Lochlea Sowing Edition (First Crop) Single Malt Whisky
This release, just the second from relatively new Lochlea Distillery in Ayrshire, Scotland, has me excited...and a tiny tiny bit skeptical.
To be fair, the promise far outweighs any worries I may have. This initial offering, to be produced every Spring and followed by seasonal releases showcasing characteristics of barley harvested at different times in the year (Harvest Season for Summer, Fallow Edition for Fall, and Ploughing Edition for Winter), is bright, citrusy, chocolaty, oaky, and well-formed overall. Add in that this is only about three years old and it’s even more impressive.
The team behind Lochlea is also top-notch, and was even before adding Scotch whisky legend John Campbell in November 2021 after he left Laphroaig. The facility is beautifully (and functionally) modern, and comes with significant financial backing, having been founded in 2014 with a production start in 2018.
The facility is surrounded by its own farm, and uses its own dedicated water system, endeavoring to localize all aspects of the whisky before it enters the casks. Lochlea has Douglas Fir wooden washbacks rather than stainless steel, an on-site warehouse, and a long fermentation. Geographically, this is a Lowland whisky and it aims to represent that style. Personally, I don’t know if I would call it a Lowland based on flavor, but that’s admittedly the area of Scotland with which I am least acquainted.
A perfectly enjoyable three-to-four-year-old whisky from a locally focused distillery, sourcing barley and water from its own farm. It’s idyllic, and has not only present success but more promise to come.
So, to quote Set It Off, Why Worry?
Perhaps it seems too good to be true. A businessman with no obvious prior ties to whisky founds and funds a distillery, brings in an all-star team, and that team puts out impressive whisky at the first chance it gets.
There aren’t any bright red flags and there are no suggestions of any cutting corners (in fact, they use that phrase liberally in interviews and media materials as something they are emphatically not doing). There is a heavy hand used when connecting Robert Burns to the land - he farmed there as an adolescent with his family from 1777-1784 - but to be fair Robert Burns is as close to a saint in Scotland as a non-religious figure can be, so who am I to judge Lochlea for leaning in.
For now, it seems my own skepticism is just that - my own. No other review of the first product nor this Sowing Edition suggests their authors share my thoughts. In reality, they - we - all agree on the same thing: this is damn impressive whisky at a young age, starting strong with all indications pointing up from here.
Maybe it is possible to make this happen. Combine a distillation overseen by Malcolm Rennie, a 3-decade veteran of Bruichladdich, Ardbeg, and Kilchoman, enough financial backing to ensure nothing is released before it’s ready, and a final touch by bringing in John Campbell to oversee blending and distillery management. With that combo, not to mention the rest of the team, the barley quality, and any number of controllable factors, and maybe a dream can come true.
Maybe - just maybe - Burns’ spirit lies in this land as the land lies in the spirit: a red, red rose, newly sprung, a whisky as lovely as the melody that’s sweetly played in tune.
Lochlea Sowing Edition (First Crop) Single Malt Whisky: Specs
Classification: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Origin: Lochlea Distillery
Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley
Proof: 96 (48% ABV)
Age: NAS (At Least 3 Years Old)
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
Lochlea Sowing Edition (First Crop) Single Malt Whisky Price: $69.99
Lochlea Sowing Edition (First Crop) Single Malt Whisky Review: Tasting Notes
Eye: Extremely pale, almost gin-like. Very thin rims, splotchy without any droplets.
Nose: Lemon and lemongrass. Bright, fresh nose. The malt is crystal clear, not too sweet, with a bit of youthful grain. Vanilla and fresh buttermilk, birthday cake jelly beans.
Palate: The youth is more present here, still bright and more acidic. Dry cream soda under the tongue and in the corners of my mouth. Oak astringency is mild but determined. Mouthfeel is light-to-medium-bodied, black pepper on the tip of my tongue, the malt growing into dark chocolate.
Finish: More chocolaty, like a light milk chocolate or an iced hot chocolate. Medium length, lingers on the back palate.
Overall: Fresh and bright, even as the chocolate moves in. The only point at which the youth really shows is the front palate. The rest of the pour is a refreshing single malt. Not overly complex, but doesn’t need to be to stand out. An intriguing project to keep an eye on.
Final Rating: 6.6
10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close
9 | Incredible | Extraordinary
8 | Excellent | Exceptional
7 | Great | Well above average
6 | Very Good | Better than average
5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary
4 | Has promise but needs work
1-3 | Let’s have a conversation
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