Anthology
Loch Lomond 12 Year
Single Malt — Highlands , Scotland
Reviewed
September 6, 2020 (edited February 21, 2021)
OK, I have a confession. I think my rating here is going the opposite direction of some of my other reviews, whereas I score drams lower when they don’t meet high expectations but this time, I went in with low expectations, and was pleasantly surprised by the nice balance and integration of the malt, cask and subtle smoke. One might wonder whether going in with a lower expectation set the bar such that it was easy to make a good impression. In all fairness, that’s possible. What’s good for the goose, is good for the gander? Let the vfm debate rage on.
Let’s dive in to the actual experience shall we.
The nose is balanced, oscillating between orchard fruits, caramel and vanilla goodness. The palate continues the balance of bourbon-like flavors. Comes across a bit creamy. A surprising appearance of VERY subtle peat-like smoke makes an ever so fleeting appearance mid-palate and finish.
As mentioned, for a lesser-known 12Yr old highlander, I was expecting a so-so experience. Not helped by the fact that I picked up a liter-sized bottle from Heathrow dufry about 4 years ago (you all know my PoV about 1-liter dufry whiskeys...check Nikka from Barrel review). Don’t remember the exact amount I paid but it was less than £40.
So as I’m tasting this, I’m thinking my mind (ummm, more like my tongue) is playing tricks on me and I’m not tasting what I’m tasting. I keep waiting for a gotcha moment like any minute now, it’ll all come crashing down but every time I go back for a pour or sip, it stands up to the test. It feels like I’m tasting 4 star dram but the specs suggest otherwise. This definitely punched above its weight class. Only knock is the shorter than normal finish and average complexity. Still, a dram I didn’t have a lot to complain about and will gladly go back to. I know I’ll get skewered for this but I gotta let my taste guide me here. This is an easy 3.5 - 3.75star, possibly 4star dram. If you disagree, come at me bro. Jk jk. Cheers friends!
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can confirm this holds up as a great vfm single malt
@Anthology rest assured there is smoke in this extremely underrated highland malt. I have gone through 3 bottles since my initial review and
@Anthology snag some bottles while you can, because unicorns get hunted to near extinction quickly! It's been a while, but I recall this comparing favorably with Macallan 12 and beating out most other 12 YO for just over $30 :)
@CKarmios Haha yes o! Indeed they are...and I welcome all comers. A [well-deserved] toast to the whiskey gems! As I gently argued my case / put it to @ContemplativeFox , these vfm gems may just be the true “unicorns”. I’m not sure I convinced her/him though. The search [and debate] continues...
@Whiskey_Hound Haha thanks! Always nice to be validated by a trusted source. I couldn’t agree with you more. I’ll be on the lookout for your [post neck pour] review. Also, (not trying to lead the witness your honor but) I’m interested to hear whether you picked up any smoke on the palate since the specs didn’t indicate that peat was used.
@Whiskey_Hound @Anthology Bro, you were right, they are coming at you. But from the other side! So satisfying to find these gems, isn’t it.
You said "come at me bro." Well, I just cracked this one open this past weekend. And based on the neck pour, I'd rate this higher than you did considering VFM. Overachiever of the year right here!
@CKarmios €11 is an utopic, almost unreal price. And I have to admit, at the price, I would have to work really hard to first overcome the vfm-to-quality psychology to actually enjoy it for what it is...which is kind of a shame. I detest this mental conditioning. I wonder who’s fault it is.
I think your suspicions are justified. It's happened to me too; I go in low and if the bottle's average I find myself rating it high; one of the reasons I don't trust myself with samples - there simply isn't enough whisky to reduce, if not eliminate entirely, the psychology. Having said that, I've also heard good things about Loch Lomond Reserve blended whisky, to the point where I went out and bought a bottle at the extortionate price of €11; the mind boggles.
@Ctrexman Thanks! There’s a chance my score gets a bump at bottle kill.
Like the review......Im on board, gave this a 4 myself.....little bump for the value