Every time I review a Lochside whisky I expect it to be the last. I might have to get some more samples from Teun before it’s too late!

This one didn’t come from Teun though, but from Jason B. Standing. He sent me a couple of samples about a million years ago and when going through these and my older reviews right now, I decided it was as good a time as any to post it.

So Lochside. A closed distillery with general consensus being that 1981 is their top vintage. I’ve had quite a few of these over the years with some being extremely epic, and some being ‘merely awesome’. Let’s see where this one sits!

Sniff:
Rich sherry but almost no bite on the nose. Very gentle indeed! Figs, dates, plums, the darker dried fruits. In the background there’s a whiff of menthol and some cigars.

Sip:
The palate has a little bit of bite on the arrival, with some red chilies. Dry oak with a bit of bitterness. Dried fruits too, the darker ones like on the nose. Freshly cracked black pepper, but all of this with a very syrupy texture.

Swallow:
The finish is slightly more focused on the fruits. The peppery heat dissipates quickly and apart from the already found dried fruits, there’s also some strawberries with a whiff of aged balsamic vinegar too.

Initially I didn’t recognize this directly as a port cask. It could just as well have been a sweeter sherry. The strawberries and balsamic vinegar should have given it away though! It’s quite a lovely flavor, and the menthol and cigars on the nose only add to the experience! A really good whisky indeed!

89/100