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 : 

 

                                             Man/Woman/Chainsaw - Nosedive

Lochlea Dark Briar

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Lochlea - Lowlands

Pedro Ximénez, Oloroso and Port Casks

Original Bottling  

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncolloured

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Of the three new expressions from the distillery launched in 2025, this one emphasises sherry and port, and therefore fruitiness. It forms part of the Core Range, so it will be readily available. Once again, despite the ‘Single Estate’ label, it is not strictly speaking a Single Farm Estate, as the malting is not carried out on site. Nevertheless, the effort to produce a whisky made almost entirely on-site, with a very long fermentation period (66 to 116 hours depending on the batch), is to be commended. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The sherry is full-bodied but slightly dry, red berries, raisins, blueberries and redcurrants, toasted oak, treacle. Melting caramel, toffee, gingerbread with a good dose of cinnamon. A touch of varnish, fir honey. On the palate, the fruit return, blueberry tart, raspberry jam, strawberry syrup, candied cherries. It’s quite creamy, with vinous notes and, of course, spices such as cloves, nutmeg, pepper. The finish is quite long, liquorice, concentrated fruit, plenty of spice, yet it remains pleasant. Tobacco and benzoin. 

 

In Short, 

It’s often the same with sherry. The advantage is that it enhances the quality, but you lose a little of the whisky’s personality. That’s the case here too, it’s a lovely sherry, albeit a little young, which brings a pleasant fruitiness, but the distillery’s light and evanescent character fades into the background. This does not detract from the fundamental quality of the product, but one is entitled to prefer the distinctiveness of a more characteristic profile. That said, the price here is very reasonable, so it would be a sound purchase. 

Score : 85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                             Tove Lo - No One Dies From Love

Lochlea Orchard & Oak

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Lochlea - Lowlands

1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrels, Virgin American Oak and Ex-Calvados Casks

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt

Launched in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

In 2025, the distillery launched a new range called Single Estate, and Orchard & Oak is one of the three expressions in this range. It’s part of the Core Range, so it’s set to be around for quite some time. That said, the range is called Single Estate because they claim that everything is done on-site. Indeed, the barley is grown in their fields, bottling is carried out on site, and fermentation, distillation and maturation all take place on site, which is excellent. Except that the malting isn’t done on site, which means it isn’t a true Single Farm Estate. And don’t confuse Single Farm Estate with Single Cask. Just because it’s a ‘Single Farm Estate’ (which isn’t the case here) doesn’t mean it’s a ‘Single Cask’. A ‘Single Farm Estate’ can be the result of blending several casks. All these considerations aside, it’s always interesting to taste this sort of thing, it inevitably has a strong identity. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

You immediately recognise the finesse and sweetness of the Calvados, with notes of fresh green apple and syrup or treacle, followed by woody vanilla and honeyed caramel. Slightly more discreet cereal and herbaceous notes, though clearly present, reeds, tall grasses and freshly cut hay. Juicy pears and Chasselas grapes. It’s also floral. Porridge. On the palate, it’s somewhat light, vanilla, honey, elderflower, but there are a few spices too, the apples are cooked in butter. Nutmeg and cinnamon. The finish is more than decent, and even pleasant, with a generous zest of lemon, still full of orchard fruits, a mint leaf, minced almonds, a pinch of salt and earth. 

 

In Short, 

The Calvados casks add a little something extra in terms of flavour, and also in terms of viscosity, it’s a bit oilier. This complements the distillery’s profile very well, enhancing its rustic, countryside character. Whilst remaining elegant. For me, it’s a success, and the price isn’t that high. Perhaps it’s worth buying. It would be better if the age were stated, though. 

Score : 85 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                     To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                             Melusina - L'Ultimo Sguardo

Lochlea Cask Strength Batch 1

 

 

 

60,1°

Distillery : Lochlea - Lowlands

1st Fill Bourbon Barrels and Oloroso Sherry Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

It was in 2023 that the distillery launched this Cask Strength edition, which has since been followed by two other Batches. At the time, the whisky could not be more than 5 years old, and was certainly less. Yet the ageing process features a blend of 1st Fill Bourbon Barrels and Oloroso Sherry Casks, giving hope of a fine balance, and that's Cask Strength. Sounds good. 15,000 bottles were offered for sale.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

On the nose, wood and slightly astringent cereals, whitewashed wheat, salted barley, puffed rice, creamy vanilla. Dried grapes, a zest of lemon, a pinch of cinnamon on warm apples, and discreet mineral touches. Dry earth, spring-like fullness. On the palate, more cereals, this time well roasted, toasted wheat, malted barley, which combine very well with pulpy fruits, mirabelle plums and reines-claudes. The vanilla is not to be outdone, giving way to shimmering spices, white pepper, cumin and cloves. The finish is powerful and much longer than expected, with light tobacco, ginger, caramel toffee, smoked bark, orange peel and braised chestnuts.

 

In Short, 

It's true that the palate is still a little light, but for the rest, I've finally noticed a nice character and a fine mix of flavours. The Sherry is discreet, and only enhances the fruity notes of the distillate, giving it a beautiful expression. This is the closest we've come to the quintessence of the distillate of the time. The price is still a little high, but if there's a Lochlea to buy, this would be this one in my opinion.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                             Lara Buchanan - Bird Cage

Lochlea Ploughing Edition Third Crop

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Lochlea - Lowlands

Ex-Islay Peated Refill Bourbon Barrels

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Lightly Peated

 

 

 

Among Lochlea's third and latest seasonal releases, this Ploughing is inspired by winter and its chill, against which nothing beats a good peat. The casks used are Bourbon Barrels previously filled with peated whisky distilled on Islay (whose distillery remains a secret). The casks used are apparently 200-litre Quarter Casks, which reminds me of Laphroaig, a distillery known for using them.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The peat is delicate and light, a little earthy, and blends very well with the influence of Bourbon, crunchy vanilla and rye biscuits, white grapes and green melon, crushed apricots, almonds and a gentle fragrance of salt. On the palate, it's watery, but sweet and grassy, with Englis custard, mirabelle plums, thyme and rosemary, green pepper. The finish is quite long, vibrant with spice and bark, with a pinch of paprika and toasted cereal. Another layer of creamy peat, yoghurt, puffed rice, white cabbage.

 

In Short, 

Like the other Lochlea I've drunk, it's well made, with nice cereal touches and an appreciable subtlety, but it's still too young for me, especially on the palate. They need to make more progress on this to give the distillate thickness and even viscosity, and it will be much more interesting. For the moment, the result is a pleasant, promising whisky, but one that's quick to drink. The price is nevertheless interesting.

Score : 85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Little Green Cars - My Love Took Me Down To The River To Silence Me

Lochlea Fallow Edition Third Crop

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Lochlea - Lowlands

1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Since 2022, Lochlea has released a Fallow Edition every year at the beginning of autumn, aged in Sherry casks to evoke the coppery colours of the season. In 2024, for the first time, the Fallow Edition was made exclusively in 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts. 9,000 bottles flooded the shelves of spirits shops. This seems to be the very last edition of Fallow, so it will only be a trilogy.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The Sherry is rather light after all, apricot jam, coppery notes, baked apples, pumpkin, dried dates, candied cherries, pomegranate seeds. Cake dough, warm brioche, elastic and burnt wood, soft leather. It's a little disappointing on the palate, too light, mountain honey mixed with toasted nuts, breadcrumbs, yellow plums. Some spices. The finish is quite good, almost long, sandalwood, melting caramel, liquid butter. A drop of raspberry coulis, heather. Wet bark, anthracite. 

 

In Short, 

It's not bad at all, especially on the nose, but I was a little disappointed by the palate, which I found too inconsistent. On the whole, it can be drunk well, but with a few more years it would have been much more solid. The price seems a bit high to me, without being catastrophic.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           CydoMusic - Midnight Ember

Lochlea 2018 6 yo

 

 

 

50°

Distillery : Lochlea - Lowlands

1st Fill Bourbon Barrels and Oloroso Sherry Butts

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

As the distillery opened its doors in 2018, this is the oldest whisky to have left its warehouses so far. It is a blend of six casks, three 1st Fill Bourbon Barrels, and three 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts. The result is 2,500 bottles, reduced to 50°. This is the distillery's 2nd aged bottling, after a 5yo released last year. And it seems that a 7-year-old is already planned for the very near future.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It's very sweet, with the Sherry predominating, dried figs and redcurrants, pomegranate seeds and potimarron. But behind it, the Bourbon brings a certain rusticity, young wood, vanilla and honey, crispy cereals. Milk chocolate, melon, blood orange peel. On the palate, the red fruits become thicker, treacle, brown sugar, malted biscuits, intense spices, cinnamon, paprika. A decent finish, with character and a little length, melting caramel, lemon zest, panna cotta. Crushed peanuts, a drop of papaya juice.

 

In Short, 

It's not bad at all, the Sherry is intense, but it's not a Sherry Bomb either, the Bourbon influence gives citrus, cream and exotic fruit, which tempers the Sherry. That said, it's still young, and still lacks a little character and presence on the palate. For this reason, the price seems to me to be very exaggerated, it does not yet have the consistency to make it a sought-after whisky. 

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Lila Grace & Lowdown Shakes - Walkin' Beside Me

Lochlea Our Barley

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Lochlea - Lowlands

1st Fill Bourbon Barrels, Oloroso Sherry Butts and Ex-Rioja STR Barriques

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The Lochlea distillery-farm was opened in early 2018, their first Whiskies were launched three years later, and in 2022, the first and only member of the Core range to date came into the world. It's called Our Barley because at Lochlea, whisky is distilled from barley grown on the estate. No chill filtration, no colouring, and a lovely 46°, everything you need to please the customer. On the other hand, it's young, it can't be more than 4 years old.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Not bad, lemon and a chalky note give it a little fullness, fresh apples, white grapes. Grass cut in the rain, wax, an earthy touch. Candied fruits, angelica and apricots, it's creamy. Steamed cereals. A hint of vanilla. Caramelised puffed rice. Light and spicy on the palate, lychees, Comice pear, quinces, cashew nuts, discreet spices, paprika, cardamom. Porridge. Long, full, woody, slightly oily finish. Barley, honey and beetroot. Dry sand, Landes pine. Chestnuts. Peanut and almond cake.

 

In Short, 

It's fine, it's subtle, cereals, candied fruits, mineral accents, it's really well done. But it's a bit light. A typical Lowland profile, promising, you can't really feel the youth of the product. A must for enthusiasts, prices can be interesting if you look hard enough.

Score : 84

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                             Mogli- Earth