Sydney Whisky Show May 20th 2023. Whisky #9 Nose: Fruity (orchard fruit, stone fruits, citrus), hay, fragrant grass, grape juice, honey-covered cereal snack bars and some wood notes from the casks. Palate: Mildly sweet arrival with vanilla cake, peaches and caramel sauce. Spice notes show up in the development which gains complexity over time with diverse fruit and grain flavours coming forward. The texture is full but also a little astringent. Finish: Medium/short. Spicy (pepper, tannin), grassy and slightly honied aftertaste. This was the second Lochlea I tried on the day, following their Sowing Edition Second Release. Overall, I thought this one was similar but more grassy and herbal on the nose and with a broader and more complex palate. However, whereas the Sowing Edition was a bourbon-matured whisky with a certain direct honesty of presentation, this one seemed to me very deliberate and engineered. It was matured in a combination of first-fill bourbon, oloroso sherry and STR casks and I could clearly distinguish the contribution of each cask type as a separate and disconnected facet. Although it was not at all unpleasant I thought this whisky was crying out for longer maturation and an extensive rest in a marrying tun to meld everything together. As it is, the seams show through. Still, it's a pleasant young whisky and worth a taste. “Above Average” : 80/100 (3 stars)