Remarkable Origins is part of the travel retail exclusive Remarkable Stills single malt collection from the Highland distillery of Loch Lomond. Remarkable Origins is characterised within the range as the one with ‘rich honey and orchard fruit’ and just a hint of smoke. The collection celebrates the breadth of whiskies that can be created at Loch Lomond. Each shines a spotlight on a key element of the distillery’s style.
Remarkable Origins is created from spirit distilled exclusively in Loch Lomond’s unique straight neck stills. Then matured in American oak in three forms: ex-bourbon barrels, refill casks, and re-charred casks. This combination results in a character that is lighter, with more citrus and orchard fruit forward notes and flavours.
Loch Lomond distillery is unlike any other as it utilises both traditional swan neck and unique straight neck stills. They also use a variety of yeast strains and extended fermentation times. They take two cuts of spirit (high and low strength) and produce unpeated and peated single malt through the stills. Loch Lomond is one of a 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. 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 complex range of whiskies. These have a depth of character within each whisky released.
Loch Lomond is located in the small Scottish town of Alexandria, close to the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, near Glasgow. The first mention of a distillery by the loch was in 1814. However, the current Loch Lomond Distillery dates back to 1965 when it was built by the Littlemill Distillery Company Limited. The current owners, Loch Lomond Group, took over in 2019 when they revived the brand and expanded the range.
Loch Lomond Remarkable Origins comes in a one litre bottle, bottled at 46.1% ABV and without chill filtration. It is priced at £45 and is available through global duty free retailers.
Our Tasting Notes
This bright golden coloured whisky is richly honeyed on the nose along with plenty of orchard fruit. The fruitiness is both bright, fresh notes of apples and pears, as well as a more concentrated note of baked peaches. There is a creamy yeasty nature which could be sensed as freshly baked sweet bread, like brioche. Add in some mascarpone with vanilla cream, and just a pinch of cinnamon. Sweetness includes both confected marshmallow and white chocolate. Overall the sensation is like walking into a delicious sweet bakery with all the richness, fruitiness, and yeastiness.
On the palate this whisky is luscious and the mouthfeel has a distinct creamy character. There are flavours of buttercream, white chocolate, and a dusting of icing sugar. The orchard fruits are leaning towards the richer side with apricots, stewed apples and poached pear. The brioche note is again evident and adds to the sweet, buttery nature. A slight zing comes from orange oil. There is a gentle spininess like white pepper. Finally, an incredibly delicate, understated hint of soft and sweet smoke in the background.
The finish is leaning towards the drier side with an oak character remaining on your palate. This is especially true once the sweet and fruity elements have faded. The gentle smoke lingers as does the rich spiciness; the white pepper but also cloves and cinnamon.
What’s The Verdict?
This is a laid back style of whisky. It is characteristically sweet and the orchard fruits are undeniable. The buttery nature is really appealing and the sign of good bourbon casks in action. Finally those smoky and spicy characters, gentle may they be, balance the sweetness in this whisky from becoming overpowering. It is not the most complex whisky out there, yet it is completely satisfying. It is great value with one whole litre for only £45. This adds to the attraction of Remarkable Origins.
