Lochlea Distillery has launched its first ever core series of whiskies, bringing a permanent collection to sit alongside its much-lauded Our Barley expression. Released to showcase the farm-to-cask producer’s Ayrshire provenance, the announcement marks something of a milestone for the young distillery, founded in 2017, which has until now focused on seasonal limited editions.
Master blender Jill Boyd says the new Single Estate Range offers classic much-loved whisky styles with a distinctive Lochlea twist, on a permanent basis.
“We aim to root each whisky in the character and creativity of our earlier seasonal expressions, but designed to offer something a little more,” she says.
Master blender Jill Boyd says the Single Estate Range offers classic much-loved whisky styles with a distinctive Lochlea twist…
Lochlea Single Estate range tasting notes
Distilled exclusively from barley grown on Lochlea Farm and matured entirely on-site, each expression is bottled at 46% ABV, and is non-chill filtered. The flavour profile is fruit-driven, underpinned by cereal notes.
Orchard & Oak
The lightest in the line-up, Orchard & Oak is matured in first-fill Bourbon, Virgin American Oak, and Calvados casks. It’s said to offer grassy freshness and green apples on the nose, followed by apple cake, buttery caramel, and oak spice on the palate. The finish is gently sweet, with cereal and a lift of citrus.
Dark Briar
A richer, bolder counterpart, Dark Briar is shaped by Pedro Ximénez, Oloroso, and Port casks. Official tasting notes suggest red berries, vanilla caramel, and baking spices on the nose. Flavours of cherries, stewed plums, and ginger cake develop on the palate, finishing with spice and lingering fruit.
Smoke Without Fire
The most intriguing of the trio, Smoke Without Fire, brings a touch of peat. Matured in ex-peated Bourbon barrels and red wine casks, it promises aromas of red berries, cherry blossom, and soft bonfire smoke. Citrus, salted smoke, and floral sweetness unfold on the palate, with toasted oak and sherbet notes in the finish.
The Whisky Exchange has dropped three new exclusive bottlings to mark the start of 2026, spanning Scotch whisky, American bourbon and Jamaican rum. The limited collection comprises an experimental single-cask Torabhaig from the Isle of Skye, a punchy single-barrel bourbon from Bardstown Bourbon Company, and a sherry-cask-aged Hampden Estate rum that leans fully into the…
Just in time for Burns Night, Orkney-based Highland Park has announced a limited-edition cask strength single malt whisky. The new release, Cask Strength: Heather, is made using 100 per cent Orkney peat-smoked barley, with peat sourced responsibly from Hobbister Moor, just a few miles from the distillery. Given Orkney’s northern latitude, trees struggle to grow,…
January may feel long and grey, but one undoubted bright spot is Burns Night, the annual celebration held on January 25, marking the birthday of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns. For whisky lovers, it’s one of the most convivial fixtures of the year: a night where poetry, food and Scotland’s greatest export meet in cheerful,…
The Luxe Review 
Lochlea Distillery has launched its first ever core series of whiskies, bringing a permanent collection to sit alongside its much-lauded Our Barley expression. Released to showcase the farm-to-cask producer’s Ayrshire provenance, the announcement marks something of a milestone for the young distillery, founded in 2017, which has until now focused on seasonal limited editions.
Master blender Jill Boyd says the new Single Estate Range offers classic much-loved whisky styles with a distinctive Lochlea twist, on a permanent basis.
“We aim to root each whisky in the character and creativity of our earlier seasonal expressions, but designed to offer something a little more,” she says.
The line-up, comprising Orchard & Oak, Dark Briar, and Smoke Without Fire, will sit alongside the established Our Barley single malt.
Lochlea Single Estate range tasting notes
Distilled exclusively from barley grown on Lochlea Farm and matured entirely on-site, each expression is bottled at 46% ABV, and is non-chill filtered. The flavour profile is fruit-driven, underpinned by cereal notes.
Orchard & Oak
The lightest in the line-up, Orchard & Oak is matured in first-fill Bourbon, Virgin American Oak, and Calvados casks. It’s said to offer grassy freshness and green apples on the nose, followed by apple cake, buttery caramel, and oak spice on the palate. The finish is gently sweet, with cereal and a lift of citrus.
Dark Briar
A richer, bolder counterpart, Dark Briar is shaped by Pedro Ximénez, Oloroso, and Port casks. Official tasting notes suggest red berries, vanilla caramel, and baking spices on the nose. Flavours of cherries, stewed plums, and ginger cake develop on the palate, finishing with spice and lingering fruit.
Smoke Without Fire
The most intriguing of the trio, Smoke Without Fire, brings a touch of peat. Matured in ex-peated Bourbon barrels and red wine casks, it promises aromas of red berries, cherry blossom, and soft bonfire smoke. Citrus, salted smoke, and floral sweetness unfold on the palate, with toasted oak and sherbet notes in the finish.
Available now from The Whisky Exchange and Master of Malt, the Lochlea Single Estate Range is priced at £50 per bottle.
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January may feel long and grey, but one undoubted bright spot is Burns Night, the annual celebration held on January 25, marking the birthday of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns. For whisky lovers, it’s one of the most convivial fixtures of the year: a night where poetry, food and Scotland’s greatest export meet in cheerful,…
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