Lochlea was a cattle farm when it was originally acquired it in 2006. Extending some 222 acres, we realised that for a farm of that size to be viable we needed to do something very different.
Barley had historically been grown on the farm land, largely as livestock feed, so in 2015 we embarked on an experiment, growing 50 acres of malting barley.
Working away quietly, learning from our (not too frequent) mistakes, exploring the possibilities and making contacts in the malting industry gave us the confidence to make a big decision: we’d develop and operate a single malt distillery here at Lochlea.
Construction got underway in 2017, converting the former piggery, byre and midden in the heart of the farm steading into the distillery, and repurposing the cattle sheds into bonded warehouses. We secured all our licences in 2018, and the distillery was commissioned in August 2018.
Since then, we have been growing our barley, and the distillery team have been skillfully and patiently making spirit.
The land at Lochlea is important, and not just to the distinctive taste of our whisky. This was the land that Robert Burns tended when he lived at Lochlea Farm, inspiring his thinking and development as a poet. Burns toiled the same soil that we are privileged to grow our malting barley in today.
We like to think he’d approve.
Lochlea Our Barley
John Campbell’s masterpiece! Our Barley is our ongoing core Single Malt expression, which sits alongside side our seasonal limited editions. Our Master Blender has carefully honed this recipe, and with a combination of Bourbon, Sherry and STR Casks there is a whole new level of depth and complexity to the final whisky.
Bottled at 46% abv.
Nose: Pear syrup, fruit Bon Bons, warm cut grass, marmalade.
Palate: Golden syrup, pepper, Rye bread, macadamia nuts, cream soda.
Finish: Long finish with a lasting orange beeswax note.
Oloroso Sherry Butts: Delivered straight from Jerez, Spain, our Oloroso Sherry Butts present flavors of fruit Bon Bons, marmalade and macadamia nuts.
STR Barriques: Delivered straight from Spain, our ‘Shaved, Toasted, Re-charred’ Barriques impart peppery spice and rye bread notes.
First-Fill Bourbon Barrels: Delivered straight from Loretto, Kentucky, our fresh First-Fill Bourbon Barrels help to impart golden syrup and cream soda flavors.
2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition – Gold
Lochlea ex-Islay Single Cask No. 379
Our first US Exclusive Single Cask offers our fans in the United States the opportunity to taste Lochlea Single Malt whisky. in a completely different way Fully Matured in one ex-Islay Cask for 4 years and 3 months, this expression showcases our signature Lochlea burst of fruit with a smokiness reminiscent of campfire stories and Autumn baked goods.
61.4% abv 240 bottles
Nose: Initial toffee notes, baked apples and cinnamon spice accompanied by earthy peat.
Palate: Campfire smoke appears on the palate with luscious orchard fruits, giving
Finish: Pleasant and lingering beckoning you to return for another sip.
Lochlea Fallow Edition (Second Crop)
Our seasonal small batch releases showcase the signature Lochlea style in four
The third in a new set of four limited editions, ‘Fallow Edition’ (Second Crop)
Product Breakdown
46% ABV
Natural Color
Non-Chill Filtered
Oloroso & Pedro Ximenez Sherry Casks
Nose: Rich manuka honey, golden syrup
Palate: Ground coffee beans, layers of sweetly spiced ginger candy
Finish: Medium Length. Freshly crushed almonds
Lochlea Sowing Edition (Second Crop)
Our Seasonal Small Batch Releases showcase the signature Lochlea style in four diffrent ways each year. As a working farm, these expressions tie-in to reflect the farming calendar.
In our Sowing Edition (Second Crop) for 2023, we have used 100% fresh 1st-fill ex-Bourbon barrels from higher up in the warehouse than in 2022. The heat, faster maturation, and older spirit combine to show a clear progression from last year’s edition.
46% abv. 1,002 bottles for the US.
Nose: Signature sweet red apple and pear.
Palate: Vanilla pods and almond oil.
Finish: Medium length with a crisp, refreshing pine forest note.
Lochlea Ploughing Edition
The fourth and final in an annual series of limited seasonal bottlings, Lochlea Ploughing Edition reflects the season of Winter on the farm when we start to plough the fields in preparation for sowing the barley seeds in the Spring.
We’ve created a warming, smoky version of our signature Lochlea whisky by using a combination of ex-Islay barrels and peated quarter casks. We chose an icy blue label to reflect the bitterly cold and frosty Ayrshire winters.
46% abv. 1,002 Bottle for the US.
Nose: Baked fruit with a light peat smoke in the background.
Palate: Old fashioned boiled sweets, more cooked apple, and Brazil nuts.
Finish: Lingering fruit and nuttiness all intertwined with a haze of Islay peat smoke.
Lochlea Fallow Edition
The third in an annual series of limited seasonal bottlings, Lochlea ‘Fallow Edition’ (First Crop) reflects the season of Autumn on the farm, when the fields are left fallow to rest after a busy harvest.
This is the first Lochlea release to be matured solely in 100% 1st fill ex-Oloroso Sherry butts.
A rich purple label reflects the crisp leaves that cover the ground as temperatures begin to fall.
Bottled at 46% abv
Nose: Ripe red fruits & freshly baked banana loaf.
Palate: Dried fruit , leathery notes, malt biscuits.
Finish: Medium length, with hints of aniseed & moreish floral rose petals.
Lochlea Harvest Edition
The second in an annual series of limited seasonal bottlings, Lochlea Harvest Edition reflects the end of Summer, when our golden barley is ready to be harvested and eventually used for next year’s production. We’ve chosen a coral red label to reflect the Ayrshire soil, which changes color to a deep, sunset hue once the barley has been harvested.
Matured in Port Hogsheads, Oloroso Sherry Butts, and 1st Fill Bourbon Barrels.
Bottled at 46% abv
Nose: Stewed apples, pear drops, oat biscuits.
Palate: Strawberries, violet, toasted marshmallows.
Finish: Signature Lochlea cereal & freshly cut grass.
Lochlea Sowing Edition (First Crop)
This is the first in an annual series of limited seasonal bottlings, Sowing Edition reflects Spring, when we start sowing the seed for this year’s barley.
PALATE: Vanilla sweetness, orchard fruits, and hazelnuts.
FINISH: Fruity with a final sweetness & lasting viscosity.
2022 Las Vegas Global Spirit Awards – Gold, 90 Points
Lochlea First Release
PALATE: Stewed fruit, toasted oats, cinnamon, cloves, and hazelnuts
FINISH: Medium mouth coating, fresh fruit, sweet cereal, and spice.