The Heart Cut Lochlea #17 Scotch Whisky, 54.0%

The Heart Cut Lochlea #17 is a delicate yet smoky single malt matured in an ex-Islay cask to produce an elegant interplay of coastal smoke and orchard sweetness. Released in a single cask bottling of 410 bottles and drawn from a distillery that grows all its own barley, this dram showcases the gentle, cask-derived smoke that can be achieved without peating the malt.

Lochlea #17 is remarkable for its provenance and restrained smokiness: Laureate barley grown on the farm gives a biscuity, citrusy spirit which takes on subtle smoky layers from the ex-Islay cask, resulting in a composed profile of bonfire embers, baked orchard fruit and creamy nuttiness. Selected by the distillery’s master blender, the whisky is bottled at 54% ABV, non-chill filtered and uncoloured for a true single-cask expression.

Pairing Suggestions:

Lochlea #17’s creamy hazelnut and baked-apple notes pair beautifully with smoked or charred seafood such as barbecued pineapple prawns or smoked salmon canapés, while richer matches include duck or hazelnut-studded desserts; sessionable, citrus-led craft beers also lift the dram’s orchard and sherbet highlights for an accessible tasting experience.

Tasting Note:

The nose evokes freshly cut grass, barbecued pineapple and delicate coastal smoke with buttery apples and green pepper; the palate offers barbecued citrus, runny honey and creamy hazelnut before smoke thickens into birchwood embers, finishing long with sherbet candy, bitter orange peel and a wisp of sea salt.

Origin:

Ayrshire, Scotland

Alcohol:

54.0%