Passion for single malt Scotch whisky has been at the heart of Gordon & MacPhail’s family business for four generations. This range is an ever-changing collection of unique perspectives on distilleries’ own bottlings, non-chill-filtered single cask and small batch expressions bottled at cask strength and exceptional one-offs. For the malt whisky explorer, it promises a journey of discovery through different flavours, finishes, strengths and vintages.
Lochside was a brewery from 1786 until its closure in 1957. It incorporated a white tower – a classic German Brauhaus design – that was reinterpreted by Charles Doig in 1899. The site was then bought by Joseph Hobbs (who owned Ben Nevis distillery) and he set about installing a Coffey still, swiftly followed by four pot stills in 1961.
His son, Joe Junior, retained ownership until 1973 when Spanish distiller Destilerias y Crianzas [DyC] bought it as a source for some of the malt it used in its top-selling DYC blend. The Coffey still was decommissioned and the distillery ran until the early 1990s when DYC [by then part of Sherry and wine firm Pedro Domecq] was itself taken over by Allied Distillers.
Lochside was considered surplus to requirements by its new parent, it was closed and sold to developers before being demolished in 2005.
Cask: Refill Sherry Hogshead
Cask No. 802
Region: Highland
Outturn: 141
Distilled: 1981
Bottled: 2021
Age: 40 Years
ABV: 49.2%
Non Chill Filtered, No Colour Added
Tasting Notes
Nose: Rich Sherry aromas complement fragrant mandarin peel. Salted almonds come to the fore with raspberry compote and faint malted biscuit.
Taste: Roasted coffee beans lead to walnuts and stewed raisins. Blackcurrant jam accompanies Seville orange peel and red apple.
Finish: A long finish with lingering hazelnuts and cocoa powder.
