Loch Lomond 10 Year Old 40% abv (Core Range)
Loch Lomond 10 40% abv (Core Range)
Introduction
This does seem to be turning into a bit of a mini-series for me, reviewing budget level Single Malt Scotch whiskies suitable for Simchas (special occasions of happiness like weddings, Bar Mitzvos, Bris Mila etc), and Shul Kiddushim (a festive meal for the whole community, served after the synagogue service).
These Entry-Level Single Malts seem to be a good choice for the Ba’al HaSimcha (the host of the Kiddush), who wants to serve a whisky of a higher calibre than the usual Blended Scotch Whisky, but does not wish to waste money when he knows in all likelihood, it will be served in plastic disposable “kiddush” or grape juice cups and that many of his guests will inevitably nock it back like vodka shots, as they don’t know any better.
I must admit, my view on serving Single Malts at a Kiddush has somewhat mellowed over time. A few years ago, I would have considered it “apikorsus” (sacrilege, blasphemy) to serve expensive Single Malt Whisky in a typical shul kiddush environment. However, today, when the price of Blended Scotch seems to be creeping up, whilst at the same time the price of entry-level Single Malt Scotch has dramatically come down (with only a few shekels now separating these two categories), has forced me to reassess my position. Added to that, there really does seem to be better awareness and a greater appreciation for Single Malts today to make Single Malts a valid alternative and a way to make your simcha that little bit more special.
I was going to say “obviously” but perhaps it isn’t so obvious for some individuals and communities, that in my humble opinion, serving expensive Single Malts at a community kiddush, in an environment which is far from conducive to properly appreciating them, is frankly a complete “busha” ("grobkeit" - an excessive, uncouth or vulgar extravagance). Showing off to your friends that your simcha is better than theirs by serving that 18/25/30-Year-Old bottle of “GlenBenRothantauch” in a fancy box, is not, in my opinion a Torahdik behaviour.
We learn this lesson from Parshas Nasso in Sefer Bamidbar, starting from pasuk 7:12.
Rav Yissocher Frand teaches that at the end of this parsha it contains the recitation of the various korbanos (offerings) offered by the Princes of each of the 12 Tribes on consecutive days in honour of the dedication of the Mishkan (Tabernacle).
The Torah informs us that every one of the twelve Princes brought exactly the same offering, one after the other. Furthermore, instead of just relating to us that the Prince of Yehudah gave this and that and then stating that - “the other eleven Princes brought exactly the same thing”, the Torah instead goes out of its way to repeat verbatim the same exact details of the korbanos (offerings) for every single Prince. (Rav Frand points out that this is great for the Bar-Mitzvah boy who's parsha is Nasso, as he ends up repeating the same thing eleven times!)
There is a fascinating Midrash which explains what was going on. The Nasi from Yehudah, who brought the offerings on behalf of the first tribe, had it easy. He could have offered anything he desired. However, the second Nasi, namely Nesanel ben Tzuar from the Tribe of Yissachar, was faced with a moral dilemma as to what to bring.
Rav Yissocher Frand explains that we can compare his dilemma to the following situation:
There is a shul which was blessed with twelve Bar Mitzvahs in a row, one Shabbos after the other. The father of the first Bar Mitzvah boy serves the community some cake, biscuits and a bit of herring on crackers. Very nice!
However, the father of the Bar Mitzvah boy for the next Shabbos, sees this and starts thinking about what he will serve for the kiddush next week?
“I’ll serve them fancy cream cakes, rugelach, two different kinds of herring and a large kugal Yerushalmi!”, he decides.
The Midrash therefore demonstrates what was going on in the mind of Nesanel ben Tzuar:
“If I try to bring a larger or more extravagant offering than the Tribe of Yehudah, if I try to ‘one-up’ Nachshon ben Aminadav, then the Nasi after me and the Nasi after him will face a spiral of escalating costs. Imagine what the Nasi will have to bring by the last day?! He’ll end up having to shecht (slaughter) the tribe’s entire stock of cattle!”
Nesanel ben Tzuar therefore reasoned that unless he brings the exact same offering, it could end up with community hatred, jealousy and financial burden.
So, Nesanel ben Tzuar performed a tremendous chesed for everyone. He brought exactly the same offering, thereby setting the tone for all future offerings.
So, what we learn from this is - Glenfiddich 12 Yellow, Loch Lomond 10 and Glen Moray 12 are all suitable choices for a shul kiddush, but please leave your bottle of Caol Ila 18, anCnoc Single Cask 2007, or Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength at home to share with family and close friends.
Whisky Reviewers ignore entry Level Budget Single Malts
I have noticed that entry level Single malts are pretty much ignored by the mainstream online and YouTube whisky reviewers. This Loch Lomond 10 is a case in point. Searching YouTube for “Loch Lomond 10” you ironically only get results for a special edition, single cask exclusive (with only a few hundred bottles ever available), which was also 10 Years Old, but a joint project between Loch Lomond and YouTube Whisky channel Aqvavitae.
This regular core-range Loch Lomond 10 is nowhere to be found. In other words, it seems that reviewers don’t consider this and others in the same price level worth reviewing. Well, my dear fellow Malty Menchen, I do!
This Loch Lomond 10 is one of a few releases from the Loch Lomond Group's budget “Entry Level” bottlings, priced to compete with the likes of The Glenlivet Founders Reserve, Glenmorangie 10, Tomintoul 10, Glen Moray 12, Glenfiddich 12, etc. At only 170 shekels (more or less), here in Israel, it only costs a few shekels more than the likes of Johnny Walker Black Label Blended Scotch Whisky and other premium Blended Scotch brands, which certainly encourages the whisky curious to spend that little bit extra and break into the Single Malt category. As such, just like its Blended Scotch Whisky brother, it’s also chill-filtered with caramel colouring added and bottled at a minimum legal 40% abv (so that it can be poured into a glass without the need for adding your own water), which makes it as accessible and approachable as possible and keeps the price down.
A Word About the Kashrus Certification
I may have mentioned this in a previous Loch Lomond review but this Chatam Sofer Petach Tikva certification doesn’t help sales within the religious community, both here in Israel and around the world. It’s a strange thing to try and explain to those outside the religious world but sometimes, when it comes to whisky, it’s actually better not to have certification at all rather than one which many would not rely upon when it comes to purchasing their kosher food products.
Many in the Dati Leumi and especially within the Chareidi community, do not have a problem buying whisky without a hechsher if it states a cask type which is known to have no kashrus issues (such as Ex-Bourbon, Virgin Oak or Rum Cask), but would dafka think twice before purchasing one which (even though it does not seem to pose any kashrus issues), has a hechsher on the label which they don't rely on. It’s just a shame that rather than the Israeli importer purchasing certification, that Loch Lomond Group in the UK doesn't purchase a hechsher from say, one of the many reliable AKO member kashrus certifications. (Just saying).
Packaging
There has been a recent package redesign for Loch Lomond and for once, I think it's a great improvement on the old one. To their credit, it isn’t a completely new radical imagination, but a major enhancement to the original artwork and design which, if truth be told, was a bit kitschy / touristy and which utilised a stock standard supermarket level whisky bottle and cork. This didn’t do Loch Lomond any favours in trying to rid itself of its reputation for producing industrial style whisky.
They are still using the deer stag and antlers as their emblem but it has been slightly embossed and strangely, the crown which appeared at the top of the emblem, has disappeared. Speaking to Michael Henry, Master Blender, he explained that the old badge is still used for their Blended Scotch brands and this new emblem is now exclusively reserved for their Single Malts.
I think that the new custom designed bottle is a great improvement and just love the new better-quality chunky cork. I actually couldn’t work out if the stopper was wood or plastic. When the bottle is empty. I’ll cut through it and find out. I suspect that it’s plastic but it certainly is doing a sterling job at impersonating wood.
The Review
Appearance:
Swirling the liquid around in the glass, it’s crystal clear, even after adding water or ice. There are no discernible tears even attempting to roll down the inside of the glass, this single malt having a rather watery consistency. Moreover, this further indication of some quite heavy chill filtration, which in my opinion, is a great shame.
However, at this budget price point, you really can't complain about this. They are playing to an audience which might well become slightly alarmed if their whisky appears cloudy.
Having mentioned adding water, I would recommend literally only one or two drops, if that, as this has already been watered down to the legal minimum of 40% abv and you could very easily drown this Loch Lomond.
On the Nose
My first impression is one of surprise. There is an awful lot going on here - unusual for such a budget Single Malt. Clean, black toffee sweet, polished furniture oak, beeswax polish, honey, milk fudge, cinnamon spicy, vanilla perfumed soap, tinned peaches, Lyon's golden Treacle and golden yellow sultanas. A great start. This is one entry-level dram where you should take your time nosing this before taking your first sip.
On the palate
Caramelised Stewed Apples, honey and golden sultanas, followed by some lovely dark soft oak spices like cinnamon, English pepper corns, cardamom and dry Bay-leaves. In fact, these spice notes are so pronounced, it leaves me wondering if casual drinkers will also appreciate this layer of extra complexity, and not consider it perhaps an “off” note? What's more, these oaky spices are not the typical “in your face” flavours you get from maturation in heavily charred Oak casks. Instead, the flavour is more consistent with a single malt, matured in high quality oak for much longer than 10 years. A neat trick Loch Lomond!
Has Michael Henry, chief Blender at Loch Lomond, sneaked in some older whisky perhaps? I don’t think so. I think it’s more like some expert cask management on his part where they have taken greater care with the preparation of these barrels.
To me, this extra complexity is a most welcome change to the run-of-the-mill one-dimensional flavour profile of similarly priced Ex-Bourbon/Virgin Oak matured Single Malts. I just hope that others, with less Single Malt experience, won’t find this extra layer of flavour a slight turn off? I do hope not.
The Finish
The finish is relatively short which shows the limitations when you water a whisky down to the legal minimum. Having said this, you are still left with hints of those caramelised apples and those soft dark spices which remain on the palate.
Conclusion
I am enjoying my time with the Loch Lomond 10 very much. You get a lot of malt whisky for your money. I just wish that they had a bit more confidence in the the quality of their own spirit as well as their growing loyal fan base. I do believe that there is an increasing awareness and growing knowledge from the general whisky drinking public. Loch Lomond really ought to resist adding the dreaded E150a Caramel Spirit colouring, or at least, tone it down (excuse the pun). Likewise, if they would only ease off on the heavy chill filtration, and bottle at 43% abv, I’m sure that even casual drinkers would appreciate the extra body and flavour which would result.
Having said all this, I will readily admit that this is a very approachable and easy drinking dram which will give you a genuine delicious malty-moment for only slightly more than a standard Blended Scotch. In my opinion, picking up a bottle of Loch Lomond 10 is a wise choice for those who want a step up from the Grants, Bells or Johnny Walker Black label, when hosting their shul kiddush but still won’t mind when it is poured into the statutory little plastic cups.
Moreover, when compared to the Single Malt competition, the Loch Lomond 10, despite its faults, will offer you a considerably more complex and multi-layered whisky tasting experience than most other one-trick pony entry-level Single Malts.
It isn’t a Single Malt which I’d quickly go out and buy again, but I am really not the audience this release is aimed at. So, for the Single Malt curious, or those on a budget but looking for something a bit different for their next simcha or Kiddush, I give the Loch Lomond 10 my firm "thumbs up" recommendation.
Most importantly, I can personally vouch for the fact that this dram goes really well with a piece of Shmaltz herring.
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The author, outside Loch Lomond distillery Note: A few have complained that they were not able to add a comment in the Comments Section below. I am unsure why this is but a sure way of leaving a comment is to use your Google account to log in. |
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