Loch Lomond Whiskies unveils Scotland’s first whisky golf trail in celebration of The Open 

Loch Lomond Whiskies, The Official Spirit of The Open, has launched Scotland’s first whisky golf trail ahead of The 152^nd Open at Royal Troon this summer.

Inviting golf fans to enjoy the build-up to the sport’s most prestigious championship, the distiller has partnered with 10 bars in Glasgow and Troon, mapping a trail to the site of The Open’s highly anticipated return to Scotland this July.

From Glasgow’s Merchant City to Troon Harbour (between 12-21 July), golf fans and whisky enthusiasts will find a bespoke serve from Loch Lomond Whiskies’ diverse range on the menu in each participating bar, ideally located for those travelling to the championship or watching the action from Glasgow city centre.

The participating bars include The Absent Ear and The Piper Whisky Bar in Merchant City; Devil of Brooklyn, The Raven, Malo Wine & Negroni Bar and The Pot Still in Glasgow city centre; The Bon Accord in Glasgow’s west end; and Lido, Scott’s Bar & Restaurant and The Fox in Troon.

The development of Scotland’s first whisky golf trail follows Loch Lomond Whiskies’ release of three new single malts in celebration of The Open.

The Open Special Edition 2024 (RRP £45; 46% ABV), The Open Course Collection 2024 (RRP £290; 47.1% ABV) and The 152^nd Open Exclusive 29 Year Old Single Malt – French Sauternes Finish (RRP £1,520, 47.8% ABV) pay tribute to the people, players and courses throughout the history of the championship. All three whiskies will be available to sample as a dram at Loch Lomond Whiskies’ stand at The Open and at three of the bars taking part in the whisky golf trail: The Bon Accord, The Pot Still and The Piper Whisky Bar.

The rest of the participating bars will focus on cocktails as part of the whisky golf trail. Designed by award-winning bartender and mixologist Jamie Moran, one of the owners of The Absent Ear, each serve will also be available to purchase at The Open, and will showcase Loch Lomond Whiskies’ signature style of fruit, honey and soft smoke.

Joanne Carlin, sponsorship and events manager at Loch Lomond Whiskies, said: 

“At Loch Lomond Whiskies we’re proud to be the official Spirit of The Open, and our development of Scotland’s first whisky golf trail is an exciting new milestone in our ongoing commitment to this prestigious sport.  

“We hope the trail will be a welcome pit stop for those travelling to The Open by train, and those enjoying the championship from afar. Jamie will be working with us on our stand at The Open, and it’s been a privilege to collaborate with him on a range of unique cocktails and serves which showcase the distillery’s unique approach to creating flavour.”  

This year marks the seventh year of the Loch Lomond Whiskies’ partnership with The Open. The world’s oldest golf championship brings together professional players from across the globe to compete for the coveted Claret Jug.

Returning to Scotland this year, The 152nd Open will be held from 12-21 July 2024 at Royal Troon in Ayrshire. Founded in 1878, Royal Troon is renowned as one of the world’s greatest links courses, and last hosted The Open in 2016.

A map of the whisky golf trail is available to view here.

To find out more about Loch Lomond Whiskies, visit www.lochlomondwhiskies.com.

The bars participating in the whisky golf trail include:

The Bon Accord, 153 North Street, Glasgow, G3 7DA

Malo – Wine & Negroni Bar, 12 Bothwell Street, Glasgow, G2 6LU

The Pot Still, 154 Hope Street, Glasgow, G2 2TH

The Raven, 81-85 Renfield Street, Glasgow, G2 1NQ

Devil of Brooklyn, 42 Renfield Street, Glasgow, G2 1NF

The Piper Whisky Bar, 57 Cochrane Street, Glasgow, G1 1HL

The Absent Ear, Brunswick Street, Glasgow, G1 1TF

Scott’s Bar & Restaurant, Harbour Road, Troon, KA10 6DJ

Lido Troon, 11-17 West Portland Street, Troon, KA10 6AB

The Fox, 18 West Portland Street, Troon, KA10 6AB

About Loch Lomond Whiskies

Loch Lomond Whiskies is an award-winning, independent Scotch whisky distiller which has been producing the finest single malt whiskies since 1814.  As a Highland malt, it is part of the largest and most diverse whisky-making region in Scotland.

The original site of the Loch Lomond Distillery was established near Tarbert, towards the northwest end of Loch Lomond. In the 1960s, under the leadership of American entrepreneur and chemist, Duncan Scott (who was instrumental in the ongoing success of Scotland’s oldest licensed distillery, Littlemill), a new site was created in Alexandria, which began a move to a more innovative philosophy and style of whisky-making that is still used today.

Located only a few miles from the famous loch, the distillery has a whisky-making capability like no other, using a combination of traditional swan-neck and its signature straight-neck-stills, which are unique to Loch Lomond Whiskies.

The straight-neck stills give Master Blender Michael Henry greater control over the distillation process, allowing him to carefully manipulate the flavour profile of each whisky, and providing a signature fruit, honey and soft smoke flavour profile.

Loch Lomond Whiskies is one of only four distillers in Scotland to have its own onsite cooperage, ensuring that barrel repairs and charring are carried out to an exacting standard, so every cask is perfect for maturing whisky.

The distillery’s multi-award-winning range includes Loch Lomond Original; Loch Lomond 12 Year Old; Loch Lomond 12 Year Old; Loch Lomond Inchmoan 12 Year Old; Loch Lomond Inchmurrin 12 Year Old; Loch Lomond 18 Year Old; Loch Lomond 21 Year Old and Loch Lomond 30 Year Old, as well as Loch Lomond Single Grain (peated and unpeated) and the deluxe blend Loch Lomond Signature.

In 2023, it was recognised as 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.

Last year, Loch Lomond 18 Year Old was revealed as The Whisky Exchange’s coveted ‘Whisky of the Year 2024’, achieving superior scores from the judging panel for its full-bodied and fruity character.

24 Year Old White Oak, a limited edition celebration

In celebration of this new permanent addition to the Glengoyne range, we’re also releasing a very special limited edition 24 year old as part of the White Oak range. 24 Year Old is matured in American First Fill Bourbon and Virgin Oak casks. At 47.7% this 24 year old is rich with vanilla, lemon curd and honey, this whisky is gently balanced with intriguing depth, bright lemon and key lime pie. Honeycomb and soft oak warms the palate giving way to a long and well aged finish of delicate citrus and lingering oak.

This is a limited release that will not return once sold out. White Oak 24 year old will be available to buy online and at selected global specialist retailers.

Find out more

TORMORE DISTILLERY

29 Year Old 1993 Connoisseurs Choice UK Exclusive

Cask #5053

£285.00

Tormore 29 Year Old 1993 vintage Speyside single malt Scotch whisky distilled at Tormore distillery. Single first fill sherry butt #5053 bottled May 2022 for the United Kingdom market by Gordon & MacPhail for the Connoisseurs Choice series. 554 bottles.

Nose: Stewed red berries complement vanilla pod and subtle cocoa powder. Medjool dates give way to dark treacle and notes of soft aniseed.

Taste: Baked apple intertwines with cinnamon and ginger spice. Dark chocolate leads to subtle citrus fruit and charred oak.

Finish: Full with lingering summer berries and soft herbal notes.

Tormore Distillery was established in 1958 in the Speyside whisky region to supply malt whisky to blending houses. It was designed by Sir Albert Richardson, President of the Royal Academy and is set in stunning landscaped gardens. Resplendent with green-coppered roofs, decorative pagoda roofs, a clock tower and clock which still chimes Scottish tunes, a rectangular curling pond, topiary and houses for the staff. Tormore Distillery is now operating with eight stills in its tall still house and Tormore malt whisky is still mostly flowing into scotch blends. Whilst official bottling are sparse it features amongst the ranges of a number of independent bottlers including Signatory Vintage and Connoisseurs Choice.

Equinox & Solstice Summer Edition Mortlach 16 Year Old

From Decadent Drinks’ Equinox & Solstice series, this Summer Edition of Mortlach is from a cask chosen from the stocks of revered independent bottlers Signatory Vintage. The exquisite expression has been aged in a refill hogshead cask for 16 years and is presented at 48.5% abv. A summertime sipper.

£95.00
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Free Next Day Delivery for 12 Months For just £14.95 you can enjoy free next day delivery on all your orders for a whole year! Geographic restrictions apply, see full T&Cs. Find out more ❯

2024 EDITION OF THE TURBO ANNOUNCED BY MEIKLE TÒIR

Award-winning Speyside peated single malt brand reveals this year’s edition of sought-after limited release

Independent Scotch whisky producer The GlenAllachie Distillers Company issues peated single malt brand Meikle Tòir’s annual limited release: The Turbo 2024 Edition.

The new label, launched in September 2023, features Scotch whisky produced at independent distillery The GlenAllachie in Speyside.

With veteran whisky maker Billy Walker at the helm since 2017, the distillery introduced annual peated productions of approximately six weeks starting the following year.

The annual outturn of peated new make spirit amounts to around 100,000 Litres of Alcohol (LOA): roughly a tenth of the distillery’s total output.

Since its launch, Meikle Tòir has scooped exceptional accolades, including 93 points for The Turbo 2023 Edition (IWSC, 2024). Judges commented that the “palate is a delight of peach and fruity notes, balanced by a zesty finish”.

Following extraordinary demand for its previous iteration, The Turbo 2024 Edition (50% ABV, UK RRSP £55.99) is a marriage of five American virgin oak casks and four Oloroso hogsheads, producing just 2,200 bottles.

The product name, coined by Walker, is intended to reflect the intense smoke character achieved by capturing the spirit cut with the highest phenol level during distillation.

The phenolic content of the spirit at the point of bottling was an impressive 70 Parts per Million (PPM), balanced with “waves of toasted nuts, salted caramel and dark chocolate truffles” delivered by five years in the rich casks.

To create Meikle Tòir, The GlenAllachie used mainland peat from St. Fergus to contribute a sweeter smoke flavour in comparison to island peat.

The whisky also underwent an extended fermentation period of 160 hours—part of Walker’s adaptations implemented when he took ownership—to develop a complex and flavourful distillate rich in esters.

All Meikle Tòir products are proudly presented with a five-year age statement, without added colouring and non-chill filtered.

Additionally, the brand’s packaging, which features a hand-drawn illustration by Scottish artist Iain McIntosh, is sourced exclusively from UK-based suppliers to reduce its carbon footprint.

The peated label’s core range consists of three other products: The Original, The Sherry One and The Chinquapin One.

Remarking on the new release, Walker comments:

“We have been thrilled at the reception of Meikle Tòir among the whisky community and beyond over the last ten months. For the team and I, it was essential to begin a peated campaign when we took over the reins at The GlenAllachie and use mainland peat to complement the spirit’s heather honey DNA.

“The Turbo, by its nature, is incredibly limited, but if you can get your hands on it, it’s an opportunity not to be missed. The 2024 Edition is a very moreish dram packed full of sweet campfire smoke alongside dried fruit and chocolate tones.”

Meikle Tòir The Turbo 2024 Edition will become increasingly available worldwide from today, with a UK RRSP of £55.99.

ABOUT MEIKLE TÒIR:

Guided by revered Master Distiller, Billy Walker, our team is on a ‘Meikle Tòir’ (meaning ‘big pursuit’). The goal: to carefully craft and cask-perfect a peerless peated single malt at our Speyside home, The GlenAllachie Distillery.

Being independent, we have complete freedom to do things our way. Every step of the whisky-making journey has been meticulously considered and masterfully optimised to steer the ensuing aromatic and flavour characteristics of the whisky.

Using premium mainland peat for an oaky, sweet smoke style; a process of extended fermentation, exacting distillation and expert maturation elevates the spirit to its pinnacle. After years of patient slumber, the spirit within each cask must meet Billy’s rigorous standards to reach the bottle.

Where pioneering passion and painstaking precision are paramount. All in the pursuit of peated perfection. 

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 ABOUT GLENALLACHIE:

At The GlenAllachie, each decision in creating our award-winning Speyside single malt merges logic with instinct. In the experienced hands of legendary whisky maker Billy Walker, a culture of precision, patience and perseverance has been instilled in his small yet accomplished team of whisky experts.

Our brands include The GlenAllachie Single Malt, Meikle Tòir Single Malt, MacNair’s Boutique House of Spirits – encompassing Lum Reek Blended Malt Scotch Whisky and White Heather Blended Scotch Whisky.

TASTING NOTES:

Meikle Tòir The Turbo 2024 Edition, 5-year-old – 50% ABV

• Nose: Smoked blood orange, cinnamon spice and manuka honey, with bursts of rich dark chocolate and roasted hazelnuts.

• Taste: Worn leather, baking spices and cigar box, followed by honey, hazelnuts and dried red berries, with burnt orange peel and salted caramel.

We are delighted to announce that Ripple Rock has been awarded Single Malt Whisky Of The Year and won Gold at the Bartender Spirits Awards. This was our first time entering this competition and we are honoured to receive this level of recognition.

Buy Ripple Rock

The Bartender Spirits Awards is one of the most prestigious and respected spirits competitions, judged by renowned bartenders and bar managers. Medals are awarded to those spirits that meet a very specific judging criteria, with a goal of identifying spirits that should become additions to restaurant and bar menus. Spirits were judged according to criteria such as how well they pair with food items in addition to their overall taste, mixability, versatility, packaging and price.

Ripple Rock is one of our most popular products and its sophistication and adaptability has struck a chord with enthusiasts and bartenders alike.

CAOL ILA DISTILLERY
25 Year Old 1998 Connoisseurs Choice (2024)
Cask #12879

Introducing the Caol Ila 25 Year Old 1998, an extraordinary single malt Scotch whisky, bottled by Gordon & MacPhail for the prestigious Connoisseurs Choice series. This rare gem has been aged for a quarter of a century in a 1st fill sherry butt, cask #12879, which endows the whisky with a profound depth of flavour and complexity.Aged for 25 years in a first-fill Sherry Butt and distilled in 1998, this highly sought-after whisky is offered at an attractive price by Gordon & MacPhail.

£293.40

TWB Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with an enticing bouquet of rich sherry aromas, including dried fruits, dark chocolate, and roasted coffee beans. Hints of smoked bacon, seaweed, and a touch of leather add a unique Islay character.

Palate: On the palate, experience a harmonious blend of sherry sweetness and maritime influence. Flavors of ripe figs, dates, and sultanas are complemented by smoky peat, black pepper, and a subtle briny undertone. The whisky’s texture is full-bodied and velvety, enveloping the taste buds in luxurious layers.

Finish: The finish is long and lingering, with notes of smoldering peat, sherry-soaked fruit, and a hint of salted caramel. The smoky richness fades slowly, leaving a beautifully balanced and memorable aftertaste.

Caol Ila Distillery is famous for the stunning view from its still house windows looking out across the Sound of Islay and for the objects which have passed by including naval battleships, submarines and whales. Caol Ila was established in 1846 by Hector Henderson on a sheltered but rocky stretch of coast on north east Islay. Now the largest malt whisky distillery on Islay it produces peated and some un-peated malt whisky with the distillery range including Caol Ila 12 year old and the Distiller’s Edition. Caol Ila participates in Feis Ile, the annual Islay Festival of Malt and Music.

WAITING FOR THE PERFECT LIGHT
Introducing a new member to the Glengoyne family:
White Oak

White Oak, all American Oak matured

Each winter the geese that grace our glen make a miraculous journey of 3000 miles across the Atlantic to America. This migration has inspired a new whisky for the Glengoyne core range, a celebration of Quercus Alba (American Oak) that we call White Oak.

A first for Glengoyne, this brand new expression is matured exclusively in First Fill Bourbon and Virgin Oak Casks sourced from North America. These casks are charred for less than a minute allowing the Glengoyne spirit to shine, unladen.

White Oak sings of vibrant wood and bright citrus, unripe banana and a hint of violets. The palate is soft and playful with touches of creme brulee, fruit gums and pineapple. At 48% the finish is long and smooth, giving flavours of toffee apple.

As a new member of our core range, this expression is available globally and on our Glengoyne website now.

Find out more

The SPEY Trilogia, 46% ABV

https://youtu.be/3QwHVryo5tA

I’m ashamed to say that I haven’t tried much from The SPEY distillery. Between chasing bourbon unicorns to open, strange Scotch bottles, indies, and all that stuff, this passed me by. But thankfully not anymore!

A combination of three of their own single malts, married together in a finish of first fill Tawny port, with that little bit of peat smoke ruminating throughout it. This is quite a bottle for the summer, and a refresher on the idea of port casks for me. I’ve rarely gotten on with them, besides rum casks, they’ve always been my ‘this never really works’ in the whisky world.

Anyway, this is a limited release of just 6,000 bottles, which for a distillery this small and under the radar is quite a small amount of anything.

Have you tried anything from SPEY before? Is there something I should pick up?