A Loch Lomond Distillery was first established in Arrochar in
1814, but closed three years later. The present business was established in
1964 by the former owners of the Littlemill Distillery in Bowling. Production
began in Loch Lomond the following year in 1965.
Malt production began in 1987. Grain whisky production began
in 1993 and two new malt stills were added in 1999. At the time the Grain
distillery opened in 1994, it was the only distillery in Scotland producing
both Grain and Malt whisky. It also operates a unique set-up of three sets of
stills.
Their distillery has the ability and self sufficiency to
produce special edition Whisky including, Single Grain Whisky and Deluxe
Blends. Loch Lomond’s focus on quality is unwavering. The distillery owns its
own cooperage, ensuring that barrel repairs
and charing are carried out to an exacting standard so every cask is
perfect for maturing our Loch Lomond spirit. Loch Lomond is one of only 4
distilleries in Scotland that has their own cooperage on site.
The uniqueness of our pot malt stills rest in the cylindrical
necks of the spirit stills. Traditionally the necks of malt stills are open.
The Loch Lomond stills include special distillation trays in the necks,
allowing for greater contact with the cooling alcohol vapour. This makes the
process more efficient. These stills can produce alcohol up to 90% ABV where
normal stills deliver the alcohol at around 70% ABV. This style of still allows
for different ‘flavour notes’ to be captured and emphasised through the range
of alcohol strengths that can be captured and rejected. This is much more
difficult to achieve through a conventional pot still.
Our portfolio includes the
Loch Lomond single malt, which is distilled and matured on the ‘bonnie banks’,
and Glen Scotia, a Campbeltown malt from the Victorian ‘whisky capital of the
world’, as well as several high quality blends. Each is a fine example of its
region and style, redolent of the landscape and history which has shaped
Scotland’s unique spirit.
In March 2014 we acquired the Loch Lomond Distillery Company – and with
it, a history which goes back to at least 1772 with the founding of the
Littlemill distillery. The Littlemill distillery is now recognized as the
oldest licensed distillery in Scotland, the distillery fell silent in 1994 and
was destroyed by fire in 2004, making this liquid exceptionally rare and
covetable.
In
1814, the original site of the Loch Lomond distillery was established near
Tarbet towards the north west end of Loch Lomond. In 1832, the Glen Scotia
distillery was founded in Campbeltown and is one of only three distilleries
remaining in Campbeltown from that era. Our portfolio includes the Loch Lomond
single malt, which is distilled and matured on the ‘bonnie banks’, and Glen
Scotia, a Campbeltown malt from the Victorian ‘whisky capital of the world.
Each is a fine example of its region and style, redolent of the landscape and
history which has shaped Scotland’s unique spirit.
The
responsibility at Loch Lomond falls on our Master blender Michael Henry.
BY
YON BONNIE BANKS AN’BY YON BONNIE BRAES WHAUR THE SUN SHINES BRIGHT ON LOCH
LOMOND.