Lochlea OUR BARLEY 46% Vol. 0,7l

Lochlea Our Barley is the first ongoing core Single Malt expression from an exciting new Lowland Scotch producer from Ayrshire.

As the name suggests, it was crafted using their own homegrown barley, but also an on-site water supply and specially chosen yeasts to accentuate the local terroir. The recipe was carefully honed by John Campbell, the ex-Laphroaig Distiller Manager and therefore an extremely safe pair of hands. 

Matured in combination of Bourbon, Sherry and STR (a rejuvenated barrel that has been shaved, toasted and re-charred) casks, it has been bottled without colouring and non-chill filtered. Lochlea’s new make spirit bursts with orchard fruit, and the wood influence has not quelled that in the slightest. Aromas of crunchy pear, caramelised apple, boiled sweets, freshly mown lawns and apricot jam give way to flavours of golden syrup, peppery rye bread, macadamia nuts, cream soda, marmalade, lanolin and beeswax. At a time when many distilleries import their ingredients from all over the country, it’s exciting to sip a Scotch with a real sense of place.

Lochlea was a livestock farm when it was acquired in 2006. The piggery became the distillery, the cattle sheds were turned into bonded warehouses and the pasture was converted to barley fields. It’s a site rich in history, as the celebrated Scottish poet Robert Burns lived at Lochlea Farm between 1777 and 1784, no doubt toiling over the same soil that this fiercely independent family-owned distillery now does. As Rabbie famously wrote, “Freedom an’ whisky gang thegither.” So, raise a dram to a new free spirit from Scotland.