Award Winning Loch Lomond Whiskies Unveils Steam & Fire: a Remarkable Single Malt Whisky Finished in Heavily Charred Casks

Steam & Fire pays homage to the extensive capabilities of the Loch Lomond Distillery

Independent distiller, Loch Lomond Whiskies, is adding to its impressive portfolio of whiskies with the launch of Steam & Fire.

A remarkable single malt whisky, Steam & Fire is finished in heavily charred American Oak casks, flamed at Loch Lomond Whiskies’ own traditional cooperage.

It is an entirely new concept for the distiller and has been crafted to showcase its extensive capabilities in distillation and maturation. Steam & Fire takes its inspiration from the extraordinary distillery – a place where alchemy and engineering meet time-honoured craftsmanship to create an unusual whisky destination which is unlike anything else seen in the industry.

Located near the banks of the iconic Loch Lomond, the distillery is home to innovative feats of engineering, including Scotland’s only set of Straight Neck Pot Stills. As the only distiller in Scotland to use these stills, Master Blender Michael Henry can influence flavour at the point of distillation, as well as during maturation.

It is also one only four in Scotland to house its own cooperage. A vibrant place where a team of experienced coopers repair and char barrels, it is the final stage in the whisky making process before casks are laid to rest.

Steam & Fire begins its journey being distilled in a combination of Straight Neck and traditional Swan Neck Pot Stills before maturing in first fill Bourbon barrels and refill American Oak casks. This exceptional single malt is then finished in heavily charred American Oak casks for 10 months.

The heavily charred American Oak barrels have a distinctive rich demerara sugar influence on the whisky, creating a rich flavour profile characterised by notes of orange, pear and melted brown sugar with a dark chocolate, and a soft smoke finish.

Steam and Fire is presented in bold packaging colours of blue and red, to reflect the brand colours and cooperage, with iconography from around the distillery illustrating the casks and unique stills.

Designed to hero Loch Lomond’s extensive capabilities, the striking creative is intended to ignite an emotive response and bring to life the importance of both distillation and maturation in Loch Lomond’s whisky making.

copper piping flowing in a d

The release of Steam & Fire follows Loch Lomond Distillery’s success at the globally renowned San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2023, winning the title of ‘most awarded distillery’.

Michael Henry, Master Blender at Loch Lomond Whiskies, said: “Steam & Fire is unlike anything we have created at our distillery before.

“Intended to capture our extensive and unique capabilities in whisky making, it is a striking expression which speaks to the heart of what Loch Lomond Whiskies is trying to achieve and our ongoing experimentation with flavour.

“Steam & Fire is a representation of our quest to create whisky outside of the ordinary, bringing together our impressive capabilities in distillation and maturation.”

The launch of Steam & Fire includes a collaboration with renowned open-fire chef Genevieve Taylor, who partnered with the distiller for its Remarkable Makers campaign, which sees Loch Lomond Whiskies partner with like-minded creators and artisan craftspeople to lift the lid on the complex whisky making process.

An accomplished chef, she is the author of 12 cookery books and is fascinated by the science of cooking over fire. Genevieve is inspired by her lifelong love of nature and sustainability, with her recipes specifically created based on the seasonality and locality of ingredients.

She said: “Fire as a method for cooking is a time-honoured craft, much like whisky making, which has survived for generations.

“It is such strong primal element and in many ways it can be unpredictable. Like a master blender, you have to very carefully control all of the variables to curate the final flavour you want.

“Too much wood creates a very distinctive smoky flavour, which can distract from delicate dishes, whereas pure charcoal allows the subtleties of ingredients to come to the fore. The slightest change in this balance has a profound impact on the final recipe.”

Genevieve Taylor’s passion for fire cooking is driven by a curiosity to explore the extraordinary. She continued: “Loch Lomond Whiskies and I share a curious spirit, and an eternal desire to seek out new possibilities in our crafts. The traditional domestic kitchen can be a wonderful place, but it can also be restricting to creativity and exploration.

“Fire cooking opened up a whole new world of possibilities, and allows me to experiment with flavour and techniques which are outside of the ordinary.”

Steam & Fire launches 14 August and retails for £45.

It can be purchased at specialist retailers including Master of Malt, as well as directly from www.lochlomondwhiskies.co.uk

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Toffee, apple, fudge, vanilla, cinnamon.

Palette : Silky mouthfeel, orange, peach, marmalade, coffee, melted brown sugar, roasted marshmallow.

Finish: Medium to long dry finish with dark chocolate and soft smoke.

 About Loch Lomond Whiskies

Loch Lomond Distillery has one of the oldest heritages in the industry. It was founded by American, Duncan Thomas, the owner of the Littlemill Distillery which was licensed in 1772. In the 1930s Duncan Thomas was at the forefront of innovation within the Scotch whisky industry and his innovative philosophy is ingrained into everything that is done at Loch Lomond to this day.

In 1814, the original site of the Loch Lomond Distillery was established near Tarbet, towards the north-west end of Loch Lomond; an area which has been at the heart of the whisky industry for centuries. With at least nine distilleries around the loch lost over the years, Loch Lomond Distillers has maintained a proud local tradition into the 21st century.

The multi award winning Loch Lomond Whiskies range includes the Loch Lomond 12 Year Old which has been awarded the Platinum Award in 2020, one of only 7 single malts to be awarded this honour at the San Francisco World Spirits Challenge 2020. Other expressions in the range are the single malts Loch Lomond Original; Loch Lomond Classic; Loch Lomond 18 Year Old; Loch Lomond 50 Year Old; the Loch Lomond Island’s Collection which includes the Inchmurrin and Inchmoan ranges as well as the deluxe blend Loch Lomond Signature and Loch Lomond Single Grain.

Earlier this year, Loch Lomond Distillery won “the most awarded distillery” at the globally renowned San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2023, achieving multiple Double Gold and Gold Awards for its collection of malt whisky brands.

Loch Lomond Whiskies was awarded the following medals:

Double Gold

• Loch Lomond Whiskies 12 Years Old Inchmurrin
• Loch Lomond Whiskies 12 Years Old Inchmoan
• Loch Lomond Classic
• Loch Lomond Whiskies Open Special Edition 2023
• Loch Lomond Whiskies Open Course Edition 2023
• Loch Lomond Whiskies Single Grain Coopers Collection
• Loch Lomond Whiskies 8 Years Old Madeira
• Loch Lomond Whiskies 18 Years Old Inchmurrin

Gold

• Loch Lomond Whiskies 10 Years Old
• Loch Lomond Whiskies 12 Years Old Perfectly Balanced
• Loch Lomond Whiskies 14 Years Old
• Loch Lomond Whiskies Single Grain (Peated)
• Loch Lomond Whiskies 14 Years Old Inchmoan

Silver

• Loch Lomond Whiskies Original
• Loch Lomond Whiskies 18 Years Old
• Loch Lomond Whiskies Single Grain (Unpeated)
• Loch Lomond Whiskies Single Grain Distiller’s Choice

About Genevieve Taylor

Live fire and BBQ expert Genevieve Taylor is the author of 12 cookery books including the bestsellers SEARED, The Ultimate Guide to Barbecuing Meat, FOOLPROOF BBQ, CHARRED, a Complete Guide to Vegetarian BBQ and The Ultimate Wood-fired Oven Cook book.

A proud omnivore, Genevieve is on a constant mission to prove that great BBQ isn’t just about Man vs. Meat, although that said, her latest book, SEARED focuses on the science of cooking good meat over good fire. A biologist by training with a lifelong love of nature; sustainability and seasonality are at the heart of all she cooks. She is currently writing a book on fish and shellfish, naturally all cooked over live fire, and hopes to give people more confidence to source and cook better seafood.

She also runs the Bristol Fire School, a cookery school with the principal aim of helping people light better fires to cook better food.

When she’s not cooking outside, Genevieve can usually be found outside walking her dogs in the woods, growing a few good things to eat on her Bristol allotment and listening to a lot of music a little bit too loud.

She writes regularly on live fire cooking in the national press and a BBC Food Programme regular.

Whisky Fest.

We are extremely excited to share that our very first North Uist Distillery Whisky Festival is coming up in less than three weeks as part of the Hebridean Whisky Festival.

On September 4th we will be throwing open the doors at Nunton and welcoming whisky fans for a day of tastings, tours and much much more.

If you have a few days spare you might even want to make a week of it. Organised by the Hebridean Whisky Trail, the festival runs from September 2nd – 9th with events at six fantastic Hebridean distilleries. Start in Jura on on the 2nd, and travel north through Uist to Harris, then hop over to Skye and visit Raasay, before the Festival Finale with all six distilleries gathering at Talisker in Skye on the 9th for the ultimate celebration of Hebridean Whisky!

Keep an eye on your inbox next week for the complete programme of events at Nunton, as it’s definitely going to be a date for your diaries, and in the meantime you can grab your ticket for one of two whisky tastings we’ll be holding on the 4th right now!

Whisky Tasting 12-1pm

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Whisky Tasting 2-3pm

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A Smoking Hot Summer

Its only halfway through summer, but a little much needed recent rain turned our thoughts toward those cold winter nights. We thought we’d share a little of our barrel smoking process that we use to create our award winning Smoke Point.

In Smoke Point we have created a whisky for you to enjoy that captures the spirit of the island campfire and brings the best of Vancouver Island to the canon of smoky, peaty whiskies. We start by collecting driftwood from the shore, and other woods from the farm are smoked, with a little bit of local peat added to the mix as well. This smoke is then piped into the barrels allowing the smoke to infuse into the wood, ready for our spirit to extract the flavour.The rich smoky flavours carry a salty tang and hint of iodine from the seaweed and salt on the driftwood that balances perfectly with the sweet creamy mouthfeel of this award-winning whisky. Experience campfire, cigar smoke and oak on the nose. Chocolate, fruit, and toffee on the palette, finishing in a delicious combination of creme brulée and salty graham cracker.

Shop Now for Smoke Point

Beachfire At Sunset

On a hot summers evening you want something long and cool, but still with the that campfire smoke tang. We were inspired to create the ‘Beachfire at Sunset’, a refreshing cocktail that lets the best bits of the Smoke Point shine through.

Beachfire at Sunset recipe:
1oz Smoke Point
1oz Aperol
2oz Soda Water
Ice

Enjoy!!

Tour the Northwest Whisky Trail

We believe this is the world’s first-ever international whisky trail, encompassing some of the ‘world’s best’ whisky distilleries across the Canadian Province of British Columbia, and the American States of Washington and Oregon. Make sure Shelter Point is your first stop along the way! Find out more here

Chris Read spent some time talking to CBC radio in their feature on the Northwest Whisky Trail, you can listen to it here.

The 10 Year Old available in a store near you…

Our 10 Year Old has made it out to a selection of private liquor stores. It took longer than we planned but bottles of the 10 Year Old are now available in select stores across BC. We will be happy to help you find a store near you that has stock, however as there is only limited availability we also recommend calling the store in advance to avoid disappointment.

TURNTABLE BLENDING HOUSE

New drams just in from Turntable Spirits! 

This superb blending house was started by two very experienced brothers with a serious love of all things whisky, with each blend crafted without compromise on the whiskies used. They taste fantastic and come with excellent transparency on the liquid within.

New additions include, Smokin’ Riff, Bittersweet Symphony & Paradise Funk.

Head over to the Abbey Whisky website to learn more about these exciting new drams…

As always, if you have any questions, please just get in touch.

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Limited edition Japanese single malt

HAKUSHU 18 YEAR OLD

Another special release from the House of Suntory 100th Anniversary editions, celebrating the start of Japan’s first dedicated single malt producer. This limited-edition peated Hakushu 18 Year Old has been matured in a variety of casks and offers notes of vanilla, wildflowers, oven-fresh cookies and sweet smoke.

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Benromach 10yo

UK Exclusive Single Cask

A rare single cask release from Benromach Distillery. A 2013 vintage matured in a first fill sherry hogshead #253, bottled May 2023 at 59.9%. Only 311 bottles exclusively for the UK market. Rich stewed red berry aromas with smooth citrus zest and autumnal spices, followed by a touch of soft smoke.

Shop – Benromach 10yo Single Cask

Benromach Distillery was designed by Charles C. Diog and constructed at Forres in the Speyside whisky region for D. McCallum and F.W. Burickman in 1898. Following numerus periods of closure, it was purchased in 1993 by Gordon & MacPhail who charged up its single pair of stills in 1998 and have nurtured Benromach ever since. Striking new labelling combined with an increasing range of single malts is forging a very popular brand of single malt whiskies which includes Benromach Organic, Benromach Peatsmoke and Benromach 10 Year Old.

LOCHLEA HARVEST EDITION SECOND CROP

The second in a new set of four limited editions, Lochlea Harvest Edition Second Crop has been crafted from Port casks, STR barriques and first fill bourbon barrels. For this years release the distillery has incorporated a much higher proportion of Port casks enhancing the creaminess to the whisky to combine with the peppery spice from the STR barriques.

Harvest Edition is inspired by the end of the Summer when the golden barley is harvested and eventually used for producing next years Lowland whisky at Lochea Distillery.

As always, if you have any questions, please just get in touch.

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Fast EU & Worldwide, Tax Free Shopping

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1997 Ardmore 25 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Single Refill Hogshead Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

($199.99)

K&L Notes: This unprecedented cask of Ardmore is as unusual as it is delicious. The famous Highland peater was built at Kennethmont, Aberdeenshire in 1898. The spiritual home of the once popular Teacher’s Highland Cream, its original owner was in fact the son of the founder of that brand, Adam Teacher. This barrel was distilled prior to the distillery’s transition from coal-fired stills to gas in 2001, one of the last distilleries to do so. It boasts the ability to produce nearly 5.5 million liters of pure alcohol a year with eight working stills. Nearly all of that is made with heavily peated barley. The distillery has remained relatively unknown, although the eastern Highlands is becoming a more significant corner of the single-malt landscape, thanks to improvements over the last two decades of its two major neighbors, Glendronach and Glen Garioch. The enigmatic offering is one of the only casks we’ve ever seen from this special distillery to feature less peated barley. That said, the constant use of heavily peated barley remains in the system, so a very subtle smoke character remains in the whisky, but by no means is it the standard Ardmore. Add more than 2.5 decades and you’ve got an absolute gem. So, if you’re looking for great, old-school malt but aren’t a fan of the smokey stuff, or you’re just looking to expand your understanding of Scotch malt in a general sense, you’ll not want to miss this old Highlander. Exceptional in its own right, it represents a true oddity very unlikely to be seen again.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: June 14, 2023

This awesome little oddity is more than just a quirk. It’s a gorgeous Highlander in the most old-school style. We thought it was very strange when our supplier said they had an unpeated Ardmore, and it’s true that it doesn’t have the same intense highland peat that we see in many younger Ardmores, but there’s still this twinge of old-school smoke here that’s reminiscent of the old Highland way. After 25 years in an old Hogshead, this whisky has developed some serious complexity. It does, like many old malts, love air and needs some time in the glass to fully open, but once it does, very few modern malts compare to this eclectic style. Here we go. The color is old gold. The nose (after aeration) is a stunning mixture of wild honey, roasted heather, dried herbs, bitter bark, candied stone fruits, and clean white smoke in the distance. On the palate, much more honey, toasted fresh bread, touches of pulverized limestone/chalk, burning citrus oils, snappy dried stone fruits, and a sweet, roasted lingering smoke. Lots and lots of sweet jams and wild herbs poking up on the very long, long finish. This is a dream to drink. Totally spectacular and will likely fly under the radar, but when you walk back to that first glass after a 30+-minute aeration, you’ll know that this is really one of a kind.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: June 08, 2023

This delightful cask is an unusual treat in a very unique style. Unpeated in its production, but with a distinct peaty bent in the final product thanks to residual peat in the stills, it’s a bit like someone that grew up with a Southern drawl then moved to a big city years ago and now just has a slight twang. It’s a twang of peat, and it’s delicious. If you’re a fan of Oban and the level of peat you find there, you’re sure to enjoy this cask. Add on top of that the fact it’s a 25-year-old single malt at a screaming price and you going to love it. The color is bright gold. The nose is a mix of peat, ripe fruits, cut grass, vanilla extract, and Hawaiian King bread rolls. The palate is full of buttered toast, marmalade, and gentle smoke. The finish at 53.3% is surprisingly powerful for such an old spirit and the bit of smoke that is there is long and cool.

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Exclusive Irish Whiskey

JAMESON 22 YEAR OLD

In case you missed it, we’ve welcomed Jameson’s oldest Irish whiskey to date to our range of exclusives. This limited-edition release has been matured for more than two decades in a combination of bourbon and oloroso sherry casks, balancing Jameson’s signature orchard fruits and vanilla character with sherry nuttiness and warming spices.

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Farm-to-cask Lochlea Distillery reveals

second crop of Harvest Edition single malt

Award winning farm-to-cask distillery Lochlea in Ayrshire today releases its second ‘crop’, or batch, of its seasonal release: Harvest Edition.

The distillery’s celebrated seasonal small batch release single malt whiskies showcase Lochlea’s household style across the year, with each season being celebrated through the selection of different casks being used for maturation.

The new release – Harvest Edition Second Crop – has been matured in a combination of carefully selected Tawny and Ruby Port casks, STR barriques and first-fill Bourbon barrels to offer a deliciously different twist to the Lochlea house style.

Production Director John Campbell said: “As a working farm, these expressions tie in to reflect our farming calendar here at Lochlea.

For this year’s Harvest Edition Second Crop we have incorporated a much higher proportion of Port casks as the spirit is another year older and we felt that it could stand up to the richness and intensity these casks add. This has really helped to enhance the whisky’s creaminess, whilst also introducing a delightful peppery, floral spice that the spirit gets from the STR barriques.

We are really proud of this release, which has been inspired by the end of summer, when our golden barley is harvested and eventually used for the next year’s production.”

Lochlea’s seasonal releases are as follows:

• Harvest Edition: inspired by the annual harvest on the farm.

• Fallow Edition: reflects the season of autumn on the farm when the fields are left fallow to rest after a busy harvest.

• Ploughing Edition: released in winter when the fields are ploughed in preparation for spring.

• Sowing Edition: inspired by spring when the seed if sown for the year’s barley crop.

As with all of Lochlea’s whiskies, Harvest Edition Second Crop is non-chill filtered. It has been bottled at 46% ABV – the same strength as Harvest Edition First Crop, so that the annual releases can be compared and contrasted. RRP is £51.60, available now from Lochlea stockists.

In addition to the seasonal limited edition releases, Lochlea has a core whisky expression available all year round – Our Barley. This unpeated single malt has been matured in a combination of three different casks: first fill ex-bourbon, Oloroso sherry casks and STR barriques, all of which add depths of flavour to the spirit. Launched in July 2022, Our Barley has received much acclaim as a superb example of a young non-age statement (NAS) Lowlands whisky, made entirely from the distillery’s own home-grown barley. 

Harvest Edition Second Crop

Tasting notes:

Nose: Dates, ripe red grapes, thick cut marmalade

Palate: Pink peppercorns and dried fruit

Finish: A beautiful lingering creamy finish

ABV: 46%

 About Lochlea Distillery:

Lochlea was originally a 222 acre livestock farm before being purchased by Neil and Jen McGeoch in 2006. After much consideration of the future of the farm and a successful trial to grow its own barley in 2015, the couple transformed the land and existing farm buildings into a fully-operational distillery in 2017 and started distilling the following year. The farming side has remained a unique part of Lochlea, with the move into barley production – paving the way for Lochlea to be one of the very few fully grain-to-glass distilleries in Scotland. It also has a rich Scottish heritage with strong links to Robbie Burns, with the bard having worked and lived on the farm a several years.

For a full list of Lochlea stockists, visit: Lochlea Distillery stockists