Lochlea Fallow 46% ABV

The third in the series of seasonal limited releases from Lochlea. Fallow Edition (First Crop) has been matured entirely in first-fill oloroso sherry casks, for plenty of rich, autumnal fruit character. This single malt Scotch whisky is made with barley grown on the Lochlea farm, and has been bottled non-chill filtered, at 46% ABV.

Master of Malt

Appearance

We’re into deep burnished copper colour wise here, the swirl line in my Glencairn is very thick. It drops a mixture of both slow thick and medium thick legs. 

Nose

The nose is straight into dark fruits. Raisins, dates, and figs really do bring a very nicely rounded sweetness. A dustiness also joins them, and strawberry laces too. 

More time and it’s now chocolate coated raisins, cola, dandelion and burdock. I have to say that at 46% ABV it is coming across quite spicy, which I don’t usually get on the nose tbh.

Palate

Straight away it’s spicy, at 46% ABV it’s not a spice bomb, but it is rather nice. All the notes from the nose are here in flavour form, all that you’d expect to be here. Toasted tea cakes, black liquorice, salted caramel sweetened espresso coffee. Dark plums are prevalent, along with what’s quickly becoming dark chocolate.

Waiting further and I think it becomes stronger flavour wise, cocoa powder, fisherman’s friends and cough syrup.

Finish

Quite long in length, and the spices and fruits linger really nicely. That 46% ABV goes a long way, and is rather palate warming. Right at the end I get black cherries with a hint of perfume.

My thoughts

My Whiskey Chaps partner very kindly sent me a generous sample of this dram. Something new, and with the hoo haa about new bottles and their prices, this one is quite decent. I was wondering if it would be a good £50 bottle or not, hoping it would be. Well i can say for me this is a lovely whisky. The ABV is welcome, but the whisky is much more than that in my opinion. It offers loads on both nose and palate, with quite a long finish too.

This was one of those really nice surprise drams for me. A very full 1st fill Oloroso cask matured whisky. At £50, in the whisky business these days, i think it’s a great buy. Would i have one? Um no brainer to be honest, it’s a big yes. I will say that i saw someone else say they wouldn’t purchase one, choices, choices.