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86
Distillery Select "Craiglodge" (distilled at Loch Lomond), Cask #329, 13 year old, 45%, $70
I’ve known Loch Lomond has been making some peated expressions, and it’s nice to finally see (and taste) some product being bottled with this whisky and its sibling Croftengea, reviewed below. This is my choice of the two, with greater (and more richly textured) flavors to accompany the peat. The smoke is balanced (and tamed) nicely by sweet notes of creamy vanilla, honey, gristy malt, hay, and subtle fruit and spice. The finish remains balanced and lingers with a smoky, lightly salty tang. Fresh and youthful, yet still nicely matured at 13 years old, and a nice alternative to smoky Islay whiskies.
(3rd Quarter 2006 Issue-Vol. 15#3)
82
Distillery Select "Croftengea" (distilled at Loch Lomond), Cask #1, 10 year old, 45%, $65
When compared to Craiglodge, reviewed above, this whisky is more intensely smoky, tarry, and youthful on the palate. The other flavors, while in the same vein as Craiglodge, are more reserved (or perhaps more greatly overshadowed by the peat). If your intent is full-throttle peat, this is your whisky. If you want variety on the palate, go for the Craiglodge.
(3rd Quarter 2006 Issue-Vol. 15#3)
72
Distillery Select "Croftengea" (distilled at Loch Lomond), 9 year old, 1997 vintage, 45%, $60
Quite pale in color. Very youthful and naked, with damp peat, leafy smoke, charred oak, and black licorice, pears in honey and vanilla-tinged barley. Quite an eye-opener for a non-Islay whisky. It’s a little green and ornery. Certainly an entertaining whisky, but a few more years in the barrel would round this whisky out, meld the flavors together, and add depth.
(2nd Quarter 2007 Issue-Vol. 16#2)
71
Distillery Select "Craiglodge" (distilled at Loch Lomond), 8 year old, 1998 vintage, 45%, $60
Aged in a sherry cask, which adds sweet notes of toffee, Caribbean rum, waxed fruit, red licorice, and fruitcake to go along with the earthy smoke and lingering peat. A much sweeter, fruitier affair than the Croftengea also reviewed here, but behind all that sherry there’s still a whisky that needs a little more maturing.
(2nd Quarter 2007 Issue-Vol. 16#2)
68
Distillery Select "Inchmoan" (distilled at Loch Lomond), Cask #151, 13 year old, 1992 vintage, 45%, $60
Fiery peat kiln smoke, tar, and ripe barley on the nose. Not overly complex, but not a problem either. On the palate, the whisky starts out acceptable enough. But by mid-palate, the whisky turns harsh and unpleasant, with petroleum and vegetal notes that continues through to the finish. (Exclusive to Astor Wines and Spirits.)
(3rd Quarter 2007 Issue-Vol. 16#3)
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