Sips & Sites & Bites

There’s something about the Highlands that lingers in a glass of whisky. The rugged beauty of Ben Lomond, the crisp air drifting across Loch Lomond’s waters, and the quiet patience of tradition all seem to weave themselves into the spirit. This season, one of Scotland’s great distilleries is reintroducing an expression that captures that very essence: Loch Lomond 18-Year-Old.

If you’re a whisky lover, or shopping for one, this bottle is worth knowing. Loch Lomond has been distilling since 1814, and with two centuries of craftsmanship behind them, they’ve become known for pushing flavor forward without losing touch with tradition. Master Blender Michael Henry leads the charge, using an inventive mix of long fermentation, carefully chosen yeast, and their distinctive straight-neck pot stills (each lined with 32 copper plates) to craft whiskies with a unique signature: orchard fruit brightness, honeyed sweetness, and just a touch of soft smoke.

The Loch Lomond 18-Year-Old, retailing at $159.99, is matured in a trio of American oak casks … first-fill, refill, and re-charred. This triple maturation brings depth and balance, layering flavors of baked apple, rich toffee, and toasted oak with an elegant touch of wood smoke. That whisper of peat, which accounts for only about five percent of Loch Lomond’s annual whisky production, doesn’t dominate. Instead, it seasons the whisky like a chef’s final flourish, bringing harmony to the fruit and honey notes at the core.

Pour a dram and you’ll find the nose bright with green apple and grapefruit before giving way to honeysuckle and mature oak. On the palate, toasted oak and cigar box richness meet green fruits like gooseberry and apple, while the long finish lingers with dried tea, tobacco leaf, and a gentle wisp of smoke. It’s a whisky that evolves as you sip, inviting you to slow down and savor.

Part of what makes Loch Lomond stand out is its obsessive attention to detail, even down to the barrels. Few distilleries in Scotland have their own cooperage, but Loch Lomond does, with ten coopers working daily to keep casks in perfect condition. That care shows in every glass.

As the holidays approach, Loch Lomond 18-Year-Old makes for a standout gift, whether you’re giving to a seasoned Scotch enthusiast or treating yourself to something truly special. It’s a whisky with clarity, complexity, and character, shaped by tradition and refined by innovation. In short, it’s the Highlands in a bottle.