The Sowing Edition (Third Crop) is the first release in the final set of seasonal single malts from the Ayrshire distillery of Lochlea. The seasonal range highlights key points in the farming year - Sowing Edition, Harvest Edition, Fallow Edition and Ploughing Edition - with each whisky pushing the Lochlea spirit in different directions. The four First Crop releases were bottled in 2022 and the Second Crops appeared in 2023. This new whisky kicks off the third and final round of the range.
Lochlea Sowing Edition (Third Crop) has been matured exclusively in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels. These barrels are nine months older than those featuring in Sowing Edition (Second Crop) and were hand-selected by John Campbell, the Production Director at Lochlea. The whisky is bottled at 46% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. It is available in selected whisky retailers and more information can be found at www.lochleadistillery.com. A bottle will cost £51.50.
Lochlea was founded in 2015 by Neil and Jen McGeoch. It is located in rural Ayrshire to the south of Kilmarnock. They converted Lochlea Farm from beef production to growing barley for whisky making. All whisky is produced using barley grown on the farm. The distillery is in the old piggery and a converted cattleshed is the maturation warehouse. The independent family-owned distillery has an annual production capacity of 200,000 litres. Their inaugural whisky, Lochlea First Release, was launched in early 2022 and followed by their core product, Our Barley, later that year.
Our Tasting Notes
The colour is pale straw yellow and the nose is vibrant, green and fresh. Aromas of crisp green apple, icing sugar and white chocolate greet you and are quickly joined by vanilla sugar, lemon zest and hints of malted cereal, marzipan and something floral. This is reminiscent of delicate rose petals or pot pourri.
On the palate this whisky bold and uplifting. The crisp green apple is to the fore and has a pleasant tartness to it. This expressive note is joined by fresh vanilla pod, cocoa powder and hints of candied lemon and lime. An underlying bittersweet malted cereal characteristic binds everything together nicely. There is also a lovely grassy note that develops and adds depth - think of a freshly mown meadow.
With time other notes also begin to evolve - there is something peach-like sitting in the background and a hint of maraschino cherry. There is a hint of almond-like nuttiness, dessicated coconut and a suggestion of hazelnut praline too. The heat begins to build towards the finish with a hint of clove and menthol. The main driver of this however is an increasing note of white pepper.
The white pepper gives plenty of heat and a mouthwatering quality to the finish. The fruity and sweet elements fade to reveal this further, plus an increasing oaky and woody dryness. Some tannins come through right at the end as does a pinch of cocoa powder to accentuate this.
What's The Verdict?
We have followed the seasonal range and Lochlea's development with much interest. We are fascinated to see what the third and final round of the range will reveal and what they are planning for the future. Sowing Edition (Third Crop) is a bright, vibrant and lively whisky that is delicious and refreshing. We like youthful whiskies in good ex-bourbon casks and this is certainly one of those.
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