In the latest round-up of new scotch whisky releases: a new Polo Edition from Royal Salute, a core range expression from Glenmorangie, and Lochlea’s Sowing Edition. Loch Lomond and William Grant & Sons release high-age-statement whiskies.
Loch Lomond 25 Year Old
Loch Lomond Distillery has unveiled a new 25 year old single malt scotch whisky, adding to its expanding portfolio.
The 25 year old whisky was matured in a combination of first-fill, refill, and re-charred American oak casks. It was then bottled at 46% ABV. Tasting notes for the whisky include “toasted oak, coconut, crisp pear, and rich spice” on the nose. On the palate, expect “delicious caramel, apricot and pear, lime juice, and a touch of cinnamon spice”.
The careful distillation of the whisky in Loch Lomond’s famously straight-necked stills was overseen by Master Distiller, Michael Henry. These straight-necked stills allow a high level of control over the distillate, producing a light and gentle spirit.
Of the new release, Henry said: “The release of Loch Lomond 25 Year
Old is a significant milestone for us. This is a very special whisky which is perhaps one of the finest examples of our signature distillery style and underlines our continuous commitment to creating remarkable flavours”.
The Loch Lomond 25 Year Old is available through the Loch Lomond Whiskies Store and selected online retailers. The whisky has an RRP of £390 (~$486).
Royal Salute 21 Year Old Miami Polo Edition
Blended scotch whisky brand, Royal Salute, has announced the latest installment in the Polo Collection: Royal Salute 21 Year Old Miami Polo Edition.
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In tribute to the city for which it is named, the whisky in the Miami Polo Edition was matured in first-fill bourbon and rye casks, marking an “all-American” first for the brand. New charred oak is very rarely used in the scotch whisky industry. The whisky was then bottled at 40% ABV.
The whisky is housed in Royal Salute’s classic decanter which is, this time, in a bright pink reflective of Miami’s vibrant nature.
The Royal Salute 21 Year Old Miami Polo Edition marks the sixth release in the Polo Collection. Royal Salute has long been associated with polo and has sponsored many events worldwide. This series pays tribute to this long-standing association.
Master Blender Sandy Hyslop commented: “Miami is such a dynamic city, so we wanted to craft a blend that would echo this with an exciting new dimension. Selecting the finest first-fill bourbon and rye casks to finish the special formulation of whiskies aged for a minimum of 21 years allowed us to impart some incredible flavors and emphasize the sweet and spicy notes of the final blend, perfectly nodding to Miami’s vibrant scene.”
Royal Salute will hold a two-day event in Palm Beach that will include a charity polo match, raising money for vulnerable people in Lesotho and Botswana.
The Royal Salute 21 Year Old Miami Polo Edition has an RRP of $190.
Wildmoor by William Grant & Sons
William Grant & Sons has launched a new whisky brand named Wildmoor, a collection dedicated to bringing the Grant family’s vast reserve casks to the public market. Some such casks have been maturing for decades, and some hail from distilleries that are no longer operational.
The first two bottlings in the series have been released: The Wildmoor 23 Year Old Dark Moorland and The Wildmoor 30 Year Old Rugged Coast.
The 23 Year Old Dark Moorland is a blend of Lowland grain and Highland malt whiskies that were finished in Oloroso sherry casks. A portion of the older grain whisky in the blend was matured in ex-bourbon before being added to the blend. Bottled at 42% ABV, the whisky is available exclusively from The Whisky Exchange for an RRP of £185.
The older of the two expressions, the 30 Year Old, is a blend of sherried Speyside whisky and peated Island whisky as well as some grain whisky. The result is a layered and complex blend with full-bodied richness. Again bottled at 42% ABV, the Wildmoor 30 Year Old Rugged Coast is available at The Whisky Exchange for £550.
Glenmorangie Triple Cask Reserve
Glenmorangie has expanded its core range with the unveiling of the Glenmorangie Triple Cask Reserve.
The whisky was matured in three different casks: bourbon, new charred oak, and rye, giving a distinctly American feel to the single malt.
The Glenmorangie Triple Cask Reserve has aromas of pears, vanilla, candied orange peel, and nutmeg. This is followed by creamy creme brulée, cherry chocolate, and fudge on the palate. You can read the full tasting notes here.
Priced at £33, the Glenmorangie Triple Cask Reserve can be purchased on the distillery’s website.
Glenmorangie Master Blender, Gillian Macdonald, said: “By uniting these three different cask types in Glenmorangie Triple Cask Reserve we have created a deeply harmonious whisky. Using bourbon and new charred oak, we celebrate our whisky’s classic, fruity sweetness. Laced with the savoury notes and subtle spice of rye whiskey casks, this whisky brings a new balance of flavours to our core range.”
Lochlea Sowing Edition Third Crop
Lochlea Distillery has just unveiled the final expression in its seasonal series. This follows the release of the Ploughing Edition (Second Crop) in March 2024.
The Sowing Edition is released in spring to mark the season in which seeds are sown for the next crop. This will be the last seasonal release from the distillery, following its hugely successful First and Second Crops.
The Lochlea Sowing Edition (Third Crop) has been matured in ex-Bourbon barrels, encouraging floral and fruity notes in the whisky. The whisky has been bottled at 46% ABV and will be available from Lochlea stockists on April 25th. RRP: £51.50 (~$65).
John Campbell, Production Director at Lochlea, reflected on how the seasonal release have helped the distillery to showcase its farm-to-glass approach through its whisky. He said:
“Our third and final Crop of the Seasonal releases will offer whisky lovers the chance to taste our maturing limited-edition releases and even compare them with the past two Crops, so they can see how our whiskies are evolving. The Seasonal Editions have been a brilliant platform for us to showcase our whisky in different cask types and highlight the farming calendar. […] We have a wealth of ideas at Lochlea within the team and our ability to explore and innovate easily without too many constraints means there will be many more exciting whiskies to emerge from Lochlea beyond our Seasonals.”
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