Lochlea Smoke Without Fire

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Lochlea - Lowlands

Ex-Peated Refill Bourbon Barrels and Red Wine Casks

Original Bottling 

Core Range

Single Malt 

Launched in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

And here is the third and final expression to appear in Lochlea’s Core Range in 2025. Named ‘Smoke Without Fire’, it is a blend of ex-peated refill bourbon barrels and red wine casks. The distillery does not use peated barley, but recycles old casks that previously contained peated whisky. The casks come from Laphroaig, as John Campbell, former Distillery Manager at Laphroaig, went on to work for Lochlea as Production Director and Master Blender from 2021 to 2024. Red wine casks are also added to accentuate the fruitiness. As I've already said, the whisky is almost entirely produced on site, with the exception of the malting process. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The peat is delicate, barely smoky, and blends with a variety of white fruits, bananas, mirabelle plums, grapes. Fried onions, a pinch of ash, orchard fruits, a zest of lemon and traces of salt, along with grains still imbued with earth. On the palate, it is once again light, but the fruit is present, vanilla, pears and apples, a hint of aniseed, and spices that remain fairly subtle. The finish is more peaty, fuller-bodied, earthy and spicy. Pepper, cloves and liquorice, roasted wheat, notes of charcoal and dried leaves. 

 

In Short, 

Peat adds a little something extra, in terms of body and depth, and character too. It gives this distillery, which can sometimes be a bit too mild, a slightly different personality, though it remains very mainstream. I think this is my favourite from the new Single Estate range, but that’s just a matter of taste. The price is still reasonable.

Score : 85+

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

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