Lochlea – Cask Strength Batch 2 (70cl, 60%)

Lochlea Cask Strength Batch 2 is the second release in the distillery's annual cask-strength series, a single malt from Lochlea Farm in South Ayrshire. It is bottled at 60% ABV in a 70cl bottle, non-chill filtered and with no added colour. The batch uses a cask recipe the distillery had not tried before: 60% ex-Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, 28% ex-Oloroso sherry casks and 12% STR ex-red wine barriques, which are shaved, toasted and re-charred. The component whiskies were distilled in 2018 and 2019. Apples, peach syrup and marmalade lead on the nose. The palate brings wild lavender and rose petals, and the long finish carries black pepper and more fruit.