Loch Lomond Reserve

Nose: Fragrant, warm, and malty. Peach, apple, orange peel, a bit of honey and vanilla. There's a subtle, soft ashy smoke in the background and a pleasant leathery quality. The aroma left in the glass is malty vanilla. A hint of ethanol is noticeable, but considering it's one of the most affordable blended scotches, it's a remarkably good nose with an 'old-school' character. It slightly resembles Teachers Highland Cream from the 1990s. Palate: The initial taste is soft, sweet, and malty. Cinnamon spice, tannic black tea, cereal, and bitter orange appear as it develops, along with a hint of the same sooty smoke from the nose. The texture is a bit thin and spirited (though no more than most blends), but the grain whisky provides some silkiness. You can comfortably drink this neat or with a splash of water as a sipper. Finish: Short. Some sweet notes, but the tea flavor from the palate lingers and turns slightly bitter, which is the only drawback. There's a puff of smoke in the aftertaste. This is a bottom-shelf priced whisky that significantly exceeds expectations and has become my regular choice for mixing. For its price, it's very good value, yet after being on the market for about five years, it remains largely unnoticed and is a quiet champion. I think its quality has slightly declined over time, mainly in the finish, which isn't as long now, but it's still a remarkably good budget blend. All other blended scotches (to my knowledge) are made from malt and grain whiskies from various sources and are crafted to achieve a specific profile. Uniquely, Loch Lomond Reserve is produced by a single distillery, offering a glimpse into the Loch Lomond house style. While there's no legal classification for such a blend other than 'blended scotch,' it could unofficially be considered a 'single blend.' Well worth the cost and highly recommended, but don't compare it to your favorite malt or even a premium blend, as it's not intended to compete in that category. However, against anything else in the AUD$30-50 range, it is clearly the top choice. 'Above Average': 80/100 (3 stars)

Color is pale orange-brown. The nose is quite satisfying - not very spiritous with a hint of smoke, fruity sweetness with bold grain and wood tones; even some steak meat notes show up sometimes along with smoke-dried salami however the overall aroma might not be called very bright - it’s just neutral. The taste is more prominent. It obtains notes of grass, bread, vanilla, spices and citruses which are the most defining here. Also some flower dust. Some peat and smoked salami. Though, again, the taste is a bit spiritous and bitter. Finish is more about burnt oak and bread with some light sweet notes. LL Reserve is not that simple, though all the terms are not well expressed but decent in general. Well, I rate it fairly high above average relatively to the cheapest blends (such as Tullamore D.E.W or Ballantines). And I even might choose it over some of the single malts as well.

In Australia, this costs $40, and at that price, it's an interesting dram. The nose blends butterscotch, butternut biscuits, peat, and a hint of ethanol. It's not outstanding, but there's definitely enough character to suggest it's not just another mass-produced blend. It has sweet toffee/butterscotch and vanilla that leads to light tannin and, similar to High Commissioner, a touch of charcoal and spice. It's well-balanced and remarkably smooth for a blend. Cereal malt combines with a herbal finish. It has a light peatiness, like the nose, but again, it's a refined dram for this price point. Rated 3 stars or 88 points - an excellent result for an unaged blend.

A fairly standard blend, with a moderate peat influence. An excellent deal for the price. Hints of honey, biscuit, malt, and possibly pear. I was curious, so I paid around $33 for 1.75 liters shipped from the west coast. It's agreeable enough at that cost to be used as a go-to scotch for gatherings. However, for regular consumption, I'll likely stick with Grant's Family Reserve, which is readily available locally.

This private blend from Loch Lomond is quite enjoyable. The aroma presents the typical Loch Lomond profile - hints of fruit, a touch of funk, and some butterscotch. However, the taste diverges from that expectation. While it carries some of the expected sweet notes like butterscotch, vanilla, and toffee, it also possesses a SIGNIFICANT savory and herbal character. It's a delightful and rather distinct take on the Loch Lomond character!

The least expensive blend from the Loch Lomond selection is actually a quite drinkable spirit. It offers easy tasting notes without any harsh alcohol presence. Color is a burnished gold, bottled at 40% ABV. Nose: honey, vanilla cream, apples. Palate: honey, cinnamon, ashes. Finish: moderately long, slightly herbal. There's not much to add here. For the cost, it's a solid offering, more for casual drinkers than connoisseurs. Score: 65/100.