International Whisky Day: Lochside 1967 / 2012 Malts of Scotland #12016
This March 27th, is International Whisky Day, chosen for the birthday of the late great Michael Jackson.
It seems whisky hardly needs more awareness nowadays, and Michael can rest easy in that, leaving his proverbial shoulders for the many to climb upon. And as each looks out from the vantage point he, and indeed other great writers and educators, have provided, each must come away with their own interpretation of what such a day may mean.
To some, the swirling hues of amber are actually green, and cold, and counted in cents. This global passion for whisky nothing more than demand and supply. So be it, this also is legitimate and worthy, for where would we all be without our fine purveyors of booze. Others, people whom I respect immensely, have managed to both fan their passion AND stoke a business at the same time. They have proven idioms are sometimes for idiots, as they have their cake while eating it too, ’tis no mean feat balancing between going hungry and overeating.
Right now however I am way over at the other end, spared from many of these hand wringing difficulties, so to me the sole and simple appreciation of rare and obscure whisky is an entire reward in itself, nothing more and nothing less, devoid of forecasting, premiums and overheads. It’s what I can manage, and the simple approach is sometimes best.
Lochside 1967 / 2012 Malts of Scotland #12016 41.7%
Why Lochside and why this vintage? Obscure, check, impossible vintage, check, virtual uncertainty of ever finding a partner to go head to head, check. Ok also note the label states Single Malt, this was from the time Lochside could produce Single Malt, Single Grain and Single Blend. Remember Lochside was only converted from a brewery to a distillery in 1957, and had Coffey stills till 1973. But the potstills, some sources say they were added in 1961, some say Hobbs added them from the beginning in 1957.
Nose: Very candied. An impression of sugariness. Musty wet wood, earthy musk, pine dust, <good> floral pouches. Hints of leather, veneer of woodspice – the smell your spice cabinet takes after housing your stores of cinnamon nutmeg aniseed peppercorns etc for years. But also throw in the next cabinet, which held Granny’s wartime candles and Singer oil. Very nuanced and the integration is great, if not the biggest or most outstanding.
Palate: The phenolic aspects first, old wax and machine oils like old sewing machines, now musty dampness and old wood. Some ancient shrivelled ginger and an almost feeble white spicy heat. Somewhat oily medium mouthfeel. Brittle brown paper. Followed by thin but piquant greens, make that half moldy greens. Little development. Somewhat flat honestly
Finish: Not as long as expected, doesn’t change much from the entry. Some bitterness and ancient wood. Not the best Lochside around but doesn’t detract from how wonderful it is to still be able to find bottles like this.
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