I'm VERY happy to see this review! LL12 is better, much better, than some TY reviewers would have you believe. It's not Springbank, but what is? Loch Lomand 18, which is also less expensive and more available than Springbank 10 is more comparable, so I hope that comparison comes sooner rather than later ✌️
My impression is that Loch Lomond doesn't get the credit it deserves - in general. Being a large, industrial distillery with a not very respectable past, it's hard for Michael Henry & Co. to turn that narrative into a more respectable reputation. But, I also acknowledge that some Loch Lomond releases have tasting notes that may split the crowd. But God (and a true whisky geek) knows that LLG is no slouch, when it comes to creative, reasonably (hi, Michael.... yes - that colouring... you need to let it go 😉) well presented whiskies in 2022 - and they do it at an affordable price. I have stunning (!!) Loch Lomond single casks in my stash and I'd call LLG (which, of course includes Glen Scotia) maybe the single most important distiller for me in 2022. Yes.... I love Springbank even more. I really do. Above all distilleries, actually. But I can hardly get my hands on anything but their 10yo these days, not without overpaying at leadt, so that will automatically move them down on my list. Why bother about something that's out of reach? (and no..... no no no NO NO! I will not enter the supply-demand flipping/bidding frenzy and overpay for Springbank releases. Not in a million years. Not from the primary market and especially not from the flippers on the secondary market). Sorry... what was actually a praise of Loch Lomond ended up in a mini rant (sort of). I hope, I made my point clear, though. 🥃😎
Greetings Benny Thanks for chiming in. Agree LL has much to offer with their integrity bottlings. SB 10 is no slouch though if and when you find one. Thankfully I stocked up when they were available. Cheers 🥃
I also went in with low expectations on the LL12, but was pleasantly surprised! It was probably a 2019 bottling and I went through it in no time, so I'd have to agree that for the money, it is excellent! A definite alternative to the now unattainable Springbank. Cheers John!
This whisky is anything other than smooth and balanced. It is just very woody and tannic for a 12YO. And if you are looking at value, I say this is the cheapest 12YO whisky at 46% ABV that money can buy.
I got my first bottle of Craigellachie 13 just before you started this series. It's so close. If you could lightly peat the Craigellachie, it would be as close to a match as you could get.
Nice review John. Couse of prices and availability of Springbank 10 in UK, my go to it always would be a Kilkerran 12 or Banromach 10. Both are good Spring10 replacements... Cheers
I LOVE the nose of LL12 as you did. I wonder if u may try a dram of LL12 with 1/2 dram Old PUlteney and see HOW CLOSE to a springbank one can get ?? ------- Happy 2023 ! !
I really don't think price should be taken into consideration when putting a score on a whisky. Prices will vary a lot, whereas the content in the bottle is the same.
The majority of my reviews price doesn’t play a factor but if something is Expensive I have higher expectations…. LL12 is a solid fruity delight… especially at $30… Cheers 🥃
@@justwhisky I fear coming off as a little difficult here. I too will of course have higher expectations if I've paid a lot for a bottle, but expectations should neither go into a score. To be useful to others, it should be an as objective as possible piece of information about the quality of the whisky. Others might have the whisky available at a different price, and might not share your expectations. It's an impossible thing anyway, reducing the tasting experience to a number, but it can be useful as long as it's an attempt at objectivity.
LL12 was my first step on the journey, along with a Glen Garry12 from loch Lomond. Bit under the guise of "under $40" At the time, I never thought a bottle would be worth triple digits. My wife and my beer buddy thought I was crazy. The LL was not smooth. It was sour and funky and downright unpleasant. I think I moved on to a Glengoyne or a Arran 10 after than and here we are today. Going back to it a year os so later was a whole different thing. Totally agreeable and more interesting than the LL 18. Which is weirdly "smoothed to perfection". I don't know if I'd have a backup but I've been tempted to stash an 18 before that goes more than $75. The LL18 and the Tomatin 18 are outliers in that they are affordable satisfying drams that do t break the bank; and way cheaper than the big name 40 and 43%ers that are not even an option.
@@MrChristopherMolloy it's a separately branded bottle using the plaid design of the Glengarry Bonnet worn by Alexander Ranaldson in 1794. ?????? 46%. No mention of chill filtration nor colors. Master distiller John Peterson of LL.
@@jackthepickledhound hi, fella from Poland sent me photo of Glen Garry Bottle he bought for less than £20 but i seen 40% on the label, 100%. He said its nice, peated and cheap replacement of better ones peated expressions he is fan. Cheers 😁🥃🙋♂️
@@justwhisky Yeah. It is peated, but through the blending of barrels. I think I read somewhere that its ppm is 12; which is near-undetectable, but it adds complexity.
Okay I did buy a second bottle after not enjoying the first and I feel the same way. I think I have turned into a peat head!! 🙂This just didn't do it for me.
I'm VERY happy to see this review! LL12 is better, much better, than some TY reviewers would have you believe. It's not Springbank, but what is? Loch Lomand 18, which is also less expensive and more available than Springbank 10 is more comparable, so I hope that comparison comes sooner rather than later ✌️
Totally agree Chris, esp about the 18, BUT don’t tell too many people!
@@marclambert8596 Agreed! 😉
Springbank is one that we have yet to dive into. With that said, thanks of the review today. Cheers to ya.
It’s Just Whisky 🥃
Cheers
My impression is that Loch Lomond doesn't get the credit it deserves - in general.
Being a large, industrial distillery with a not very respectable past, it's hard for Michael Henry & Co. to turn that narrative into a more respectable reputation.
But, I also acknowledge that some Loch Lomond releases have tasting notes that may split the crowd.
But God (and a true whisky geek) knows that LLG is no slouch, when it comes to creative, reasonably (hi, Michael.... yes - that colouring... you need to let it go 😉) well presented whiskies in 2022 - and they do it at an affordable price.
I have stunning (!!) Loch Lomond single casks in my stash and I'd call LLG (which, of course includes Glen Scotia) maybe the single most important distiller for me in 2022.
Yes.... I love Springbank even more. I really do. Above all distilleries, actually. But I can hardly get my hands on anything but their 10yo these days, not without overpaying at leadt, so that will automatically move them down on my list.
Why bother about something that's out of reach? (and no..... no no no NO NO! I will not enter the supply-demand flipping/bidding frenzy and overpay for Springbank releases. Not in a million years. Not from the primary market and especially not from the flippers on the secondary market).
Sorry... what was actually a praise of Loch Lomond ended up in a mini rant (sort of).
I hope, I made my point clear, though. 🥃😎
Greetings Benny
Thanks for chiming in. Agree LL has much to offer with their integrity bottlings.
SB 10 is no slouch though if and when you find one. Thankfully I stocked up when they were available.
Cheers 🥃
I thought you were great in the first "Saw" movie! 😉
Shhhh….don’t blow my cover 😵💫
I also went in with low expectations on the LL12, but was pleasantly surprised! It was probably a 2019 bottling and I went through it in no time, so I'd have to agree that for the money, it is excellent!
A definite alternative to the now unattainable Springbank.
Cheers John!
Thanks for the kind words Sascha.
Cheers 🥃
This whisky is anything other than smooth and balanced. It is just very woody and tannic for a 12YO. And if you are looking at value, I say this is the cheapest 12YO whisky at 46% ABV that money can buy.
Agree an excellent value.
Cheers 🥃🎄
I got my first bottle of Craigellachie 13 just before you started this series. It's so close. If you could lightly peat the Craigellachie, it would be as close to a match as you could get.
I concur. Couldn’t have said it better.
Cheers 🥃
A few drops of something like Ardbeg 5 should do the trick 😉
@@MrChristopherMolloy or couple drops Benromach peat smoke
@@justwhisky or Longrow if your trying to recapture that Springbank thing; I was being budget minded 😉
@@MrChristopherMolloy interesting
Will try that as well
I just cracked open a new bottle of this and boy is it good!
Indeed it is. I was pleasantly pleased, especially for the price.
Cheers 🥃
Nice review John. Couse of prices and availability of Springbank 10 in UK, my go to it always would be a Kilkerran 12 or Banromach 10. Both are good Spring10 replacements... Cheers
Both good choices albeit Benromach 10 @43% chill filtered.
Cheers 🥃
I LOVE the nose of LL12 as you did. I wonder if u may try a dram of LL12 with 1/2 dram Old PUlteney and see HOW CLOSE to a springbank one can get ?? ------- Happy 2023 ! !
Hmmm… can’t hurt to try.
Cheers 🥃
the Compass Box Experimental Grain has some of that peated Loch Lomond grain whisky made from malted barley in the blend
Good to know
Thanks for that info
Is it worth the $$$ ?
Cheers 🥃
@@justwhisky I enjoyed it, not sure it is worth the money. Someone shared their bottle at a tasting :P
@@mackal thanks 🙏
Bought the LL12 and 18.
Let me know what you think of the 18 please
@@justwhisky Just put it away in the stash. The LL18 was about 80 €. LL12 recomended by the store owner.
L L12 yo not bad whisky .Good review. Slainte Mhath !
Thanks so much!
Cheers 🥃
I really don't think price should be taken into consideration when putting a score on a whisky. Prices will vary a lot, whereas the content in the bottle is the same.
The majority of my reviews price doesn’t play a factor but if something is Expensive I have higher expectations…. LL12 is a solid fruity delight… especially at $30…
Cheers 🥃
@@justwhisky I fear coming off as a little difficult here. I too will of course have higher expectations if I've paid a lot for a bottle, but expectations should neither go into a score. To be useful to others, it should be an as objective as possible piece of information about the quality of the whisky. Others might have the whisky available at a different price, and might not share your expectations. It's an impossible thing anyway, reducing the tasting experience to a number, but it can be useful as long as it's an attempt at objectivity.
@@torbjornkarlsen I agree in spirit and the majority(98%) of my reviews are objective focusing on my experience.
LL12 was my first step on the journey, along with a Glen Garry12 from loch Lomond. Bit under the guise of "under $40"
At the time, I never thought a bottle would be worth triple digits.
My wife and my beer buddy thought I was crazy. The LL was not smooth. It was sour and funky and downright unpleasant. I think I moved on to a Glengoyne or a Arran 10 after than and here we are today.
Going back to it a year os so later was a whole different thing. Totally agreeable and more interesting than the LL 18. Which is weirdly "smoothed to perfection".
I don't know if I'd have a backup but I've been tempted to stash an 18 before that goes more than $75. The LL18 and the Tomatin 18 are outliers in that they are affordable satisfying drams that do t break the bank; and way cheaper than the big name 40 and 43%ers that are not even an option.
Thanks for sharing your journey Jack. Interesting.
Cheers 🥃
"Glen Garry 12 from Loch Lomand"?
@@MrChristopherMolloy it's a separately branded bottle using the plaid design of the Glengarry Bonnet worn by Alexander Ranaldson in 1794. ??????
46%. No mention of chill filtration nor colors. Master distiller John Peterson of LL.
@@jackthepickledhound Thanks! I've never seen or heard of it before.
@@jackthepickledhound hi, fella from Poland sent me photo of Glen Garry Bottle he bought for less than £20 but i seen 40% on the label, 100%. He said its nice, peated and cheap replacement of better ones peated expressions he is fan. Cheers 😁🥃🙋♂️
A bit more info on Loch Lomand 12 ua-cam.com/video/xwzUyDnKj5Q/v-deo.html
Couldn’t have said it better.
@@justwhisky Yeah. It is peated, but through the blending of barrels. I think I read somewhere that its ppm is 12; which is near-undetectable, but it adds complexity.
@@MrChristopherMolloy for the money one can’t go wrong
@@justwhisky 100%
Okay I did buy a second bottle after not enjoying the first and I feel the same way. I think I have turned into a peat head!! 🙂This just didn't do it for me.
@@christinecamley 😳so sorry to 👂 hear…. Follow your gut I guess…. And palate 🙏
Cheers 🥃😇
@@justwhisky It's all good John! There is so much to enjoy with scotch! 🙂