Cask Strength Batch 2 is the latest limited-edition single malt whisky from the Ayrshire field-to-cask farm distillery of Lochlea. This second batch is both older and features different casks to the inaugural 2023 release. This batch features a cask make up not seen before in previous bottlings from the distillery - ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry (60% of the marriage) and ex-Oloroso sherry (28%) butts, plus STR ex- red wine barriques (12%). Lochlea Cask Strength Batch 2 is bottled at 60% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. Tasting Notes: Nose/Colour - it is a deep copper, amber almost like a black teabut not quite. On the nose it is rich and chocolate like. Aromas of milk chocolate and mocha rise first, to be quickly followed by raisin, treacle and baked apple. Hints of cocoa powder, cinnamon and I get a really citrus lime like something in the background. It is enticing and makes you want to take a sip. Palette - This whisky is big and powerful. It has a viscous and slightly oily mouth feel. Early notes of caramel and toffee give way to treacle tart and brandy-soaked raisins with a twist of bitter orange peel. Then comes baked notes that are reminiscent of tarte tatin and apple patisserie with a hint of fresh gingerbread biscuit. It has a second half palate, led by savoury notes. Made me think of dusty and earthy spices such as cinnamon and clove. These sit alongside lovely notes of dried fig, imagine good vanilla ice cream with freshly brewed espresso coffee poured over the top. At cask strength some might find the addition of water knocks back the alcohol and softens the whisky, but for me it really works at cask . I will concede that the addition of a little water allows more orange and chocolate notes to shine, while also dampening the dusty spices. Finish - It’s long and warming. The early sweet and fruity notes fade slowly and this gives the spotlight to those dusty, earthy spices. Some wood tannins also show themselves to add a pleasant dryness. This in combination with the other savoury characteristics means that the whisky takes a very pleasing turn. I have been meaning to write this review for a while now, so much so that I have finished the first bottle and needed to replace it with another. That should give some indication that I like it well enough to buy another, particularly as I think it is well priced. Early disclosure, I am particularly interested in Lochlea as I have a share in a cask at the distillery (And the annual samples are looking incredible). As a new Lowland distillery Lochlea I think are doing something really interesting and different than the other lowland distilleries and are using some really interesting casks with plenty of influence in them, this batch 2 really demonstrates this. In my book even as a NAS, if you want a cask strength bottling that really does give complexity and value for money look no further.