Lochlea Ploughing Edition First Crop Single Malt Whisky (70cl, 46%)

Ploughing Edition First Crop is the first peated whisky from Lochlea Distillery in Ayrshire, and the fourth in its Seasonal Releases series. It takes its inspiration from winter, when the fields are ploughed ready for spring. It is bottled at 46% in a 70cl bottle. The whisky matured in ex-Islay whisky casks and peated quarter casks, chosen by production director John Campbell, who spent 28 years at Laphroaig. The label is ice blue, echoing the cold Ayrshire winters. The nose has baked fruit and light peat smoke. On the palate come old-fashioned boiled sweets, baked apple and Brazil nuts, and the finish keeps its fruit with a veil of Islay peat smoke.