Lochlea launches its first peated whisky
Scotch whisky distillery Lochlea will release Ploughing Edition as its first peated single malt on Burns Night (25 January).
The new seasonal release follows the launch of Sowing Edition in March 2022, Harvest Edition in September 2022, and Fallow Edition in November 2022. The four products make up the ‘first crop’ of annual small batch releases that aim to showcase Lochlea’s farming seasons. The launch date of 25 January for Lochlea Ploughing Edition marks the connection between Lochlea Farm and Scottish poet Robert Burns, who lived and worked on the farm from 1777-1784. His birthday is celebrated annually on 25 January, known as Burns Night. Ploughing Edition is inspired by the winter season on the farm when the same fields that Burns tended are ploughed in preparation for sowing the barley seed in spring. The bottle’s blue label reflects the cold and frosty west coast Ayrshire winters, the distillery said. The 46% ABV expression was matured in a combination of ex-Islay barrels and peated quarter casks. It was the first smoky whisky created by production director and master blender John Campbell since he left Islay distillery Laphroaig in September 2021. Campbell said: “Lochlea ‘Ploughing Edition’ is our first peated release and showcases all the expected Lochlea flavours with a wee touch of Islay. “We have matured our unpeated single malt in ex-Islay peated barrels and this delivers a lightly peated version of Lochlea that I am sure you will enjoy.” The resulting liquid carries notes of boiled sweets, cooked apple and brazil nuts, interlaced with ‘lingering’ peat. Lochlea Ploughing Edition is priced at £50 (US$62), with only 11,000 bottles available globally. In 2023, the ‘second crop’ limited edition series will be released every season, each highlighting the progression of Lochlea’s single malts. In July, Lochlea Distillery revealed its flagship single malt whisky, matured in three different cask types, called Our Barley.
