Speyside region – 43%ABV – $96 – $127
As you may or may not know, I am part of a whisky blogging group called The Whisky Round Table. We’re a group of 12 whisky bloggers who bring up a new topic every month to discuss. Each month one of us fearless knights (of the Whisky Round Table) comes up with a question and we all have to answer it on that questioner’s blog. You can follow our twitter feed here: @whiskyknights
Why do bring this up? Well, Ruben of Whiskynotes.be recently brought up a great question about Independent bottlers (you can find it here as well as our answers to his question) and Loch Chaim, as I am finding, is one of these great indy bottlers we all discuss.
This next expression is a great example of a well chosen cask by an indy and another reason why independent bottlers should not and can not be ignored.
Color – This is an 18 year old whisky?
I don’t normally rate color but this so light, like a Sauvignon Blanc.
Obviously, there’s no sherry influence here but even with a bourbon cask I would have expected more color.
On the nose – Again, this is an 18 year old whisky?
Very aggressive nose filled with a boat load of spice and vanilla.
Some toasted coconut notes.
Lemon essence water.
Grassy.
Chamomile tea.
On the mouth – Nice entry; slight viscosity.
More chamomile tea with an extra teaspoon of sugar.
Perhaps some green apple and star fruit.
Finish – Tea and coffee. A bit fizzy.
In sum – Do not go into this thinking you’re going to experience your typical (read: sherried) Macallan. This is as near the antithesis of a standard bottle of Macallan you can find. However, this is not a bad thing. Oh, I found this whisky to be very light and refreshing! I could wake up with this stuff, it’s most invigorating. Very much a springtime whisky.