<ARCHIVE> | CAMPBELTOWN HIGHLANDS ISLANDS ISLAY LOWLANDS SPEYSIDE | AMERICAN CANADIAN IRISH WORLD | INDEPENDENT | ANCNOC ARDBEG BENRIACH BLAIR ATHOL BOWMORE BRUICHLADDICH BUFFALO TRACE CAOL ILA CARN MOR CLYNELISH COMPASS BOX CREATIVE WHISKY COMPANY CROWN ROYAL DEANSTON DOUGLAS LAING FERMENTORIUM FORTY CREEK GLENDRONACH GLENFARCLAS GLENMORANGIE GORDON MACPHAIL HIGH WEST HIGHLAND PARK JACK DANIELS JAMESON JP WISERS JURA KENTUCKY BOURBON DISTILLERS KILCHOMAN KIRKLAND KNOB CREEK LAPHROAIG LOCH LOMOND MACALLAN MIDLETON ODD SOCIETY OLD PULTENEY SHELTER POINT THE GLENLIVET TWO BREWERS

Loch Lomond 2010 Càrn Mòr 8-Year

46% ABV - Highlands, Scotland

Nose: It opens with sweet malt, light fruit, Highland peat, and hints of particular fruit… like an unripe white nectarine.

Taste: Great mouthfeel—full body. Initially the peat is quite dominant with some smoked wood or bark, vanilla, bordering on tropical fruits—pineapple… and a ripe orchard.

Finish: There is a quick transition to the finish, where mostly campfire smoke, menthol, and non-descript fruits meld for a minute or so. Bits of sea salt and… a tang.

I have had a love–hate relationship with this whisky. When I first tried it, from a bottle owned by a friend, I thought it amazing—a hidden gem. The retail price on this Càrn Mòr Strictly Limited 8-Year bottle was around $125 CAD out-the-door… my instinct was to stock up.

I bought one. I hated it after opening it.

However! I have started to open up to it more… or is Loch Lomond opening up to me? Regardless, this makes for an excellent "exploratory purchase" and a great addition to the range of flavour on my shelving.
I admittedly do not know that much about Loch Lomond whiskies. The only other Loch Lomond in my collection is a 25-Year Single Grain. Until about a month ago, I thought that the distillery only produced Single Malt. But that is a review for another time.

Loch Lomond is described, by their own website, as a heavily peated malt. That did surprise me a bit… my usual peat-bombs are Laphroaig and Ardbeg. So what I have here in the glass is definitely more towards Highland Park than it is, say, the Ledaig style of peat and smoke (which I consider to be a heavily peated, non-Islay whisky).

Details: Peated. Bottled 2018. Matured in Hogshead Casks. 800 Bottles from 2 Casks.

Notes: There is a great review by u/MDob posted here.

Tasted 14 December 2021. (Posted 10 November 2022.)

85/100
Detailed Rating Information...

90+: Fantastic whisky; highly recommended.
My favourite whiskies – I might have more than one bottle if the price is right and the supply is limited! The higher values in this range will reflect a stronger balance and consistency between components.
85-89: Great whisky; recommended.
Whiskies that tick the flavour boxes and you'll likely hear about these from me. An easy decision to order at a bar/restaurant and one to consider buying a bottle of.
80-84: Very good whisky; recommended, but still consider trying before you buy.
Most of these whiskies I was really happy to have the opportunity to taste, but, apart from a dram here and there, I don’t think I would buy a bottle.
75-79: Good whisky; consider trying before you buy.
These are whiskies that I did enjoy drinking, but likely would reach for another bottle or select something different to order.
65-74: Average; consider trying before you buy, but not recommended.
There is nothing that stood out about this whisky and I might be inclined to mix it with soda or in a cocktail, instead of trying to enjoy its own flavours.
50-64: Bad; not recommended.
I didn’t like this and would sooner pass on another opportunity and order a beer instead than have it again… but never say never.


Whisky Bottle