blend noemt heet ook Loch Lomond. Het koel- en proceswater komt van Loch Lomond.
De malt komt van Port Ellen en soms van Glen Ord.
In Juni 1997 melde The Scotsman (de courant) dat één van de zes lagerpakhuizen door brand was verwoest. 2500 vaten met whisky gingen verloren.
'De vlammen kwamen door het dak en de whisky stroomde uit de deuren' .
De whiskies van Glen Scotia en Littlemill lageren ook bij Loch Lomond.
Loch Lomond
Chairman: Sandy Bulloch
who bought it from Inver House Distillers in 1985. It's the largest independent whisky company after William Grant.
Classification: Highland malt. It's geographically in the Lowlands, but the distillery is classified as a Highland malt because it lies just over the Highland line stretching from Greenock to Dundee.
Loch Lomond
Chairman: Sandy Bulloch
who bought it from Inver House Distillers in 1985. It's the largest independent whisky company after William Grant.
Classification: Highland malt. It's geographically in the Lowlands, but the distillery is classified as a Highland malt because it lies just over the Highland line stretching from Greenock to Dundee.
The seven malts in order of peatiness: Croftengea (the peatiest); Inchmoan; Craiglodge: Old Rhosdhu: Glen Douglas: Inchmurrin: Loch Lomond.
Nearest equivalent malts:
Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Laphroaig are closest in style to Croftengea, Bowmore is closest to
Inchmoan and Graiglodge; Glenlivet is closesty to Inchmurin; Glenfiddich to Loch Lomond.
Nearest equivalent to Loch Lomond Single Blend: Whyte & Mackay. Loch Lomond Single Blend release date: 'Sometime in 1999'.
HEAVY METAL
Production director John Peterson explains technology, Loch Lomond style.
'These stills are made up of a steam-heated traditional 'pot' for the lower bulbous part, with a 20-foot rectifying column attached on top as the still head. The stills work indepenently in indentical pairs of one wash and one spirit still.
The wash still columns consist of 14 sieve plates at regular intervals, and as the steam and alcohol vapours rise up the column they pass through the sieve plates.
The alcohol concentration in the spirit increases on each succeeding plate where a complex
series of overflow weirs around the plate's edge allows the trapped distillate to overflow and go back down the column to the plate below. As the steam and distillate mix in the column a dynamic equilibrium over each plate is gradually reached which allows the necessary volume of spirit eventually to reach the top of the column where it passes to the condenser.
In the spirit stills the plates are perforated with bubble caps over the holes which allows further refluxing of the vapours.
In essence, the high level of fractionation means that we produce a lighter, purer distillate
but we can draw off distillate from the wash still and mix this with distillate from the spirit still to create a denser style of spirit.
When you ally all this to the phenolic specifications in the barley you use, we can effectively create our distinctive types of malt whisky'
Loch Lomond has four unusual stills with rectifying heads and two conventional
pot stills with traditional 'swan necks'.
This stills allows Loch lomond to produce 8 different single malt whiskies
One of the factors that has a great influence on the character of the spirit produced
is the length of the neck of the stills: the longer the neck - the lighter, cleaner the
spirit, the shorter the neck - the more full - bodied or fatter the spirit
By using the rectifying heads in a number of different ways, one can replicate the
effect of different lengths of 'neck'without physically altering them
However this particular design of still does not produce the full range of spirit, the
two other stills are traditional designed stills
Loch Lomond produces single malt whiskies heavily peated (typical Islay), complex
and fruity (typical Speyside) , full bodied fruity (typical Highland) and also soft and
fruity, (typical Lowland)
Loch Lomond has his own Cooperage
Loch Lomond produces the only Single Highland Blended Whisky
A .Bulloch & Co, continued to sell their own label whisky, gin and vodka which became
an increasingly important sector.
Subsequently it became prudent to set up our own bottling plant (Glen Catrine Bonded
Warehouse Company Ltd) which again (although its primary function was to supply the
retail outlets) has grown into one of the largest independent bottlers of spirits in Scotland
By 1985 the company was a significant independent force within the whisky trade, but it
was increasingly difficult to obain the stocks of Scotch whisky that were required in order
to ensure the continued growth of Glen Catrine.
In an attempt to help this situation, in 1985 the company purchased a malt distillery
Loch Lomond Distillery Co, Ltd.
Although this helped, in the following years Bulloch & Co was faced with the difficulty
of securing supply of Grain whisky.
In 1993 is was decided to add a pair of grain stills to the distillery
In the mean time the 27 shops throughout Scotland were sold
The Bulloch family can trace its interest in the Scotch Whisky trade back to 1842 when
Gabriel Bulloch partnered J.H. Dewar in a Scotch wholesaling business in Glasgow
The family's involvement in the whisky business continued until the late 1940's when,
due to the untimely early death of their father, Sandy and his sister Irene were required
to join their mother to help wwith the operation of the single shop that the family owned
in Glasgow. They used (as was practice then) buy barrels of Scotch whisky , brandy and
rum and bottle it in their shop cellar. Shortly thereafter Sandy bought his first 'filling's
(new or immature whisky)
The Bulloch family built up a substantial chain of retail outlets in Scotland(A. Bulloch &
Co.) In order to supply these, a wholsale company was aquired (Wm. Morton Ltd), and
although its primary function was to supply A. Bulloch & Co, its business gradually grew
and it is now one of the largest independent wholesalers in Scotland
July 2012
LOCH LOMOND DISTILLERY
It is said that Pernod Ricard will buy Loch Lomond
Water: Loch Lomond
Mash tun: 1 x 5 tonnes
Washback: 1 x 25000 litres
2 wash stills x 25000 ltres
2 spirit stills x 18000 litres
Output: 1,5 000.000 litres
Although this helped, in the following years Bulloch & Co was faced with the difficulty
of securing supply of Grain whisky.
In 1993 is was decided to add a pair of grain stills to the distillery
In the mean time the 27 shops throughout Scotland were sold
The Bulloch family can trace its interest in the Scotch Whisky trade back to 1842 when
Gabriel Bulloch partnered J.H. Dewar in a Scotch wholesaling business in Glasgow
The family's involvement in the whisky business continued until the late 1940's when,
due to the untimely early death of their father, Sandy and his sister Irene were required
to join their mother to help wwith the operation of the single shop that the family owned
in Glasgow. They used (as was practice then) buy barrels of Scotch whisky , brandy and
rum and bottle it in their shop cellar. Shortly thereafter Sandy bought his first 'filling's
(new or immature whisky)
The Bulloch family built up a substantial chain of retail outlets in Scotland(A. Bulloch &
Co.) In order to supply these, a wholsale company was aquired (Wm. Morton Ltd), and
although its primary function was to supply A. Bulloch & Co, its business gradually grew
and it is now one of the largest independent wholesalers in Scotland
July 2012
LOCH LOMOND DISTILLERY
It is said that Pernod Ricard will buy Loch Lomond
Water: Loch Lomond
Mash tun: 1 x 5 tonnes
Washback: 1 x 25000 litres
2 wash stills x 25000 ltres
2 spirit stills x 18000 litres
Output: 1,5 000.000 litres
OUR HISTORY IS STEEPED IN THE 6 CELTIC CLANS THAT TOUCHED LOCH LOMOND,
INCLUDING THE CLANS OF COLQUHOUN, MCFARLANE, GALBRAITH, MACAULAY, MACGREGOR,
MENZIES AND BUCHANAN.
The clans of Scotland have survived for centuries and although belonging to a clan today is quite a different experience to the one you may have had 300 or 400 years ago, many of the traditional values and feelings are the same.
While the term “Clan” means family or children in Scots gaelic, not everyone in the same clan was actually related to one another. The clan structure however embodied a feeling of unity and strength, a spirit of togetherness and friendship and one which allowed the Clansmen to have control over their designated land. (You can see from our map the clans which surrounded Loch Lomond).
The spirit of kinship is reflected in our range of Loch Lomond whiskies-to be enjoyed on their own and also shared with others!
The first site of the former Loch Lomond Distillery dates back to 1814, sited at the north end
of Loch Lomond near Tarbet (known as Tarbat). Sadly in the old days relatively few paper
records were kept and the closing date of this Distillery remains unclear.
The current Loch Lomond Distillery was founded in 1964 by the former owners of the
Littlemill Distillery, in Bowling, a few miles up the road towards Glasgow.
LITTLEMILL AND LOCH LOMOND: FROM ILLICIT STILLS IN BOTHIES AND BARNS TO THE
GREAT BONDED WAREHOUSES OF THE INDUSTRIAL AGE, THIS PART OF SCOTLAND HAS
PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE STORY OF WHISKY.
Glen Scotia DistilleryMaster Blender Glen Scotia Barrels Glen Scotia Bottle on Barrels
Loch Lomond marks the boundary between the Lowlands and the Highlands of Scotland. This area - so close to the major bottling town of Dumbarton - has been at the heart of the whisky industry for centuries. Sadly though, at least nine distilleries around the Loch have been lost over the years, leaving Loch Lomond Distillers to maintain a proud local tradition into the 21st century.
Our own story began in 1772, with the founding of the Littlemill distillery on the site of an old brewery, at Dunglass Castle in Bowling. It is possibly the oldest distillery in Scotland with distilling at this site dating back to the 14th century.
It is a few miles from the loch itself with its water source being the Auchentorlie Burn.
The distillery changed hands several times before it was acquired by an American gentleman named Duncan Thomas. He lived in the former exciseman's house at Littlemill for a while, and went on to build the new Loch Lomond Distillery in Alexandria which is now our home.
The inspiration for the Loch Lomond Distillery comes from the physical beauty of the Highland region in which it is sited. The magnificent Ben Lomond mountain towers above the loch and looks down on the distillery. Its history is steeped in the 7 Celtic Clans that touched Loch Lomond, including the clans of Colquhoun, Mcfarlane, Galbraith, MacAulay (2), Menzies and Buchanan.
Loch Lomond distillery opened in 1964, with production beginning the following year. In 1984 the distillery closed - or fell silent, to use the traditional term. Happily though, Alexander Bulloch and the Glen Catrine company acquired the business and resumed malt production in 1987. Grain whisky production began in 1993 and two new malt stills were added in 1999.
At the time the Grain distillery opened in 1994, it was the only distillery in Scotland producing both Grain and Malt whisky. It also operates a unique set-up of three sets of stills.
The uniqueness of our pot malt stills rest in the cylindrical necks of the spirit stills. Traditionally the necks of malt
stills are open. The Loch Lomond stills include special distillation trays in the necks, allowing for greater contact with
the cooling alcohol vapour. This makes the process more efficient. These stills can produce alcohol up to 90% ABV
where normal stills deliver the alcohol at around 70% ABV. This style of still allows for different ‘flavour notes’ to be
captured and emphasised through the range of alcohol strengths that can be captured and rejected. This is much
more difficult to achieve through a conventional pot still.
HEAVILY PEATED INCHMOAN SINGLE MALTS LAUNCH
July 2017
Loch Lomond Distillery has added two new expressions to its Island Collection – Inchmoan 12 Year Old and Inchmoan 1992 Vintage.
Inchmoan 12 year old
Peated pairing: Inchmoan whisky is a heavily peated version of Inchmurrin, also made at Loch Lomond
The two new single malts, which are produced at the Loch Lomond distillery in Alexandria, will sit alongside Inchmurrin – also made at the same distillery – in the Island Collection.
Inchmoan is a heavily peated style of whisky made on Loch Lomond’s traditional swan neck pot stills, and on unconventional straight-neck stills.
Inchmoan 12 Year Old has been matured in re-charred American oak and refill American oak casks, and bottled at 46% abv without chill filtration.
Inchmoan Vintage 1992, meanwhile, has been matured for 25 years in refill American oak casks and bottled at 48.6% abv, also without chill filtration.
The whisky style takes its name from one of the islands in nearby Loch Lomond, which has historically been a source of peat for surrounding communities.
Part of a group of low-lying ind of the peat’.
Michael Henry, master blender at Loch Lomond distillery, said: ‘Our intriguing new Inchmoan expressions have been created to celebrate the history and heritage of the island and are the first heavily peated releases in the Loch Lomond Whiskies range.
‘I have selected three different spirits, each bringing a unique peat characteristic, whether that’s spicy, medicinal peat or smoky peat, to the Inchmoan 12 Year Old. This combination creates a balanced, complex peat character highlighting some of the softer, spicier peat notes often masked by heavier peat flavours.’
Inchmoan 12 Year Old will be available for about £44 per bottle, while Inchmoan 1992 has a retail price of £199.
Both expressions are currently available in the UK from specialist whisky retailers, and will be rolled out to global markets over the next few months.
LOCH LOMOND GROUP
The Loch Lomond Group is headed by CEO Colin Matthews and operates Loch Lomond distillery at Alexandria in Dunbartonshire and Glen Scotia distillery in the Argyllshire port of Campbeltown. Additionally, the group’s Glen Catrine bonded warehouse in Ayrshire is one of Scotland’s largest independent bottling facilities and handles not only whisky but Loch Lomond Group’s vodka, gin, rum and brandy brands.
Loch Lomond is available as both a single malt and a blended Scotch, with some distillery single malt bottlings being sold under the Inchmurrin label, while a new line-up of Glen Scotia bottlings was announced in 2015. Limited edition bottlings from the now demolished Littlemill Lowland distillery are also offered, and the group’s highest profile Scotch blend is High Commissioner, the fifth-best-selling blend in the UK. Other brands include Glen’s, the UK’s second-best-selling vodka, and Christie’s Gin.
The Loch Lomond Group was established in 2014 by Exponent Private Equity after acquiring the Loch Lomond Distillery Company – previously owned by members of the Bulloch family.
Alexander (Sandy) Bulloch had purchased the silent Loch Lomond distillery in 1987, as a source of malt spirit for his blending and bottling operations, going on to re-commence distillation under the auspices of the Glen Catrine Bonded Warehouse Company in 1987. In 1994 Glen Catrine acquired Glen Scotia and Littlemill distilleries from Gibson International.
The Bullochs can trace their involvement in the Scotch whisky business back to 1842 when Gabriel Bulloch partnered J H Dewar in a Scotch wholesaling business in Glasgow, and in more recent years A Bulloch & Co operated a substantial chain of retail outlets across Scotland, ultimately selling its own-label whisky, gin and vodkas.
This, in turn, led to the creation of Glen Catrine Bonded Warehouse Ltd in 1974, initially to supply bottled spirits for the company’s 25 shops. After the shops were sold off, the bottling operation continued. Under the Bulloch regime, Loch Lomond Distillery Company was the second-largest family-owned Scotch whisky producer in Scotland.
DISTILLERIES & BRANDS
Clansman
HIGHLAND BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY
Craiglodge
HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Croftengea
HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Crown of Scotland
BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY
Dumbuck
LOWLAND SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Dunglass
LOWLAND SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Glen Catrine
BLENDED MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Glen Douglas
HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Glen Scotia
CAMPBELTOWN SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Glengarry
HIGHLAND SCOTCH WHISKY
High Commissioner
BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY
Inchfad
HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Inchmoan
HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Inchmurrin
HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Littlemill
LOWLAND SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Loch Lomond
HIGHLAND SCOTCH WHISKY
Old Court
BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY
Old Original
BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY
Old Rhosdhu
HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Scotia Royale
Scots Earl
BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY
ASSOCIATED COMPANIES
Loch Lomond’s northern environs offer quintessential Highland scenery
Stand on Conic Hill and look south-west: a succession of islands emerges from the surface of Loch Lomond in a plumb-straight line: Inchcailloch, Torrinch, Creinch, Inchmurrin. On the same bearing, the gentle slopes of Ben Bowie can be seen on the far shore.
There’s more to this vista than a pleasing symmetry. You’re seeing a physical manifestation of the Highland Boundary Fault, the centre of a battle some 400 million years ago between the rock on your right and the rock on your left. When the former rose up and the latter receded, the Highlands and the Central Lowlands were created.
Turn and look around, and you can see the results. There’s an unmistakable gentleness to the landscape extending southwards into the Vale of Leven, while the loftier peaks to the north – including Ben Lomond, the most southerly of the Munros – are often cloud-shrouded and forbidding.
It’s such a peaceful scene today – hikers and pleasure boats, the distant throb of a jet-ski – that you’d be forgiven for thinking that nothing much has happened here since all that seismic activity during the Devonian age.
Surprising, then, to read the verdict of Dr Samuel Johnson, who wrote this following his visit to the loch’s islands in 1773:
‘Had Loch Lomond been in a happier climate, it would have been the boast of wealth and vanity to own one of the little spots which it encloses, and to have employed upon it all the arts of embellishment.
‘But, as it is, the islets, which court the gazer at a distance, disgust him at his approach, when he finds, instead of soft lawns and shady thickets, nothing more than uncultivated ruggedness.’
Then again, Johnson may have unwittingly touched upon a hidden truth: for all its photogenic qualities, this border country is steeped in violence, intrigue – and illicit whisky.
Loch Lomond’s islands offer a microcosm of Scottish history, reinforced by their strategic location on the cusp between Highlands and Lowlands. Some of them aren’t strictly islands at all, but are centuries-old, man-made crannogs, including Inchgalbraith, constructed by the Clan Galbraith because they were so fed up with being attacked every time they held a gathering on the loch’s shores.
Inchlonaig is called ‘island of the yews’ because Robert the Bruce reputedly ordered yew trees to be planted there – providing the raw material for the bows wielded at the battle of Bannockburn.
The islands also provided a means of correction or punishment: Luss was once known as ‘prison island’, while Inchmoan was an impromptu ‘rehab’ centre for alcoholics and a place of reform for ladies of easy virtue (presumably not at the same time).
It’s not hard to see why the islands were also once a hotbed of illicit whisky production. Beyond the advantages of isolation, all the raw materials were on hand: wood to fire the stills, peat on the island of Inchmoan, grain from the Vale of Leven.
There are traces of stills on the island of Inchconnachan, and Inchfad was home to large-scale illicit distillation as far back as the 17th century, until a government revenue cutter swept through the loch in the mid-19th century. The island then hosted a legal distillery, complete with canal, the ruins of which are still visible.
Like the loch itself, modern whisky distillation in the area spans the Highland Fault: the original Loch Lomond distillery operated at the northern end of the loch, near Tarbet, but today’s plant sits beyond its southern shores in the town of Alexandria (confusingly, Loch Lomond is still classed as a Highland malt because the whisky boundary with the Lowlands lies further south).
Here the picturesque scenery of the loch gives way to the industrial heft of the Vale of Leven, epitomised by the grandiose façade of Alexandria’s Argyll Motor Works, which at one point was the busiest car factory in Europe, employing 2,000 workers and holding the World Land Speed Record before its closure in 1914. A young chap called John Logie Baird was once an engineering apprentice here.
Textiles, however, were the prime industry, with Alexandria’s Croftengea works winning Europe-wide renown for its production of the sought-after, vivid red and colour-fast ‘Turkey Red’ dyed yarn from the 1820s.
Alexandria’s textile industry was consolidated into one site at Croftengea, known as ‘The Craft’, before its eventual closure in 1960. The vast site was given over to various new uses including, in 1964, the construction of a new Loch Lomond distillery, which became operational two years later.
From the start, things were always done a little differently at Loch Lomond. Opened by Littlemill owner Duncan Thomas and Chicago-based Barton Brands, the new distillery copied Littlemill by installing a pair of pot stills with long, straight necks containing rectifying plates (indeed, it took Littlemill’s stills too when that distillery closed for good in 1992).
But things stepped up a pace in 1986, when Sandy Bulloch’s Glen Catrine business took over the by now mothballed plant. Refusing to be reliant on the whims of the industry giants when it came to purchasing grain whisky and reciprocal trading, the producer of the High Commissioner blend and Glen’s vodka set about transforming the distillery in order to make it self-sufficient.
More straight-necked pot stills were added, then continuous stills to make grain whisky, a pair of pot stills with traditional swan necks, and then another continuous still to produce grain whisky from 100% barley.
Loch Lomond distillery reconditions casks at its own cooperage
The result is a Heath Robinson operation that has even seasoned whisky experts scratching their heads. Throw in extended fermentation times, the use of wine yeasts, different filling strengths and varying peating levels and you have a single distillery capable of producing more than 10 different styles of spirit. Oh, and it has its own cooperage too.
What was once both a necessity and a gesture of defiance (not to mention a means of producing a fast-maturing spirit) has been transformed into a virtue by Loch Lomond’s new owner, private equity firm Exponent, which bought the plant in 2014.
‘Never follow’ is the motto as the business is gradually transformed under CEO Colin Matthews into a more conventional (in decidedly relative terms) Scotch whisky company.
An estimated £25m has been invested in the past 18 months, upgrading facilities at Glen Scotia in Campbeltown, and adding new stills and warehousing at Alexandria. The entire range of products has been rebranded, and a company that had previously operated in 30 countries now sells its wares in more than 100 markets.
There’s a renewed focus on single malts: as well as the eponymous Loch Lomond range, the fruit-driven Inchmurrin and the earthy smoke of the peated Inchmoan pay tribute to the nearby loch’s history-laden islands.
But perhaps the most obvious sign of Loch Lomond’s fresh ambition is the imminent release of a 50-year-old, single cask single malt that ran off those straight-necked stills on 19 November 1967.
‘It means we want to be among the best,’ says operations director Bill White. ‘With the change of ownership there was an obvious change of mentality at this business. If you want to be an internationally-regarded distiller, you can’t have inferior liquid out there.’
Heath Robinson: Loch Lomond’s quirky collection of stills can be confusing
But for that change of ownership, Loch Lomond 50 Year Old might never have been bottled. ‘I had my first taste of this probably close to 10 years ago now, and at that point the company wasn’t all that interested in single malts,’ recalls master blender Michael Henry.
‘Every year or two I’d give it a quick nose, a quick taste to see how the flavour was developing, making sure the cask was in the right conditions and the right warehouse.
‘You don’t get to taste a whisky like this very often. To be able to taste a liquid that is 10 years older than I am is something special. It kind of comes with a mixture of privilege and pressure. You have to be very precise in what you do with it – you can’t afford to make any mistakes.’
Matured in an American oak hogshead for 31 years, the whisky was moved into a European oak hogshead in 1978 to add some spice, complexity and mouthfeel. Remarkably, it has retained some of the intense fruity characteristic of those idiosyncratic straight-necked stills.
LOCH LOMOND TO RELEASE 50 YEAR OLD MALT
October 2017
Loch Lomond is set to release its oldest whisky to date: a 50-year-old single malt produced in the early months of the distillery in 1967.
Loch Lomond 50 Year Old
Half-century: Loch Lomond 50 Year Old was created soon after the distillery opened
The whisky – limited to only 60 decanters worldwide – was made using Loch Lomond distillery’s unique, straight-necked pot stills on 19 November 1967, shortly after it began operating in Alexandria, Dunbartonshire.
The stills are fitted with rectification plates in their necks and are currently used to produce the company’s Inchmurrin single malt.
The whisky, which will be bottled at 46.2% abv, spent 31 years in a refill American oak hogshead, before being transferred into a European oak hogshead in 1998.
Loch Lomond 50 Year Old is due to be released in December 2017 – it cannot be bottled as a 50-year-old until 19 November – and is priced at £12,000 a bottle.
It will be packaged in a hand-blown Glencairn crystal glass decanter, housed in a hand-made ‘Tempest Chest’ created by Method Studio near Edinburgh, run by husband-and-wife team Callum Robinson and Marisa Giannasi.
The chest, carved from oak with a distinctive sculpted shape designed to mimic the waves of Loch Lomond, is indigo-dyed until almost black, leather-lined and fastened with a solid brass key.
It also contains a turned brass, glass-lined vial, reminiscent of the straight-necked stills, which contains a sample of the whisky.
‘The expectations are high when you are working with a whisky as special and scarce as this, and it came with great responsibility, but selecting and perfecting this single malt was a true honour,’ said Michael Henry, Loch Lomond master blender.
‘Our stills are synonymous with the fruity notes they give to the whisky. The Loch Lomond 50 Year Old has been granted the time to truly concentrate that character, resulting in a rich, tropical fruit flavour.’
Packaged in a remarkable, indigo-stained Tempest Chest designed by West Lothian-based ‘architects of objects’ Method Studio and with 60 decanters priced at £12,000 each, Loch Lomond 50 Year Old should be on the market by the end of the year.
Its release, and the bigger changes at this most versatile and fascinating of Scotch whisky distilleries, signal the start of another new chapter for an area that has a remakable, shifting and sometimes contradictory character – whether we’re talking about its whisky, its history or its geology
June 2018
LOCH LOMOND MARKS OPEN DEAL WITH NEW MALTS
Loch Lomond has released three new single malts in association with golfers Colin Montgomerie and Paul Lawrie, to celebrate a new five-year partnership with The Open Championship golf tournament.
Loch Lomond Open 1999 vintages and Open Special Edition
Spirit of the Open: Loch Lomond’s three limited edition single malts have been created alongside top golfers
The three limited edition whiskies include two 1999 vintages, bottled to honour Lawrie’s Open victory that same year, as well as a no-age-statement expression.
The 1999 Vintage Autograph Edition has been created by Loch Lomond master blender Michael Henry in collaboration with Lawrie, with both bottle and outer packaging featuring the golfer’s signature.
The expression has been matured in refill American oak hogsheads and ex-Bourbon barrels, and bottled at a cask strength of 50.8% abv.
The 1999 Open Course Collection Carnoustie is a limited edition single malt honouring the Carnoustie Golf Links in Angus, the site of Lawrie’s historic win.
For the second expression, Henry worked alongside Scottish golfer Colin Montgomerie to select refill American oak casks from 1999, bottling the whisky at 47.2% abv.
Both whiskies are said to have ‘aromas of honey, tropical fruits and hints of maple syrup’.
The Open Special Edition meanwhile is a no-age-statement single malt bottled at 46% abv, which has been created from spirit distilled from wine yeast fermentations that’s been matured in first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels and recharred American oak hogsheads.
The whisky is described as having ‘vibrant, fruity notes of peach and pear’ along with ‘a gentle hint of peat and smoke’ on the palate.
All three whiskies will be available globally from June with the Carnoustie and Autograph editions priced at £150, and the Open Special Edition at £36.
For the next five years Loch Lomond will be the official spirit of the Open, having taken over the sponsorship from Glenmorangie. The championship returns to Carnoustie Golf Links in July
In 1989 is er een management buy-out onder de leiding van twee directeuren van A.D.P. Ian Lockwood en Bob Murdoch en met de hulp van Schenley, een Amerikaans- Canadese firma met whisky belangen.
Gibson International, zoals de onderneming verder ging heropende Glen Scotia in 1989.
In 1994 ging Gibson International bankroet, de Schotse activiteiten, Bartons Distillers (Scotland) Ltd met de distilleerderijen Glen Scotia en Littlemill kwamen in het bezit van Glen Catrine Bonded Warehouse, een firma die lagerpakhuizen exploiteert, botteld en blend en sinds 1985 eigenaar is van Loch Lomond, overgenomen van Inver House.
Eigenaar van Glen Catrine Bonded Warehouse is Sandy Bulloch, wiens familie geschiedenis teruggaat tot 1855 toen Lade & Co fuseerden met Bulloch & Co, die Loch Katrine te Glasgow en Lossit op Islay bezaten en ook nog in moeilijkheden in 1920 en ging in liquidatie en werd in 1927 ingelijfd bij de almachtige The Distillers Company Ltd.
Het merk B L Gold Label bestaat nog steeds en Caol Ila, nu het eigendom van Diageo heeft nog steeds vermeld Bulloch Lade & Co als licentienemer van Caol Ila.
Glen Scotia sloot in 1994 omdat het Glen Catrine Bonded Warehouse alleen om de voorraad whisky te doen was.
Het eerste beslag werd geproduceerd op 9 Maart 1966 en de distilleerderij werd opgestart op 2 September 1966.
Als gevolg van de terugval in de vraag naar whisky in de jaren tachtig ging Loch Lomond in 1985 in de 'mottenballen'.
Loch Lomond heeft vier met stoom verhitte ketels met een kapaciteit van 1,5 miljoen liter spirit per jaar.
De ketels zijn van het Lomond type.
De Lomond ketel is een uitvinding van Fred Whiting, een medewerker van Hiram Walker, en is een variant op de pot still ketel en bestaat uit een bijna drie meter hoge kolom, inplaats van de normale zwanenhals, met een watermantel aan het bovenste eind van deze kolom, die de hoeveelheid bepaald van de neerslag die terugloopt in de ketels.
Deze ketels werden voor het eerst gebruikt in de Lomond distilleerderij bij Dunbarton, later ook bij Glenburgie, Miltonduff en Scapa.
Het maakt het mogelijk om verschillende whiskies te produceren in dezelfde ketels. Loch Lomond produceert ook graanwhisky, ongeveer 10 miljoen liter per jaar. De single blend zoals men de blend noemt heet ook Loch Lomond. Het koel- en proceswater komt van Loch Lomond.
De malt komt van Port Ellen en soms van Glen Ord.
In Juni 1997 melde The Scotsman (de courant) dat één van de zes lagerpakhuizen door brand was verwoest. 2500 vaten met whisky gingen verloren.
'De vlammen kwamen door het dak en de whisky stroomde uit de deuren' . De whiskies van Glen Scotia en Littlemill lageren ook bij Loch Lomond.
Loch Lomond
Chairman: Sandy Bulloch
who bought it from Inver House Distillers in 1985. It's the largest independent whisky com-pany after William Grant.
Classification: Highland malt. It's geographically in the Lowlands, but the distillery is classified as a Highland malt because it lies just over the Highland line stretching from Greenock to Dundee.
The seven malts in order of peatiness: Croftengea (the peatiest); Inchmoan; Craiglodge: Old Rhosdhu: Glen Douglas: Inchmurrin: Loch Lomond.
Nearest equivalent malts:
Ardbeg, lagavulin and Laphroaig are closest in style to Croftengea, Bowmore is closest to
Inchmoan and Graiglodge; Glenlivet is closesty to Inchmurin; Glenfiddich to Loch Lomond.
Nearest equivalent to Loch Lomond Single Blend: Whyte & Mackay. Loch Lomond Single Blend release date: 'Sometime in 1999'.
HEAVY METAL
Production director John Peterson explains technology, Loch Lomond style.
'These stills are made up of a steam-heated traditional 'pot' for the lower bulbous part, with a 20-foot rectifying column attached on top as the still head. The stills work inde-penently in indentical pairs of one wash and one spirit still.
The wash still columns consist of 14 sieve plates at regular intervals, and as the steam and alcohol vapours rise up the column they pass through the sieve plates.
The alcohol concentration in the spirit increases on each succeeding plate where a complex
series of overflow weirs around the plate's edge allows the trapped distillate to overflow and go back down the column to the plate below. As the steam and distillate mix in the column a dynamic equilibrium over each plate is gradually reached which allows the necessary volume of spirit eventually to reach the top of the column where it passes to the condenser.
In the spirit stills the plates are perforated with bubble caps over the holes which allows further refluxing of the vapours.
In essence, the high level of fractionation means that we produce a lighter, purer distillate
but we can draw off distillate from the wash still and mix this with distillate from the spirit still to create a denser style of spirit.
When you ally all this to the phenolic specifications in the barley you use, we can effectively create our distinctive types of malt whisky'
Loch Lomond has four unusual stills with rectifying heads and two conventional
pot stills with traditional 'swan necks'.
This stills allows Loch lomond to produce 8 different single malt whiskies
One of the factors that has a great influence on the character of the spirit produced
is the length of the neck of the stills: the longer the neck - the lighter, cleaner the
spirit, the shorter the neck - the more full - bodied or fatter the spirit
By using the rectifying heads in a number of different ways, one can replicate the
effect of different lengths of 'neck'without physically altering them
However this particular design of still does not produce the full range of spirit, the
two other stills are traditional designed stills
Loch Lomond produces single malt whiskies heavily peated (typical Islay), complex
and fruity (typical Speyside) , full bodied fruity (typical Highland) and also soft and
fruity, (typical Lowland)
Loch Lomond has his own Cooperage
Loch Lomond produces the only Single Highland Blended Whisky
A .Bulloch & Co, continued to sell their own label whisky, gin and vodka which became
an increasingly important sector.
Subsequently it became prudent to set up our own bottling plant (Glen Catrine Bonded
Warehouse Company Ltd) which again (although its primary function was to supply the
retail outlets) has grown into one of the largest independent bottlers of spirits in Scotland
By 1985 the company was a significant independent force within the whisky trade, but it
was increasingly difficult to obain the stocks of Scotch whisky that were required in order
to ensure the continued growth of Glen Catrine.
In an attempt to help this situation, in 1985 the company purchased a malt distillery
Loch Lomond Distillery Co, Ltd.
Although this helped, in the following years Bulloch & Co was faced with the difficulty
of securing supply of Grain whisky.
In 1993 is was decided to add a pair of grain stills to the distillery
In the mean time the 27 shops throughout Scotland were sold
1965
Although this helped, in the following years Bulloch & Co was faced with the difficulty
of securing supply of Grain whisky.
In 1993 is was decided to add a pair of grain stills to the distillery
In the mean time the 27 shops throughout Scotland were sold
1965
Built by Littlemill Distillery Company Ltd,
Owned by Duncan Thomas and Barton Brands
Chicago
1966
1966
Production starts
1971
1971
Duncan Thomas is bought out and Barton
Brands reforms as Barton Distilling (Scotland)
Ltd
1984
Loch Lomond closes
1985
1985
Glen Catrine Bonded Warehouse Ltd,
owner Alexander Bulloch buys
Loch Lomond
1987
1987
Loch Lomond restarts
1993
1993
A Grain distillery is added to the plant
with two contnious stills
1997
1997
A fire destroys 300.000 litres of maturing
whisky
1999
1999
Two more swan neck pot stills are installed
2005
2005
Inchmoan and Craiglodge are officially
launched, 4 years old and
distilled in 2001, Inchmurrin is launched as
distilled in 2001, Inchmurrin is launched as
12 years old
2006
2006
Inchmurrin 4 years old, Croftengea 1996
9 years old and Glen Douglas 2001 4 years
Inchfad 2002 5 years old old are launched
Inchfad 2002 5 years old old are launched
2007
A single grain coffey still is installed
2010
A peated Loch Lomond no age statement,
and a Vintage 1966 are released
2012
A new range from Inchmurrin is released:
12,15, 18, 21 years old
2014
Loch Lomond is sold to Exponent Private Equity
Organic single malts and blended whiskies are
launched
2015
Loch Lomond Original Single Malt is released
Also a Single Grain and two blended whiskies are
released: Reserve and Signature
2016
A 12 year old, a 18 year Loch Lomond old are l
launched
2017
Inchmoan 12 year, Inchmurrin 12 year,
Inchmurrin 18 year released
2018
A 50 year old Loch Lomond is released
2019
LochLomond is sold to Hillhouse Capital
Management and again a 50 year old is
released
2020
Capacity: 5.000.000 Ltrs
Output: Coffey still : 3.500.000 Ltrs
Output: Pot still: 1.500.000 Ltrs
The core range is revamped and expanded
2021
A 45 years old finished in Oloroso sherry butts is released in the
Remarkable Stills Series
The Company's Chairman is Alexander (Sandy) Bulloch (2009)
The Bulloch family can trace its interest in the Scotch Whisky trade back to 1842 when
Gabriel Bulloch partnered J.H. Dewar in a Scotch wholesaling business in Glasgow
The family's involvement in the whisky business continued until the late 1940's when,
due to the untimely early death of their father, Sandy and his sister Irene were required
to join their mother to help wwith the operation of the single shop that the family owned
in Glasgow. They used (as was practice then) buy barrels of Scotch whisky , brandy and
rum and bottle it in their shop cellar. Shortly thereafter Sandy bought his first 'filling's
(new or immature whisky)
The Bulloch family built up a substantial chain of retail outlets in Scotland(A. Bulloch &
Co.) In order to supply these, a wholsale company was aquired (Wm. Morton Ltd), and
although its primary function was to supply A. Bulloch & Co, its business gradually grew
and it is now one of the largest independent wholesalers in Scotland
17 July 2012
It is said that Pernod Ricard will buy Loch Lomond
Water: Loch Lomond
Mash tun: 1 x 5 tonnes
Washback: 1 x 25000 litres
2 wash stills x 25000 ltres
2 spirit stills x 18000 litres
Output: 1,5 000.000 litres
The Bulloch family can trace its interest in the Scotch Whisky trade back to 1842 when
Gabriel Bulloch partnered J.H. Dewar in a Scotch wholesaling business in Glasgow
The family's involvement in the whisky business continued until the late 1940's when,
due to the untimely early death of their father, Sandy and his sister Irene were required
to join their mother to help wwith the operation of the single shop that the family owned
in Glasgow. They used (as was practice then) buy barrels of Scotch whisky , brandy and
rum and bottle it in their shop cellar. Shortly thereafter Sandy bought his first 'filling's
(new or immature whisky)
The Bulloch family built up a substantial chain of retail outlets in Scotland(A. Bulloch &
Co.) In order to supply these, a wholsale company was aquired (Wm. Morton Ltd), and
although its primary function was to supply A. Bulloch & Co, its business gradually grew
and it is now one of the largest independent wholesalers in Scotland
17 July 2012
It is said that Pernod Ricard will buy Loch Lomond
Water: Loch Lomond
Mash tun: 1 x 5 tonnes
Washback: 1 x 25000 litres
2 wash stills x 25000 ltres
2 spirit stills x 18000 litres
Output: 1,5 000.000 litres
OUR HISTORY IS STEEPED IN THE 6 CELTIC CLANS THAT TOUCHED LOCH LOMOND,
INCLUDING THE CLANS OF COLQUHOUN, MCFARLANE, GALBRAITH, MACAULAY, MACGREGOR,
MENZIES AND BUCHANAN.
The clans of Scotland have survived for centuries and although belonging to a clan today is quite a different experience to the one you may have had 300 or 400 years ago, many of the traditional values and feelings are the same.
While the term “Clan” means family or children in Scots gaelic, not everyone in the same clan was actually related to one another. The clan structure however embodied a feeling of unity and strength, a spirit of togetherness and friendship and one which allowed the Clansmen to have control over their designated land. (You can see from our map the clans which surrounded Loch Lomond).
The spirit of kinship is reflected in our range of Loch Lomond whiskies-to be enjoyed on their own and also shared with others!
The first site of the former Loch Lomond Distillery dates back to 1814, sited at the north end
of Loch Lomond near Tarbet (known as Tarbat). Sadly in the old days relatively few paper
records were kept and the closing date of this Distillery remains unclear.
The current Loch Lomond Distillery was founded in 1964 by the former owners of the
Littlemill Distillery, in Bowling, a few miles up the road towards Glasgow.
LITTLEMILL AND LOCH LOMOND: FROM ILLICIT STILLS IN BOTHIES AND BARNS TO THE
GREAT BONDED WAREHOUSES OF THE INDUSTRIAL AGE, THIS PART OF SCOTLAND HAS
PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE STORY OF WHISKY.
Glen Scotia DistilleryMaster BlenderGlen Scotia Barrels Glen Scotia Bottle on Barrels
Loch Lomond marks the boundary between the Lowlands and the Highlands of Scotland. This area - so close to the major bottling town of Dumbarton - has been at the heart of the whisky industry for centuries. Sadly though, at least nine distilleries around the Loch have been lost over the years, leaving Loch Lomond Distillers to maintain a proud local tradition into the 21st century.
Our own story began in 1772, with the founding of the Littlemill distillery on the site of an old brewery, at Dunglass Castle in Bowling. It is possibly the oldest distillery in Scotland with distilling at this site dating back to the 14th century.
It is a few miles from the loch itself with its water source being the Auchentorlie Burn.
The distillery changed hands several times before it was acquired by an American gentleman named Duncan Thomas. He lived in the former exciseman's house at Littlemill for a while, and went on to build the new Loch Lomond Distillery in Alexandria which is now our home.
The inspiration for the Loch Lomond Distillery comes from the physical beauty of the Highland region in which it is sited. The magnificent Ben Lomond mountain towers above the loch and looks down on the distillery. Its history is steeped in the 7 Celtic Clans that touched Loch Lomond, including the clans of Colquhoun, Mcfarlane, Galbraith, MacAulay (2), Menzies and Buchanan.
Loch Lomond distillery opened in 1964, with production beginning the following year. In 1984 the distillery closed - or fell silent, to use the traditional term. Happily though, Alexander Bulloch and the Glen Catrine company acquired the business and resumed malt production in 1987. Grain whisky production began in 1993 and two new malt stills were added in 1999.
At the time the Grain distillery opened in 1994, it was the only distillery in Scotland producing both Grain and Malt whisky. It also operates a unique set-up of three sets of stills.
The uniqueness of our pot malt stills rest in the cylindrical necks of the spirit stills. Traditionally the necks of malt
stills are open. The Loch Lomond stills include special distillation trays in the necks, allowing for greater contact with
the cooling alcohol vapour. This makes the process more efficient. These stills can produce alcohol up to 90% ABV
where normal stills deliver the alcohol at around 70% ABV. This style of still allows for different ‘flavour notes’ to be
captured and emphasised through the range of alcohol strengths that can be captured and rejected. This is much
more difficult to achieve through a conventional pot still.
HEAVILY PEATED INCHMOAN SINGLE MALTS LAUNCH
July 2017
Loch Lomond Distillery has added two new expressions to its Island Collection – Inchmoan 12 Year Old and Inchmoan 1992 Vintage.
Inchmoan 12 year old
Peated pairing: Inchmoan whisky is a heavily peated version of Inchmurrin, also made at Loch Lomond
The two new single malts, which are produced at the Loch Lomond distillery in Alexandria, will sit alongside Inchmurrin – also made at the same distillery – in the Island Collection.
Inchmoan is a heavily peated style of whisky made on Loch Lomond’s traditional swan neck pot stills, and on unconventional straight-neck stills.
Inchmoan 12 Year Old has been matured in re-charred American oak and refill American oak casks, and bottled at 46% abv without chill filtration.
Inchmoan Vintage 1992, meanwhile, has been matured for 25 years in refill American oak casks and bottled at 48.6% abv, also without chill filtration.
The whisky style takes its name from one of the islands in nearby Loch Lomond, which has historically been a source of peat for surrounding communities.
nd of the peat’.
Michael Henry, master blender at Loch Lomond distillery, said: ‘Our intriguing new Inchmoan expressions have been created to celebrate the history and heritage of the island and are the first heavily peated releases in the Loch Lomond Whiskies range.
‘I have selected three different spirits, each bringing a unique peat characteristic, whether that’s spicy, medicinal peat or smoky peat, to the Inchmoan 12 Year Old. This combination creates a balanced, complex peat character highlighting some of the softer, spicier peat notes often masked by heavier peat flavours.’
Inchmoan 12 Year Old will be available for about £44 per bottle, while Inchmoan 1992 has a retail price of £199.
Both expressions are currently available in the UK from specialist whisky retailers, and will be rolled out to global markets over the next few months.
LOCH LOMOND GROUP
The Loch Lomond Group is headed by CEO Colin Matthews and operates Loch Lomond distillery at Alexandria in Dunbartonshire and Glen Scotia distillery in the Argyllshire port of Campbeltown. Additionally, the group’s Glen Catrine bonded warehouse in Ayrshire is one of Scotland’s largest independent bottling facilities and handles not only whisky but Loch Lomond Group’s vodka, gin, rum and brandy brands.
Loch Lomond is available as both a single malt and a blended Scotch, with some distillery single malt bottlings being sold under the Inchmurrin label, while a new line-up of Glen Scotia bottlings was announced in 2015. Limited edition bottlings from the now demolished Littlemill Lowland distillery are also offered, and the group’s highest profile Scotch blend is High Commissioner, the fifth-best-selling blend in the UK. Other brands include Glen’s, the UK’s second-best-selling vodka, and Christie’s Gin.
The Loch Lomond Group was established in 2014 by Exponent Private Equity after acquiring the Loch Lomond Distillery Company – previously owned by members of the Bulloch family.
Alexander (Sandy) Bulloch had purchased the silent Loch Lomond distillery in 1987, as a source of malt spirit for his blending and bottling operations, going on to re-commence distillation under the auspices of the Glen Catrine Bonded Warehouse Company in 1987. In 1994 Glen Catrine acquired Glen Scotia and Littlemill distilleries from Gibson International.
The Bullochs can trace their involvement in the Scotch whisky business back to 1842 when Gabriel Bulloch partnered J H Dewar in a Scotch wholesaling business in Glasgow, and in more recent years A Bulloch & Co operated a substantial chain of retail outlets across Scotland, ultimately selling its own-label whisky, gin and vodkas.
This, in turn, led to the creation of Glen Catrine Bonded Warehouse Ltd in 1974, initially to supply bottled spirits for the company’s 25 shops. After the shops were sold off, the bottling operation continued. Under the Bulloch regime, Loch Lomond Distillery Company was the second-largest family-owned Scotch whisky producer in Scotland.
Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond’s northern environs offer quintessential Highland scenery
Stand on Conic Hill and look south-west: a succession of islands emerges from the surface of Loch Lomond in a plumb-straight line: Inchcailloch, Torrinch, Creinch, Inchmurrin. On the same bearing, the gentle slopes of Ben Bowie can be seen on the far shore.
There’s more to this vista than a pleasing symmetry. You’re seeing a physical manifestation of the Highland Boundary Fault, the centre of a battle some 400 million years ago between the rock on your right and the rock on your left. When the former rose up and the latter receded, the Highlands and the Central Lowlands were created.
Turn and look around, and you can see the results. There’s an unmistakable gentleness to the landscape extending southwards into the Vale of Leven, while the loftier peaks to the north – including Ben Lomond, the most southerly of the Munros – are often cloud-shrouded and forbidding.
It’s such a peaceful scene today – hikers and pleasure boats, the distant throb of a jet-ski – that you’d be forgiven for thinking that nothing much has happened here since all that seismic activity during the Devonian age.
Surprising, then, to read the verdict of Dr Samuel Johnson, who wrote this following his visit to the loch’s islands in 1773:
‘Had Loch Lomond been in a happier climate, it would have been the boast of wealth and vanity to own one of the little spots which it encloses, and to have employed upon it all the arts of embellishment.
‘But, as it is, the islets, which court the gazer at a distance, disgust him at his approach, when he finds, instead of soft lawns and shady thickets, nothing more than uncultivated ruggedness.’
Then again, Johnson may have unwittingly touched upon a hidden truth: for all its photogenic qualities, this border country is steeped in violence, intrigue – and illicit whisky.
Loch Lomond’s islands offer a microcosm of Scottish history, reinforced by their strategic location on the cusp between Highlands and Lowlands. Some of them aren’t strictly islands at all, but are centuries-old, man-made crannogs, including Inchgalbraith, constructed by the Clan Galbraith because they were so fed up with being attacked every time they held a gathering on the loch’s shores.
Inchlonaig is called ‘island of the yews’ because Robert the Bruce reputedly ordered yew trees to be planted there – providing the raw material for the bows wielded at the battle of Bannockburn.
The islands also provided a means of correction or punishment: Luss was once known as ‘prison island’, while Inchmoan was an impromptu ‘rehab’ centre for alcoholics and a place of reform for ladies of easy virtue (presumably not at the same time).
It’s not hard to see why the islands were also once a hotbed of illicit whisky production. Beyond the advantages of isolation, all the raw materials were on hand: wood to fire the stills, peat on the island of Inchmoan, grain from the Vale of Leven.
There are traces of stills on the island of Inchconnachan, and Inchfad was home to large-scale illicit distillation as far back as the 17th century, until a government revenue cutter swept through the loch in the mid-19th century. The island then hosted a legal distillery, complete with canal, the ruins of which are still visible.
Like the loch itself, modern whisky distillation in the area spans the Highland Fault: the original Loch Lomond distillery operated at the northern end of the loch, near Tarbet, but today’s plant sits beyond its southern shores in the town of Alexandria (confusingly, Loch Lomond is still classed as a Highland malt because the whisky boundary with the Lowlands lies further south).
Here the picturesque scenery of the loch gives way to the industrial heft of the Vale of Leven, epitomised by the grandiose façade of Alexandria’s Argyll Motor Works, which at one point was the busiest car factory in Europe, employing 2,000 workers and holding the World Land Speed Record before its closure in 1914. A young chap called John Logie Baird was once an engineering apprentice here.
Textiles, however, were the prime industry, with Alexandria’s Croftengea works winning Europe-wide renown for its production of the sought-after, vivid red and colour-fast ‘Turkey Red’ dyed yarn from the 1820s.
Alexandria’s textile industry was consolidated into one site at Croftengea, known as ‘The Craft’, before its eventual closure in 1960. The vast site was given over to various new uses including, in 1964, the construction of a new Loch Lomond distillery, which became operational two years later.
From the start, things were always done a little differently at Loch Lomond. Opened by Littlemill owner Duncan Thomas and Chicago-based Barton Brands, the new distillery copied Littlemill by installing a pair of pot stills with long, straight necks containing rectifying plates (indeed, it took Littlemill’s stills too when that distillery closed for good in 1992).
But things stepped up a pace in 1986, when Sandy Bulloch’s Glen Catrine business took over the by now mothballed plant. Refusing to be reliant on the whims of the industry giants when it came to purchasing grain whisky and reciprocal trading, the producer of the High Commissioner blend and Glen’s vodka set about transforming the distillery in order to make it self-sufficient.
More straight-necked pot stills were added, then continuous stills to make grain whisky, a pair of pot stills with traditional swan necks, and then another continuous still to produce grain whisky from 100% barley.
The result is a Heath Robinson operation that has even seasoned whisky experts scratching their heads. Throw in extended fermentation times, the use of wine yeasts, different filling strengths and varying peating levels and you have a single distillery capable of producing more than 10 different styles of spirit. Oh, and it has its own cooperage too.
What was once both a necessity and a gesture of defiance (not to mention a means of producing a fast-maturing spirit) has been transformed into a virtue by Loch Lomond’s new owner, private equity firm Exponent, which bought the plant in 2014.
‘Never follow’ is the motto as the business is gradually transformed under CEO Colin Matthews into a more conventional (in decidedly relative terms) Scotch whisky company.
An estimated £25m has been invested in the past 18 months, upgrading facilities at Glen Scotia in Campbeltown, and adding new stills and warehousing at Alexandria. The entire range of products has been rebranded, and a company that had previously operated in 30 countries now sells its wares in more than 100 markets.
There’s a renewed focus on single malts: as well as the eponymous Loch Lomond range, the fruit-driven Inchmurrin and the earthy smoke of the peated Inchmoan pay tribute to the nearby loch’s history-laden islands.
But perhaps the most obvious sign of Loch Lomond’s fresh ambition is the imminent release of a 50-year-old, single cask single malt that ran off those straight-necked stills on 19 November 1967.
‘It means we want to be among the best,’ says operations director Bill White. ‘With the change of ownership there was an obvious change of mentality at this business. If you want to be an internationally-regarded distiller, you can’t have inferior liquid out
Heath Robinson: Loch Lomond’s quirky collection of stills can be confusing
But for that change of ownership, Loch Lomond 50 Year Old might never have been bottled. ‘I had my first taste of this probably close to 10 years ago now, and at that point the company wasn’t all that interested in single malts,’ recalls master blender Michael Henry.
‘Every year or two I’d give it a quick nose, a quick taste to see how the flavour was developing, making sure the cask was in the right conditions and the right warehouse.
‘You don’t get to taste a whisky like this very often. To be able to taste a liquid that is 10 years older than I am is something special. It kind of comes with a mixture of privilege and pressure. You have to be very precise in what you do with it – you can’t afford to make any mistakes.’
Matured in an American oak hogshead for 31 years, the whisky was moved into a European oak hogshead in 1978 to add some spice, complexity and mouthfeel. Remarkably, it has retained some of the intense fruity characteristic of those idiosyncratic straight-necked stills.
LOCH LOMOND TO RELEASE 50 YEAR OLD MALT
October 2017
Loch Lomond is set to release its oldest whisky to date: a 50-year-old single malt produced in the early months of the distillery in 1967.
Loch Lomond 50 Year Old
Half-century: Loch Lomond 50 Year Old was created soon after the distillery opened
The whisky – limited to only 60 decanters worldwide – was made using Loch Lomond distillery’s unique, straight-necked pot stills on 19 November 1967, shortly after it began operating in Alexandria, Dunbartonshire.
The stills are fitted with rectification plates in their necks and are currently used to produce the company’s Inchmurrin single malt.
The whisky, which will be bottled at 46.2% abv, spent 31 years in a refill American oak hogshead, before being transferred into a European oak hogshead in 1998.
Loch Lomond 50 Year Old is due to be released in December 2017 – it cannot be bottled as a 50-year-old until 19 November – and is priced at £12,000 a bottle.
It will be packaged in a hand-blown Glencairn crystal glass decanter, housed in a hand-made ‘Tempest Chest’ created by Method Studio near Edinburgh, run by husband-and-wife team Callum Robinson and Marisa Giannasi.
The chest, carved from oak with a distinctive sculpted shape designed to mimic the waves of Loch Lomond, is indigo-dyed until almost black, leather-lined and fastened with a solid brass key.
It also contains a turned brass, glass-lined vial, reminiscent of the straight-necked stills, which contains a sample of the whisky.
‘The expectations are high when you are working with a whisky as special and scarce as this, and it came with great responsibility, but selecting and perfecting this single malt was a true honour,’ said Michael Henry, Loch Lomond master blender.
‘Our stills are synonymous with the fruity notes they give to the whisky. The Loch Lomond 50 Year Old has been granted the time to truly concentrate that character, resulting in a rich, tropical fruit flavour.’
Packaged in a remarkable, indigo-stained Tempest Chest designed by West Lothian-based ‘architects of objects’ Method Studio and with 60 decanters priced at £12,000 each, Loch Lomond 50 Year Old should be on the market by the end of the year.
Its release, and the bigger changes at this most versatile and fascinating of Scotch whisky distilleries, signal the start of another new chapter for an area that has a remakable, shifting and sometimes contradictory character – whether we’re talking about its whisky, its history or its geology
LOCH LOMOND MARKS OPEN DEAL WITH NEW MALTS
June 2018
Loch Lomond has released three new single malts in association with golfers Colin Montgomerie and Paul Lawrie, to celebrate a new five-year partnership with The Open Championship golf tournament.
Loch Lomond Open 1999 vintages and Open Special Edition
Spirit of the Open: Loch Lomond’s three limited edition single malts have been created alongside top golfers
The three limited edition whiskies include two 1999 vintages, bottled to honour Lawrie’s Open victory that same year, as well as a no-age-statement expression.
The 1999 Vintage Autograph Edition has been created by Loch Lomond master blender Michael Henry in collaboration with Lawrie, with both bottle and outer packaging featuring the golfer’s signature.
The expression has been matured in refill American oak hogsheads and ex-Bourbon barrels, and bottled at a cask strength of 50.8% abv.
The 1999 Open Course Collection Carnoustie is a limited edition single malt honouring the Carnoustie Golf Links in Angus, the site of Lawrie’s historic win.
For the second expression, Henry worked alongside Scottish golfer Colin Montgomerie to select refill American oak casks from 1999, bottling the whisky at 47.2% abv.
Both whiskies are said to have ‘aromas of honey, tropical fruits and hints of maple syrup’.
The Open Special Edition meanwhile is a no-age-statement single malt bottled at 46% abv, which has been created from spirit distilled from wine yeast fermentations that’s been matured in first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels and recharred American oak hogsheads.
The whisky is described as having ‘vibrant, fruity notes of peach and pear’ along with ‘a gentle hint of peat and smoke’ on the palate.
All three whiskies will be available globally from June with the Carnoustie and Autograph editions priced at £150, and the Open Special Edition at £36.
For the next five years Loch Lomond will be the official spirit of the Open, having taken over the sponsorship from Glenmorangie. The championship returns to Carnoustie Golf Links in July
April 2019
Loch Lomond has released two new single malts in association with golfers Colin Montgomerie and Darren Clarke to mark the second year of the distiller’s partnership with The Open Championship.
Loch Lomond Open Championship 2019 and The Open Course Collection Royal Portrush whiskies
Whisky and golf: Loch Lomond’s new malts celebrate its second year as ‘The Spirit of the Open’
The Highland distillery, which agreed to a five-year partnership as the official ‘Spirit of the Open’ in February 2018, said the limited edition expressions are designed to ‘showcase whisky and golf; two of Scotland’s most iconic exports’.
The expressions have been released to coincide with the 148th Open Championship held at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Portrush, Northern Ireland on 14-21 July.
The Open Special Edition 2019 has been created by Loch Lomond master blender Michael Henry in collaboration with Montgomerie, who added his signature to the green ‘golf-inspired’ box that encloses the bottle.
The no-age-statement single malt was aged in first-fill and refill ex-Bourbon barrels, and refill American oak hogsheads, before being bottled at 46% abv.
The whisky has been made from a mixture of four different spirit styles to ‘deliver the distillery’s distinct fruity character underpinned with a gentle hint of peat and smoke’.
It is also said to have ‘a vibrant palate of peach and pear, enhanced using specially selected spirit distilled from wine yeast fermentations’.
The second expression, The Open Course Collection Royal Portrush, has been made to honour the return of the Open to the golf club for the first time in almost 70 years.
To create the 19-year-old single malt Henry worked alongside Portrush-based Clarke to choose casks from the distillery’s on-site cooperage.
The expression was first aged in American oak casks, before being finished in ex-claret casks as an ‘homage’ to the Open Championship trophy.
The trophy is commonly called the ‘Claret Jug’ as its shape is similar to the containers used in the 19th century to serve the distinctive French red wine.
The whisky is bottled at 50.3% abv and presented in a green box featuring Clarke’s signature and a map of the Royal Portrush Golf Club course.
The Open Course Collection Royal Portrush is described as having a ‘stunning rose colour’ along with a palate ‘rich in honey sweetness with tropical fruits coming to the fore’.
Commenting on the releases, Henry said: ‘Each expression harnesses the spirit of our Loch Lomond distillery, conveying a fruity character punctuated with deep, complex flavours and delivering a rich mouthfeel.
‘Personally, these releases mean a great deal to me; hailing originally from Northern Ireland, it is highly rewarding to be showcasing Scotch whisky to my home country and to have the opportunity to celebrate Royal Portrush.’
Both expressions will be available in 70cl bottles worldwide from April 2019, with The Open Special Edition priced at £37 and The Open Course Collection Royal Portrush at £150.
In addition to the new single malts, Loch Lomond announced it will also release a ‘premium’ expression in summer 2019 to mark Montgomerie’s achievements in his 30-year golfing career.
Montgomerie has won 50 golf tournaments and held the European No. 1 spot for seven years.
In 2018 Loch Lomond partnered with golfers Montgomorie and Paul Lawrie to release three new single malts to mark the 147th Open at Carnoustie Golf Links in Angus, Scotland.
Hillhouse buys Loch Lomond
June, 2019
Loch Lomond Hillhouse Capital Management
Hillhouse Capital Management, a global investment firm which describes itself as focusing on “innovative businesses in growth industries”, has bought scotch whisky producer, the Loch Lomond Group, from Exponent Private Equity.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Since the original buyout of Loch Lomond from the Bulloch family in 2014, the company says it has invested significantly in growing its portfolio of brands, distillery and bottling infrastructure, global distribution platform, and management team. The business now generates about 70% of its revenue from more than 120 international markets, versus fewer than 10% at acquisition.
The announcement states that teaming up with Hillhouse offers a strong partner for the business to further develop its international presence, particularly in Asia where whisky has become increasingly popular in recent years, and a market where Hillhouse has deep knowledge and strong business relationships.
Hillhouse says it also brings to the partnership a strong track record of building long-term relationships with innovative consumer brands, such as Peet’s Coffee and Gimborn, in helping them expand their global presence and reputation.
Loch Lomond has a history dating back to the early 19th century and is a leading international producer of malt, blended and grain whisky.
Its key premium scotch whisky brands include Loch Lomond – ‘The Spirit of the Open’, Glen Scotia, and Littlemill, which claims to be the ‘oldest licensed distillery in Scotland’. It also produces the ‘High Commissioner’ and Loch Lomond blended scotch whiskies, as well as Glen’s vodka and Ben Lomond scottish gin.
The company’s production spans sites across Scotland. It operates its Loch Lomond malt and grain distilleries at Alexandria in Dunbartonshire, Glen Scotia distillery in Campbeltown, Argyll and has its own bottling plant in Ayrshire.
Loch Lomond CEO Colin Matthews said: “Over the past five years we are proud to have transformed The Loch Lomond Group into a premium international spirits business with a strong focus on innovation and a portfolio of award-winning brands.
“We believe now is the right time to move forward into the next stage of our growth strategy as we look to innovate further, extend our portfolio of brands and continue to expand our international presence, particularly in Asia where Hillhouse has significant experience.
“The team at Hillhouse have impressed us immensely, and we look forward to partnering with them as we embark on the next exciting stage of our journey. We share both their vision and dedication to premium consumer brands."
Hillhouse Capital partner, Wei Cao, added: “Hillhouse’s experienced operational team will work closely with Loch Lomond’s management to help it offer a premium consumer experience in international markets through channels like e-commerce and new retail.
“We believe that the strongest advantages in business are innovative and differentiated products and management teams, which is why we are so excited to help Loch Lomond realise the potential of its outstanding brands in huge new consumer markets, such as Asia."
LOCH LOMOND GROUP UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP
June 2019
An Asia-based investment firm is buying out Loch Lomond Group, which owns Glen Scotia distillery in Campbeltown as well as the Littlemill single malt brand.
Loch Lomond barrel
New owner: Loch Lomond Group’s Scotch whisky operations are now owned by Hillhouse
Hillhouse Capital Management, a global investment management firm, will acquire the Scotch whisky producer from current owner Exponent for an undisclosed sum.
The deal includes the sale of the Loch Lomond malt and grain distillery at Alexandria in Dunbartonshire, Glen Scotia distillery in Campbeltown, a bottling plant in Catrine, Ayrshire plus the remaining stocks of closed distillery Littlemill.
Colin Matthews, CEO of Loch Lomond Group, said the buyout would enable to company to grow further internationally, particularly in Asia.
He said: ‘We believe now is the right time to move forward into the next stage of our growth strategy as we look to innovate further, extend our portfolio of brands and continue to expand our international presence, particularly in Asia where Hillhouse has significant experience.’
Loch Lomond has been under the ownership of UK-based private equity management firm Exponent since 2014, when it was acquired from the Bulloch family.
Loch Lomond Group also owns Glen Scotia distillery in Campbeltown
In the last five years Loch Lomond’s business has grown internationally, with overseas markets now representing 70% of the business, as opposed to less than 10% in 2014.
Wei Cao, partner at Hillhouse Capital, said: ‘Loch Lomond’s rich heritage in Scotch whisky gives the business a distinct advantage as they look to further build on their success across the world, especially in the increasingly discerning Asian spirits market.
‘Hillhouse’s experienced operational team will work closely with Loch Lomond’s management to help it offer a premium consumer experience in international markets through channels like e-commerce and new retail.
‘We believe that the strongest advantages in business are innovative and differentiated products and management teams, which is why we are so excited to help Loch Lomond realise the potential of its outstanding brands in huge new consumer markets, such as Asia.’
As well as the Loch Lomond, Glen Scotia and Littlemill whiskies, the group also produces the High Commissioner blend, as well as Glen’s vodka and Ben Lomond gin
A CELEBRATION OF INDIVIDUAL IDENTITY
December 2017
I should be watching Andrew Watt’s skilful manipulation of the Arbortech grinder as he transforms a plain oak cabinet into a 3D representation of the dark waves of Loch Lomond, but something’s distracted me: the portable workbench he’s using has a woman’s name scribbled on it in marker pen.
‘Why Nora Batty?’ Andrew looks up, slightly embarrassed (and also way too young to remember the formidable female character from TV comedy Last of the Summer Wine). ‘Um… I guess I just like to give names to things.’
He does. A nearby station, also related to Andrew’s work on the impending Loch Lomond 50 Year Old single malt release, is entitled ‘Madame Lomonde’s Cabinet of Carvering Curiosity!’. The creative process can lead you down some strange paths.
Individual expression is an important facet of Method’s approach
We’re at Beecraigs Sawmill, nestled in the hills above Linlithgow in West Lothian, the home of Method Studio, the company commissioned to design and make the oak cabinets, known as ‘Tempest Chests’, for what is comfortably the oldest and most expensive whisky yet released by the Loch Lomond distillery.
I guess you’d describe the people at Method as furniture and cabinet makers, although their preferred epithet, ‘architects of objects’, hints at the deeper philosophy that underpins what they do for an impressive roster of high-end clients: Burberry, Vacheron Constantin, Jaguar Land Rover, Fortnum and Mason.
Back to that Arbortech. Andrew’s using it to delicately shave and shape the surface of the plain oak, creating a pattern of waves that isn’t a pattern at all, but deliberately and counter-intuitively random. Just like the surface of a loch, in other words.
We move across the workshop, where several sculpted cabinets sit waiting to be painted in a shade of indigo so dark that it’s almost black. Method’s founders, Marisa Giannasi and Callum Robinson, are explaining their approach, which has a strong focus on the expression of individual identity.
Method Studio Loch Lomond 50 Year Old
Carvering curiosity: Method Studio is making 60 chests for Loch Lomond’s 50yo release
There are three craftsmen making the 60 Loch Lomond cabinets – Andrew, Edward and Tommy – and, while they’re all working to the same brief, each has his own style and approach, and is actively encouraged to explore and express that in the finished article.
Tommy’s the youngest and has a tendency to ‘go at it more quickly and maybe more violently’, while Edward exudes an almost Buddha-like calm, making the ‘waters’ on his cabinet more serene. The differences are subtle but, as we look over the carved cabinets, Andrew can pick out his own – and the others’ – work.
It’s a deliberate effort to focus on and reflect the individual skill of the craftsman, and to create something unique for the final purchaser. What might be perceived as imperfections and inconsistencies elsewhere are encouraged and celebrated here.
There’s a lot of debate these days about the prices charged for these ultra-rare, ultra-old whiskies, and about just how much of that sum is accounted for by the packaging.
Loch Lomond 50 Year Old Tempest Chest
Final article: The ‘Tempest Chests’ are designed to echo the waters of Loch Lomond
In the case of Loch Lomond 50 Year Old (£12,000, by the way), it isn’t just about the cabinet – there’s the brass key, the Canada tan leather inlay, the hand-blown Glencairn crystal decanter and the turned brass, glass-lined vial (reminiscent of Loch Lomond’s straight-necked stills) containing a tasting sample of the whisky.
But, if whisky is going to inhabit this demi-monde of high net worth individuals and luxury launches – and it obviously is – then it’s good to see it treading its own path in doing so. No imitation perfume bottles aping the most decadent habits of the Cognaçais, and no falsely modest plain glass or puritanical cardboard cartons.
Instead, a truly bespoke (for once, that horrendously overused word is justified) package that both speaks of where the product comes from and is also, ultimately, an expression of individual character and identity. Which, after all, is what single malt whisky is all about in the first place.
LOCH LOMOND RELEASES KERR WINE CASK FINISH
July 2019
Highland distillery Loch Lomond has released its Single Malt Vintage 2002, a limited edition wine cask-finished whisky created with winery owner and golf star Cristie Kerr.
Loch Lomond Single Malt 2002 Vintage
Wine finish: The 2002 Vintage ‘captures the best of both wine and whisky’
The whisky has been matured in American oak casks before undergoing secondary maturation in French oak Pinot Noir barrels from Kerr Cellars, Kerr’s Napa Valley winery, for up to six months.
Kerr said: ‘The French Oak Pinot Noir casks we shipped to Loch Lomond Whiskies’ cooperage previously held some of our most highly rated red wine and I can’t wait for golfers and whisky fans to discover the superb single malt scotch that they have helped produce.’
Colin Matthews, CEO of Loch Lomond Whiskies, said: ‘Since Cristie launched Kerr Cellars she has applied the same rigour and pursuit of excellence she displayed in golf to producing some of the world’s best wines.
‘Our Loch Lomond Single Malt Vintage 2002 captures the best of both wine and whisky.’
Bottled at 48.14% abv, the whisky is said to contain notes of ‘green apple, kiwi fruit and lime citrus’ with ‘mouth-watering fruit and warming ginger spice’ on the finish.
Available now priced around £250, only 4,000 bottles have been released ahead of the Women’s British Open, which begins on 1 August and in which Kerr is competing.
The 2002 vintage was chosen to commemorate Kerr’s first LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) tour win in the same year.
The Vintage 2002 is Loch Lomond’s latest release in a series of golf-associated whiskies, after a five-year contract was signed last year making Loch Lomond the official spirit of the Open, Women’s British Open and Ladies Scottish Open.
Scotland: New whisky regs may force distillery changes
November, 2009
Scotland; Loch Lomond Distillery could be forced to close part of its production if the new Scotch whisky rules aren’t amended before they come in to force on November 23.
The new regulations say: “Single Malt Scotch Whisky” means a Scotch Whisky that has been distilled in one or more batches—
(a) at a single distillery; (b) from water and malted barley without the addition of any other cereals; and (c) in pot stills.”
Loch Lomond Distillery Company makes more than 20 million bottles of High Commissioner, but not in pot stills.
For the last two years the company, which is based in Alexandria near Glasgow, has been using an energy efficient single still.
A statement from the distillery said that unless consumers lobby MPs to adapt the new regulations governing what kind of stills can produce whisky, they may have to shut down some of their production process.
The distillery decided to use the single still as part of its drive to be more energy efficient. It also uses lightweight glass to reduce the amount of packaging sent to landfill and has been honoured by the Carbon Trust for 'Outstanding Achievement in Manufacturing Energy Efficiency' after installing a system which recycles heat and water used in the distilling process.
John Peterson, distilling director of Loch Lomond said: "We have a method that produces a very good malt but we are being penalised.
"We want to make the process better and save considerable amounts of energy. As it is we are preventing more than 1,400 tonnes of CO2 being released every year.
"Politicians are quick to shout about climate change and how industry has to find new ways to conserve energy and reduce carbon output but when companies like us try to do something innovate we get slapped down for it.
"We need a proper discussion on this. Our customers who enjoy good quality whisky at reasonable prices, and who want to continue doing so, need to ask their MP to object to the legislation before it's too late."
With World Whisky Day taking place this Saturday (2 May), we take a look at some newly released whiskies.
From an experimental dram to an old and rare release, there's something for all tastes and budgets.
Glenfiddich Orchard Experiment
This absolute powerhouse of a distillery continues to push the boundaries with its experimental series and has just launched Glenfiddich Orchard Experiment.
Here, the whisky is finished in Somerset Pomona spirit casks. It sounds ideal for summer, and is £42 from Sainsbury’s.
Loch Lomond Whiskies 46 Year Old Single Malt Whisky
Loch Lomond Whiskies recently unveiled a rare 46 Year Old single malt whisky, marking the second release in its Remarkable Stills Series.
Created in homage to the distillery’s unique straight-neck stills, the collection of limited edition single malt whiskies celebrates the alchemy and engineering of Loch Lomond’s whisky-making process.
First distilled in 1974, Loch Lomond 46 Year Old has matured in American oak casks for 44 years, followed by two years in a combination of first fill Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez casks.
The unpeated single malt whisky has been bottled at a strength of 45.3% ABV.
Whisky Highball Day 2022: Date, history and recipes for a highball
Limited to just 200 bottles globally, and with an RRP of £4,500, this is one for serious whisky fans with a big budget. Available from the Whisky Exchange here.
Loch Lomond Steam & Fire
21 september 2023
Steam & Fire is de nieuwste toevoeging aan de core-range van Loch Lomond. Het is een visitekaartje van de technische capaciteiten van de innovatieve distilleerderij. Steam & Fire is het resultaat van verkenning en experimenteren, waarbij alle know-how van de master distiller en ‘coopers’ samenkomen.
Double distilled & heavily charred
De whisky is gedistilleerd in een combinatie van straight neck stills en swan neck pot stills.
Vervolgens heeft de spirit gerijpt op first fill bourbonvaten en refill Amerikaans eikenhouten vaten en daarna heeft het levenswater een finish van 9 tot 10 maanden ondergaan op heavily charred casks.
De vaten zijn vanzelfsprekend getoast in de eigen kuiperij van de Loch Lomond Distillery.
Verpakking
Loch Lomond Steam & Fire wordt gepresenteerd in een opvallende verpakking. De kleuren blauw en rood overheersen en staan symbool voor de naam van de whisky; Steam & Fire. De illustraties op de doos geven de gebrande vaten en de gebruikte ketels weer.
Proefnotities Loch Lomond Steam & Fire
Kleur
Amber.
Neus
Toffee, appel, fudge, vanille en kaneel.
Smaak
Zijdeachtig mondgevoel, sinaasappel, perzik, marmelade, koffie, gesmolten bruine suiker en geroosterde marshmallow.
Afdronk
Middellange tot lange droge afdronk met donkere chocolade en zachte rook
LOCH LOMOND 45YO Remarkable Stills
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LOCH LOMOND 45YO Remarkable Stills
This 45 year old whisky is the 1st release in our Remarkable Stills series. The series
takes inspiration from our unique straight neck pot stills, which were installed at the
distillery in 1965 and give us the ability to control the style of spirit produced. Distilled in
1973, this liquid has been matured for 44 years in American oak followed by a further year
in a 1st fill Oloroso sherry cask. A total of 200 bottles were produced for the 1st release.
Craftsmanship is present from the start of the whisky making process to the final
packaging. The Loch Lomond Distillery emblem is sandblasted onto every bottle and
infilled with copper. The bottle is sealed with an embossed wooden cork that contains an
engraved metal band. A plaque is constructed from debossed copper and hand applied at
the last stage of production. The bottle is then enclosed in a handmade, beautifully crafted
oak wood box that has been stained and combined with a metallic element. Two halves of
the pack are joined together to form a graphic depiction of our straight neck pot still.
100% of the spirit for the 1st release is unpeated spirit from our unique straight neck pot
stills. These innovative stills give us superior control at the distillation stage, allowing the
spirit to be taken off at a higher collection strength. Spirit taken off at this strength has a
distinctive fruit character, which has become the Loch Lomond Distillery’s signature and
comes to the forefront of this release. Time and nature are then left to work their magic.
BOTTLED AT 42.2%, MICHAEL HENRY’S, OUR MASTER BLENDER,
€ 4.750,00
june 24
Michael Henry opens the door and we enter a stillhouse unlike any other. There’s swan-necked pots in the far corner, but before them are hybrid stills made up of a pot still base with a straight neck containing rectifying plates: one in the wash, and 17 in the spirit, which also has a cooling ring. Of course it has. It’s all about reflux. It’s also about producing as many variations on flavour as possible.
As we’re in the Loch Lomond distillery in Alexandria (where Michael is master blender), you might think that those straight neck stills are Lomond stills. They aren’t. These were modelled on a design installed by Duncan Thomas at the Littlemill distillery in the 1950s.
Around the same time, Hiram Walker’s engineer Alastair Cunningham had a similar idea His design had three moveable baffle plates in the neck which could be cooled individually, varying the amount of reflux.
He first ran at the Inverleven malt distillery housed within Dumbarton grain distillery and was called a ‘Lomond’ still, presumably because Dumbarton is fairly close to the loch …Lomond stills also operated at Miltonduff ((making Mosstowie) Glenburgie (Glencraig), and Scapa. All are discontinued.
One of Loch Lomond’s straight necked stills
‘The characteristics of a swan neck pot defines the profile of the spirit,’ Michael explains. ‘The straight-neck stills, however, have flexibility and were created to produce a triple-distilled style in double distillation’.
By operating different cut points (high-strength at 85%, low at 68%) and levels of peating on the straight neck stills, he collects seven different flavour streams. Then there’s the new make from the swan neck stills to add in. Each release of Loch Lomond single malt is a blend of different distillates.
Engrossed in the stills, we’ve not even talked about fermenting. There’s no surprise that there’s different yeasts used, or that the minimum length is 92 hours to increase lactobacillus and esterification. Then, blithely, he says, ‘during silent season we just leave washbacks to get on with it. It’s a three week ferment.’
‘Funky?’ I ask.
“Oh yes… the wash is,’ he shakes his head and smiles, ‘but it distills beautifully’.
There’s more … of course there is. The malt side also has a Coffey still which distils a 100% malted barley wash (common practise in the 19th and early 20th century). The distillery asked the SWA if there could be a separate definition for this style, but the suggestion was turned down. So it’s ‘grain’, but not grain as we know it. That’s made at the site’s grain distillery. Confused?
With ‘grain’ now being used to label rye, oat and mixed mashbill whiskies from pot stills as well as Loch Lomond’s malt ‘grain’, maybe it’s time to re-examine the definition.
Everything here starts in the lab
What could be interpreted as wild, random experimentation is in fact based on research set up by Loch Lomond’s former production director John Peterson. It is a self-contained, virtually self-sufficient (all it misses is a maltings) entity, a treasury of whisky knowledge whose work has barely been acknowledged.
That’s when it dawns on me. Alexandria. Not this one, but Egyptian city of legend founded by Alexander the Great in 331. A seat of learning, the home of a great library which was what we’d call a research centre rather than just a repository for scrolls. It was called the Mouseion (‘seat of the Muses’) from which we get museum.
A Greek enclave, Alexandria was where ideas were hatched, experiments took place, religions mingled and fractured. By the 5th century it was the largest city in the (western) world, a nexus of learning and knowledge, the centre of literature, science, philosophy and medicine
‘Water of Life’ author C.Anne Wilson in her investigations into early distillation places it as a home to the Dionysian mystery cult which, she argues, used distilled wine in its ceremonies, and, later, a home for Gnostic fire baptism ceremonies where distilled wine was ignited on the foreheads of acolytes.
Maria Hebraea, alchemist, scientist, distiller
Alexandria was also home to Maria Hebraea (Maria the Jewess, Maria Prophetissima) whose role in the early days of distillation, particularly at this time of the growing (and belated) awareness of womens’ role in spirits, seems to have been forgotten (or maybe I’ve just been looking in the wrong places).
She perfects various types of distillation equipment, invents the three spouted still (tribikos), and gave her name to the balneum Mariae, (bain marie) which is still used today.
As an alchemist she was investigating the nature of the building blocks of existence – proto-chemistry, chemical metaphors, occult practise, the interaction of matter with spirit, the genders of metals. Alexandria comes before Salerno, or Cordoba, even predating the refining of distilling which took place in Persia.
An early Balneum Mariae
And now there’s a town in the Vale of Leven with the same name. Not named after Alexander the Great, but its 18th century landowner Alexander Smollett. It too has been a place of enquiry.
On the way to the distillery we passed a vast red sandstone Victorian palace which in the way of these things started life as the headquarters of a luxury car maker. Alexander (the name keeps popping up) Girvan’s Hozier Engineering started making Argyll cars in Glasgow in 1899.
He moved the business to Alexandria in 1905 building the palace with its marble interior, golden dome, and telephones. At its height it was making 3,000 cars a year – the biggest car factor in Europe at the time. It collapsed just at the start of WWI when the site was requisitioned by the war office and for the next half century it made munitions. It’s now a shopping centre.
A psychedelic Argyll Cars ad from 1906
Ideas seem to ferment here, thoughts and plan bubbling to the surface but never seem to stick. Instead there’s layering and repurposing. As one thing dies, another emerges. A place making. Before cars, torpedoes, or whisky it was cloth: cotton bleaching, printing, and dyeing.
In 1897 The Alexandria Works (formed by the Croftingea and Levenfield sites) and other enterprises merged to form the United Turkey Red Company (UTR), making dyes for the textile factories.
Turkey Red (is it me or is that crying out to be a whisky brand?) was a bright crimson dye prized for not fading or running. The colour came from the root of the madder plant and while the process was long known in India, China and the near east, as with spirits it was late to Europe only arriving in the 18th century. (‘Turkey’ refers to the country not the bird).
from valeofleven.org.uk
from valeofleven.org.uk
Six years later, Loch Lomond built its distillery on the site. Some of the old UTR buildings have been repurposed into warehouses. Others sit empty. That layering again. (As a side note, during WWII the old Levenbank dye works was used as a victualling store for the Admiralty storing Navy rum for the sailors’ daily tot).
Loch Lomond was established to produce whisky destined for value for money brands, a high volume, low margin business. If that was the model it made sene to have everything under one roof.
Blenders also need a wide variety of flavours and texture. Loch Lomond took that principle, plus its own ethos of self-sufficiency and created the most innovative distillery in Scotland. When Japanese single malt appeared on the export markets at the start of this century, everyone got excited about how innovative the country’s distillers were with their multiple streams and in-house blended single malts.
Meanwhile, Loch Lomond was already doing the same. The only thing was, they didn’t tell anybody about it. Even now at a time when Scotch distilleries are, rightly, talking about ‘new’ ways of approaching whisky, Loch Lomond can shrug and says, ‘aye, but we’ve been doing that for decades.’ Michael doesn’t seem to mind. It’s just what they’ve alway done.
Michael Henry: Master blender at work
What has happened however is greater visibility and, thanks to a more enlightened wood policy ever grater quality. Loch Lomond now plays at all levels of the market and with Glen Scotia is building a new cult Campbeltown malt. As this new approach develops so Michael and blender Ashley Smith have a platform to show the flavour possibilities which exist. It’s not just the price range which is covered, but the flavour spectrum as well.
Think back to Maria in that other Alexandria: the questions, the refining and multidisciplinary learning, the flames on foreheads, those scientific investigations which examined the properties of material, in which one stream led to distillation and another to dyeing.
Then see how all of that ancient understanding of transmutation spread out across the world and through time, continually evolving, reshaping itself; one day ending up in the west of Scotland where it spreads again. Dye for high fashion, drink for pleasure and a modern Dionysian cult.
It is a human story of trial, error, success, and also one of a relentless belief in building. Loch Lomond, the Mouseion of Scotch.