In a momentous celebration of their fifth anniversary, Ayrshire distillery Lochlea has unveiled its latest masterpiece – the Lochlea 5 Year Old, a limited edition whisky that marks the brand's inaugural foray into age-statement expressions. Nestled on Lochlea Farm, the very land where the renowned Scottish poet Robert Burns once toiled, Lochlea Distillery has crafted a unique single malt whisky that encapsulates the essence of its spirit, meticulously matured over the past five years.
This exclusive release, a vatting of five distinct casks, has been expertly curated by production director John Campbell and his dedicated team. Each cask, carefully selected, reveals a facet of the house spirit, resulting in a harmonious blend that showcases the distillery's evolution since its establishment.
Notably, two of the casks used in this expression hail from the distillery's inaugural filling in August 2018, making the Lochlea 5 Year Old the oldest whisky ever released by Lochlea. The composition comprises two first-fill ex-Bourbon casks, a first-fill Oloroso Sherry cask, a double-matured Oloroso Sherry cask, and a double-matured Pedro Ximénez Sherry cask. The culmination of these diverse casks imparts a rich and layered flavor profile to the whisky, which is bottled at a robust 50% ABV.
On the nose, the Lochlea 5 Year Old entices with aromas of baked pineapple, brown sugar, hazelnuts, and sourdough bread. The palate unfolds with a symphony of flavors, featuring notes of lemon zest, candied pear crumble, and orange peel. The finish is a lingering crescendo of caramel, adorned with hints of black pepper, rose petals, and leather.
John Campbell expressed the significance of this release, stating, “To mark our fifth-anniversary milestone, we wanted to create a whisky that shows off the best of Lochlea spirit that has been matured in different styles of casks over the past half a decade.” He further emphasized the uniqueness of the bottling, ensuring that this particular blend would not be replicated in the future.
Lochlea takes pride in its status as one of the rare full grain-to-cask distilleries in Scotland. The entire production process, from growing barley on their farm to distilling and maturing the spirit on-site, contributes to the consistent quality of their whiskies and underscores their commitment to sustainability.
In a nod to the historical connection with Robert Burns, the release is scheduled on Burns Night, paying homage to the poet's legacy on the very land that continues to provide barley for Lochlea's spirits.
Alongside this milestone release, Lochlea maintains its tradition of offering limited-edition seasonal whiskies, capturing the essence of the farm's changing seasons. Additionally, the distillery presents a Cask Strength series and a globally acclaimed signature expression, 'Our Barley', released in 2022.
The Lochlea 5 Year Old, priced at £89.99, will be available from January 25th through select Lochlea stockists. Whisky enthusiasts are encouraged to seize this opportunity to savor a dram of history, crafted with passion and precision by the artisans at Lochlea Distillery.
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About Lochlea Distillery
Lochlea Distillery is an independently owned distillery that has recently gained attention for its high-quality whiskies. In 2022, the distillery launched its first seasonally inspired expression, which is part of an annual limited-edition series of whiskies inspired by the changing seasons. One of its notable products is the Cask Strength Batch 1, which has been aged in first-fill ex-bourbon and oloroso sherry casks, bottled at 60.1% ABV. The distillery's commitment to quality and innovation is evident in its offerings, making it a noteworthy player in the world of whisky production. Additionally, Lochlea Distillery has been featured in Whisky Magazine, a publication known for its engaging features on distilleries, new bottlings, and the people involved in the industry. This demonstrates the distillery's growing prominence and positive reception within the whisky community.
