Review | Lochlea Harvest Edition (Third Crop)

This whisky is the latest small batch single malt from the Lowland distillery of Lochlea. The Lochlea Harvest Edition (Third Crop) is released as the award-winning field-to-bottle distillery celebrates its sixth birthday and has been created by John Campbell, the outgoing Director of Production at Lochlea. Harvest Edition forms part of a wider series inspired by the farming year and features Sowing, Fallow and Ploughing Editions also. The Third Crop will be the final bottling for each.

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 an old piggery and a converted cattleshed is one of the maturation warehouses. 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.

Lochlea Harvest Edition (Third Crop) features a pocket of whisky that has been double matured, firstly in refill ex-bourbon barrels and then ex-Port wine hogsheads. There is also a single ex-Oloroso sherry butt in the mix. It is bottled at 46% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. The new whisky is available from selected specialist whisky retailers in the UK and limited other world markets. A bottle will cost £52.

Our Tasting Notes

The colour is bright gold with a slight reddish tint and the nose is expressive and lively. Aromas of malted barley, crisp green apple and heather honey leap from the glass and are quickly followed by further aromas of milk chocolate, golden syrup and a hint of hedgerow berries. A whiff of white pepper and something reminiscent of dried sage or thyme appears at the end.

On the palate this whisky is sweet and fruity to begin with, but with a peppery kick. A distinct white pepper note heats things up and this is softened when a drop of water is added. Elsewhere, a lovely fruity combination of green apple and crisp pear combine some confected red berries (think of strawberry jam and raspberry compote, with a hint of dried cranberry). 

Further sweetness comes in the form of the golden syrup and heather honey from the nose, with the latter adding a slight floral hint. Milk chocolate and a pinch of cocoa are also evident. The second half of the palate is dominated by oaky and spicy notes - imagine a marriage of cinnamon, clove and mace adding heat and some drying woodiness adding structure. A very late hint of bitter orange oil also appears.

The finish is of decent length and maintains the sweet and fruity elements well. However, once these fade it is the warm spiciness and drying oaky characteristics that dominate. This give the finish some peppery heat and a distinct woody feel.

What's The Verdict?

This is another very nice whisky from Lochlea. They continue to show great promise and skill with their whiskies and the ex-Port cask influence here has taken their spirit in a different direction. It will be interesting to see what the distillery does with the brand and range of whiskies once this 'farming year' series ends in a couple of releases time, especially now that the esteemed John Campbell is leaving for pastures new. Time will tell, but the future looks bright.