A bunch of island whiskies today. Well, sort of. They’re all fairly recent bottlings from Decadent Drinks. (It’s hard to keep up.) The Old Orkney 1999 25 Years was clearly distilled on an island. No doubt about the Arran 2014 10 Years either. So what’s up with the Loch Lomond 2005 19 Years?
Nothing much, really. It’s made at Loch Lomond distillery, which certainly isn’t based on an island. However, they do have their own ‘Islands Collection‘. Names like Inchmurrin and Inchmoan, which are both islands in the actual Loch Lomond, feature heavily on the distillery’s packaging.
As you may know, Loch Lomond produces a bunch of different spirit types, including a few heavily peated ones. Inchmoan is one of them, as is Croftengea, for example. But I’m unsure which style this Decadent Drams release is precisely. (Doesn’t matter much, because it is delicious anyway.)
Before we start, some additional information on the other releases. The Old Orkney first matured in a plain refill cask, before spending the final six years in a “very, very old 1st fill, ex-bodega, oloroso sherry butt.” The Arran 2014 10 Years spent all its time in a first-fill sherry hogshead.
Arran 2014 10 Years (57.1%, Decadent Drams, 2025)
Nose: The bright Arran spirit makes itself know, but make no mistake, there’s a first-fill sherry hogshead that won’t be ignored. Hints of coffee and bramble liqueur, as well as After Eight’s and plums. Just a sliver of tobacco leaves too, followed by some damp driftwood. Water brings out more of an umami note, bordering on soy sauce.
Taste: Quite a bit of oak spice to begin, alongside some aniseed and dark chocolate, as well as fudge. There are bright citrus fruits in the background as well, helping to alleviate some of the oak.
Finish: Long with hints of orange marmalade, some resin and chocolate truffles. Then a slight herbaceousness with a tinge of mocha and burnt toast. But were ending on comforting notes of red fruits.
Old Orkney 1999 25 Years (50.4%, Decadent Drinks, 2025)
Nose: Richly sherried indeed. Hints of cured meats, old leather bound books and rock pools, as well as soft earthy peat. Slivers of honey, a hint of raisins and cigar boxes as well, with just a tinge of camphor. There’s a slight farmy note after a while, think cattle feed and straw.
Taste: Oof, hello! This has all the intensity you’d want, without it being domineering, overpowering or one-note. Hints of dates, prunes and tobacco alongside sandalwood, cherry syrup and soft herbal notes. Yes, there is some peat smoke, but there are ten other things you’ll notice first.
Finish: Medium to long. The herbaciousness continues, but enveloped by a thick sherry influence.
Loch Lomond 2005 19 Years (54.8%, Decadent Drams, 2025)
Nose: Some pleasant notes of bung cloth, damp oak and tar, alongside wood smoke and a hint of charred pineapple. Also slivers of cigar boxes, tobacco leaves and a touch of sage. Really pleasant, certainly mature and supremely balanced.
Taste: Lovely oily texture with subtle stone fruits in the background, while notes of fresh asphalt, pink peppercorns and coastal notes form the backbone of this dram. Well, did I say coastal? I think medicinal might be more apt. Ointments, maybe a drop of cough syrup. Also a nice bit of bonfire-y notes.
Finish: Long with some gentle wood spices, herbs and diesel notes. A hint of resin too. Really nice.
Samples provided by Decadent Drinks
