Loch Lomond 12-Year-Old Perfectly Balanced Single Malt Scotch Whisky Review

Loch Lomond
12-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Perfectly Balanced
Highlands • Non-Chill Filtered
92 Proof (46% ABV)
SRP: $59.99 / 750ml
Review

Please enjoy our Loch Lomond 12-Year-Old Perfectly Balanced Single Malt Scotch Whisky review with Dean and Ed!

Introduction

Founded in 1964, Loch Lomond is a Highlands distillery known for flavor innovation and its distinctive Straight Neck pot stills. The distillery also operates one of the few on-site cooperages in Scotland and was named 2024 Scotch Whisky Producer of the Year (IWSC). Under a U.S. distribution partnership with Foley Family Wines & Spirits, the 12-Year-Old Perfectly Balanced Single Malt is now widely available at an approachable price point. In addition, this 12-Year-Old expression earned a platinum medal at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Production & Process

Loch Lomond combines tradition and innovation: grain is milled on a classic Porteus mill from the 1950s; both peated and unpeated malted barley are used; mashes run ~6 hours with up to four batches per day; and fermentation typically lasts ~92 hours in 21 stainless-steel washbacks (fermenters).

Distillation employs both traditional swan-neck stills and the unique straight-neck stills with distillation trays and cooling rings in their necks, which permit different cut points. The distillery takes a high-strength cut of about 85% ABV and a low-strength cut of about 68% ABV, allowing wider control over flavor. Maturation draws on cooperage expertise—first-fill, refill, and re-charred American oak casks are managed and rejuvenated on site.

The on-site cooperage de-chars barrels using a rotating stainless-steel brush, then re-chars them with a flame gun, extending cask life significantly. By using the de-char/re-char process and repairing barrels, Loch Lomond can use a barrel up to 9 times!

The Specifics

• Region: Highlands (Alexandria, Scotland)
• Age: 12 Years
• ABV/Proof: 46% / 92 proof (non-chill filtered)
• Casks: First-fill, refill & re-charred American oak
• Stills: Traditional swan-neck & proprietary straight-neck pot stills
• Fermentation: ~92 hours (stainless steel)
• Cooperage: In-house; cask repair, re-char & rejuvenation
• Price & Availability: SRP $59.99; widely available in the U.S.

Tasting Notes – Loch Lomond 12-Year-Old Perfectly Balanced

Let’s taste it:s

🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉🏻 Nose
Ed: Slight peat, mildly sweet, pears, lemon citrus, pale honey; alcohol vapor appropriate for the proof.
Dean: Sweet oak wood, peat, raisins, plums, and hints of mint and green apples.

👉🏻 Taste
Ed: Moderately sweet; honey, pears, sweet peaches, light dry wood, tart orange citrus; slight peat smoke.
Dean: Orange and lemon-lime up front; lychee, honey, oak, and mild white pepper as it develops; faint brine/band-aid note at the end.

👉🏻 Finish
Ed: Tart limes, mild dry wood; mild white pepper spice later on; fairly long; spice becomes more pronounced later on; mild peat smoke.
Dean: Medium, dry finish with the orange and lemon-lime notes returning, along with some oak and white pepper.

The Tasting Experience

On the nose of Loch Lomond 12-Year-Old Perfectly Balanced Single Malt Scotch, Ed found slight peat over a mildly sweet base of pears, lemon citrus, and pale honey, while Dean highlighted sweet oak with peat, raisins, plums, and a touch of mint and green apple.

The palate, according to Ed, opened moderately sweet with honey, pears, and sweet peaches, followed by light dry wood, tart orange citrus, and a wisp of peat smoke. Dean described a brighter start of orange and lemon-lime, layered with lychee, honey, and oak, developing into mild white pepper and faint band-aid/briny notes.

For the finish, Ed noted tart limes and mild dry wood, with white pepper spice building over time and mild peat smoke throughout. Dean reported a medium, dry finish, with citrus returning along with oak and white pepper.

Conclusion

Our impressions of Loch Lomond 12-Year-Old Perfectly Balanced align on its well-named character—a pleasant combination of sweet fruits and honey that gives way to increasing tart citrus, white pepper spice, and mild peat throughout. The balance of fruit, oak, peat, and spice makes it approachable and easy to drink, yet engaging enough to reward repeat pours. This 12-Year-Old Highland single malt represents a solid value at $59.99. Have you tried Loch Lomond 12-Year-Old Perfectly Balanced? What did you think? Cheers! 🥃

We hope you have enjoyed our Loch Lomond 12-Year-Old Perfectly Balanced Single Malt Scotch Whisky review! Next, learn about another related Single Malt in our Glen Scotia 10-Year-Old Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky Review!

This bottle was graciously provided by the brand for our review. We appreciate it!

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