Slainte-Mhath
Royal Lochnagar 12 Year
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed
May 28, 2018 (edited October 21, 2024)
So, what have we got here? The smallest distillery of Diageo's portfolio, a royal warrant dating back to 1848, and one of the key contributors to JW Blue Label. The nose starts off with cloudy apple juice, fruit salad and maltiness before hints of caramel and sawdust creep in. More apples follow on the palate (apple puree and pie), and there is a delicate touch of oak, ginger and cloves. Easy, short but without any off-notes, the finish does not leave much of an impression. With that being said, I would still prefer Royal Lochnagar 12 over JW Blue Label at any time.
RATING: 3.2/5.0 stars ≙ 81 pts → AVERAGE [+]
30.0
EUR
per
Bottle
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Additional comment: My first impression of this Highlander was 'just another average dram'. After I spent some time with it, I noticed the characteristic acidity, which comes from long fermentation. It is not unpleasant and gives this malt a certain complexity, which I didn't notice at first sip. Another good example why I never rate and review whiskies that I tried only once: a whisky needs time to be fully discovered and appreciated and this malt was certainly no disappointment!