Lochside 10 Year Old
75cl / 40%
£319.00
- Malt type: Single Malt
- Region: Scotland
Tasting Notes
Bittersweet, strong wax, oak, vanilla and fresh fruit aromas
Oily, pleasantly bitter, hints of mint, eucalyptus and pepper
Long, spicy finish
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The only official Lochside single malt, a 1991–early 1990s 10-year-old at 40% and 75cl, bottled just before the distillery fell silent.
At-a-Glance
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Distillery / Bottler / Country & Region | Lochside Distillery (Macnab Distilleries Ltd), Highland, Scotland |
| Category | Single malt Scotch whisky |
| Age / Vintage / Bottled | 10 Years Old / Distilled early 1980s, bottled c. 1991–early 1990s |
| ABV & Size(s) | 40% ABV / 75cl (0.75L) |
| Cask / Treatment | Not stated by the producer (likely refill/ex-bourbon Highlands of the period) |
| Natural Colour | Not stated by the producer |
| Non-Chill-Filtered | Not stated by the producer |
| Cask Strength | No |
| Bottle count / Outturn | Not stated by the producer (single official release for general sale) |
| Intended channel | UK and European retail, now vintage/collectors |
| Packaging | Standard 1990s Lochside bottle with age statement and Highland designation |
| Notes on discrepancies | Some labels say “Over 10 Years”; all verified bottles are 40% and 75cl and are treated as the same distillery OB run |
Historical Context
Lochside is one of the classic modern “lost” Highland distilleries. Production stopped in 1992, closure followed, and the buildings were later demolished. Before that happened, Macnab Distilleries released a single official 10-year-old single malt around 1991. Retailers, auctions and databases all describe this as the only real distillery-badged Lochside single malt for the open market of the time. Because the distillery was small and never a huge single-malt player, that single 10-year-old has become the reference OB for Lochside: if you want something from the distillery itself (rather than an independent bottling), this is the one.
Technical Specification & Variant Map
2.1 Documented variants
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Lochside 10 Year Old, 75cl, 40%, bottled early 1990s, official distillery bottling.
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Lochside “Over 10 Years” neck wording, 75cl, 40%, same era and same presentation.
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Continental-market bottles with import seals (e.g. Spanish) but otherwise identical spec.
Variant Matrix
| ABV | Volume | Market | Era cues | Relative desirability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40% | 75cl | UK/EU retail, 1991–early 1990s | Plain Highland label, 10 Years Old, distillery OB | Core and most desirable |
| 40% | 75cl | EU import (Spain, etc.) | Tax/import strips on capsule | Equal, condition-led |
| 40% | 70cl (rare) | Later/parallel supply | Same label, EU size | Slightly lower due to size mismatch |
2.2 Packaging & authenticity checklist
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Front must say Lochside, 10 Years Old (or Over 10 Years), and Highland Single Malt.
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40% and 75cl printed.
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Check capsule and fill: these are 30+ years old and some have dropped to high-shoulder; describe fill honestly.
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Some bottles carry an import/duty label; that is period-correct.
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Because this is the only OB, avoid mixing it with 1991 Lochside indie bottlings from Gordon & MacPhail or other IBs.
2.3 Regulatory/terminology notes
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10 Years Old is a legal age statement.
-
No cask or finish claims should be added.
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No statement about colour or filtration was made, so leave those blank.
Liquid Profile (from verifiable notes)
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Nose: Barley sugar, grassy/floral Highland notes, soft citrus and a light waxy touch.
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Palate: Easy-drinking Highland malt at 40%: sweet malt, gentle fruit, light oak, a faint bitter/waxy edge that keeps it from being too soft.
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Finish: Medium, cereal-led, slightly dry, with citrus peel.
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With water: Not required; strength is already at 40%.
Pricing & Market Dynamics (GBP)
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Original RRP (early 1990s): Not stated by the producer.
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Current UK retail range (incl. VAT): £394.99–£399.00 for early 1990s 10-year-old OB Lochside, 75cl, 40%.
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Recent UK auction range (hammer): £160.00–£165.00 in 2020–2023 sales for the same bottling, bottle-only or with import seal.
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Pricing stratification: boxed or very clean capsule/high fill at the top of the retail band; bottle-only, no box, high-shoulder fill at the auction band; anything with noticeable label wear below that.
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Liquidity & sourcing note: it sells because it is the only OB, but retail above £400 is a collector buy, not a fast drinker sale.
Price Snapshot
| Channel | Date | Bottle spec | Price (GBP) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK vintage retailer | Current | Lochside 10yo OB, 75cl, 40% | 395–399 | Typical online ask |
| UK whisky auction | 05 Jan 2020 | Lochside 10yo OB, 75cl, 40% | 160 | Clean bottle, no box |
| UK whisky auction | 31 Mar 2023 | Lochside 10yo OB, 75cl, 40% | 165 | Import/tax seal present |
Distillery/Bottler Snapshot
Lochside (Highland, silent since 1992) distilled both grain and malt at various points in its life, but very little distillery-bottled single malt reached the market. That is why this 10-year-old matters: it is a direct, period-correct line to the distillery’s own malt and not a later independent cask.
Sourcing
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Target: 75cl, 40%, clear 10-year statement, good fill.
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Prefer: bottles with intact capsule and, if present, original carton.
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Avoid: low fill, badly scuffed labels, or lots that turn out to be independent 1991 bottlings rather than the OB.
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Buy near £160–£180 at auction, list £350–£400 retail with strong photography.
