Quite possibly the oldest sample from my collection. I must’ve had this Lochside 1981 28 Years from Blackadder for about a decade. Maybe even more. It was a generous sample, shared once upon a time by Sjoerd from MaltFascination. His original review is from December 2010 (!) when he still blogged in Dutch.
A few weeks ago a friend dropped by for an evening of decadent whisky drinking. He brought some downright filthy samples, including a Port Ellen Rare Malts and Strathisla 1963 from Gordon & MacPhail. One of my contributions was this Lochside. It was a large sample, so there were a few centilitres left, allowing me to write this review.
The year 1981 is generally viewed as a top vintage for Lochside. Bottlings that I’ve tried were next-level fruity, without exception. I’ve only reviewed one Lochside 1981 on Words of Whisky, not coincidentally a vatting of sister casks of today’s Blackadder.
Lochside 1981 28 Years (56%, Blackadder, C#617)
Nose: Deceptively fruity and somewhat floral with some interesting spicy notes. Hints of apricots, lemons, stewed apples and tangerines, as well as a touch of lilies and grapefruit. A veneer of cereal adds a dimension beyond the vibrant fruitiness.
Taste: Attack of the fruits. Lemons, grapefruit. Very much what I expected. And the mouthfeel is nicely oily too. There’s a subtle spicy edge, mainly led by white pepper, as well as a touch of fennel seeds.
Finish: Long with a sliver of grass and lingering fruits. Finally just a drop of cough syrup.
Photo: Passionforwhisky.com
