This 12 years old whisky is the heart of the core range from the Highland distillery Loch Lomond. It is crafted to showcase the perfectly balanced signature style of Loch Lomond with fruit, honey, and soft smoke.
It sits alongside two siblings – 12 Years Old Inchmurrin which is created to express the intense orchard fruit character of the Loch Lomond spirit and the 12 Years Old Inchmoan which depicts a rich smoke and spicy version.
This 12 Years Old Perfectly Balanced single malt is matured in three varieties of American oak casks – ex-bourbon, re-fill and re-charred – as are the other 12 year olds. It is bottled at 46% ABV and is non-chill filtered.
Loch Lomond is located in the small Scottish town of Alexandria, which lies just south of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, northwest of Glasgow. Loch Lomond is one the handful of Scottish distilleries with a cooperage on-site. However, they are the largest with over 30,000 casks being checked, repaired, or rejuvenated each year.
Loch Lomond distillery is unlike any other as it utilises both traditional swan neck and unique straight neck stills, combined with a variety of yeast strains and extended fermentation. They take two cuts of spirit (high and low strength) and produce unpeated and peated single malt through these stills. Their cooperage gives full control over cask selection and maturation. This innovative and imaginative variety of process allows Loch Lomond’s Master Blender Michael Henry to create a more complex range of whiskies, and depth of character within each whisky released.
Loch Lomond Whiskies is on an unstoppable journey gaining world-wide recognition for their range of whiskies and production process. They were recently recognised by being named Scotch Distiller of the Year at IWSC (International Wine and Spirits Competition) for the period of 2024/25 which is akin to a drinks industry equivalent of a Michelin star. Also, in 2024 they won an overall 58 awards across San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), IWSC and Tokyo Whisky and Spirits Competition. This included 16 awards at the SFWSC – more awards than any other Scotch whisky brand.
The Loch Lomond distillery was founded in 1965 by the Littlemill Distillery Company Ltd. After almost 20 years of production, it closed between 1984 and 1987 following a takeover by the Glen Catrine Bonded Warehouse Ltd. The current owners are the Loch Lomond Group, who also own Glen Scotia in Campbeltown.
The full Loch Lomond range contains both non age stated and age statement whiskies (currently up to 50 years), a travel retail exclusive range, limited edition single malts (distillery editions and special series), as well as a range of single grain whiskies.
Loch Lomond 12 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky is available in specialist whisky retailers in selected world markets. A bottle should cost around £47.
Our Tasting Notes
Pale gold in colour, the nose of the Loch Lomond 12 Years Old has an initial burst of orchard fruits like peaches and pears. Then comes a rich and deep floral honey, and fresh grassiness, which reminds us of a meadow full of late summer flowers. Vanilla is matched with a delicate creaminess, and a hint of sweet malty oatmeal, creating a custard tart experience. Underlying all of this is a gentle faded whisp of smoke.
On the palate this whisky is luscious and creamy. Smokiness is the first thing that envelopes your mouth which is sweet and gentle, yet ashy and earthy. Then comes the fruit which appeared on the nose; rich ripe peach, apricot jam, and baked pears and apples. Plentiful amounts of vanilla ice-cream, sweet chocolate fudge, and honey bring a lovely depth of sweetness. The fruitiness and sweetness sit comfortably while the smoke weaves everything together.
On the finish the smoke lingers with bittersweet earthiness and a distinct malty edge. Creaminess from milky chocolate is followed by some bitter orange, and cocoa powder. A touch of clove spice delivers a final appealing mouth-watering tingle.
What’s The Verdict?
This is remarkably well-balanced whisky with a meadow freshness balancing bold fruitiness and gentle smoke. The soft creaminess makes this a very pleasant and enjoyable whisky to drink. It would be a great single malt to introduce a non-whisky drinking friend to as it has a lovely sweetness, balance and depth. Delicious and makes you want to pour another dram, especially given the price tag. Tasting this whisky has reasserted for us why Loch Lomond wins so many awards, as this feels like they are doing something quite special.
