Thanks for calling out the "smooth to perfection" marketing phrase :-)

I really love Loch Lomond 12 year and I really enjoy this over many other Whiskys, whether or not the so called Whisky experts agree. Don’t let them put you off this one give it a try and then decide for yourself because this really is a nice Whisky especially for the price.

I don't know if Lock Lomond have upped their game, but 2 years later I'm really enjoying this dram. They are selling gift sets with a full bottle of 12 along with 2 mini bottles of Inchmurrin 12 and Inchmoan 12. Well, first of all, the Loch Lomond 12 is not "smooth", thankfully. It is robust and fragrant. I can't get over how interesting and complex it is. This is the first dram where I tasted such a prominent red berry note and this one is "stawberry and cream" and is a pretty prominent note to me, it's not elusive and doesn't disappear with water. Lovely. I am easily enjoying it as much as Aberlour or Macallan, even if it isn't exactly the same.

"Smoothed to perfection.... piss off!"

Just picked up my first bottle of Loch Lomond 12 today. It was a situation where I was in a small, remote town and the selection at the only liquor store around was very limited, and this was priced much better than the major brand Scotch they had on offer. Figured that I wouldn't be losing much if it turned out to be a disappointment. Well, the fact is, I found this isn't disappointing at all - it's not extraordinary in any aspect, but overall, Loch Lomond has both a fair bit of character and some decent complexity. I would say it's kind of like a simpler, budget alternative to better malts such as Springbank 10, Craigellachie 13 or Clynelish 14. It's not in the same class as any of those malts, but Loch Lomond isn't a bad choice if those spirits aren't available and you really don't want to settle for a standard Speyside malt. I too found the "smoothed to perfection" ad copy on the packaging to be somewhat annoying, but despite that, the spirit itself is actually very enjoyable. Incidentally, they claim they only use some combination of American oak casks - either fresh, refill bourbon or re-charred - so no sherry or other ex-wine casks are said to be involved in the maturation or finishing of their spirit. All in all, Loch Lomond 12 is a very decent dram!

Interestingly the new packaging of Loch Lomond 12 no longer has 'Smoothed to Perfection' on it, instead it has 'Perfectly Balanced'. Either way for the price and 46% non-chill filtered it gets a thumbs up from me, been enjoying my bottle quite a lot.

I was pleasantly surprised with this one when I got it as a gift. In fact, it is a very accessible and comforting single malt with a good strength, age statement, non chill filtered and natural colour. Many better known (and more expensive!) brands should take this as an example. As an experienced whisky drinker, one can expect more complexity and character, but is that always necessary?? Some folk just like a tasty drop of fine liquor at a reasonable price and a craft presentation. And even as a malt head, you sometimes just want to enjoy a no brainer that just tastes very pleasant and well made. This one is, imho. Anyhow: liked the passionate review, Ralfy. Cheers!

Got to be the most real reviewer out there. Will slap you around, knock you down then pick you back up and tell you where you're good and help tend to your bumps and bruises. Love watching these reviews, no question at all. Guarantee the distilleries lurk on Ralphy's channel for feedback, no question there.

Just picked up a bottle for $75 here in Canada. Not a bad single malt for the price point, a reasonable drink. I agree there is no depth in the spirit, but a decent drink after mowing the lawn (or shovelling snow for this time of year).

Captain Haddock's favourite! :)

I have a bottle of this and I think it is excellent. Pleasant surprise as I opened it after watching this review. I thought it to be rich and powerful. The 46% really does it wonders. Maybe I got a better cask i dont know but i really think its lovely. By far better than the Macallan 12 triple cask.

As a life long Wigan Rugby League fan I've never tasted Loch Lomond in spite of it being a club sponsor. Its past reputation has been so poor it's put me off and when you look at the competition in the price point there are probably over a dozen fantastic whiskies you could try before even considering loch lomond. I need to open my mind perhaps.

I’m actually a huge fan of this malt. Where I am it’s cheaper than a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label. 46% ABV, not chill filtered. Not hard to find. Not pretentious.

Lol, Ralfy is the best. He doesn’t sugar coat.

Not first! I think Loch Lomond is one of few trailblazers- it’s interesting that the company has stepped up to everything you’re about in about the same timeframe since you began with your channel. Loch Lomond, the Distell distilleries, and a handful of others are really putting their backs into it.

I must be a monster. I like Loch Lomond 12. I get a lot of deep tropical fruit flavors. I'll admit, the nose is not very good. I don't understand that part. But the palate is delightful to me.

Just picked up this bottle, for 32 Us dollars cant go wrong especially for a 12 year.

This was my Malt Mention for your Salt Flat video, with a tip of the hat to Burt Munro "Fastest Motorized Malty McManiac Marauder in 'Murica"

Ralfy with the backhand that was felt around the malt world!

I am enjoying my bottle of Loch Lomond 12. The nose and taste are interesting and enjoyable. 🤷🏻‍♂️ at only $35 in my area i’d say its worth it.

Despite what is on the box and the relatively low score, your tasting notes really sounded good and right up my wheelhouse.

If that marketing makes you mad be happy you don't live in the states. Our bourbon marketing would make you go on a rampage!

I can't see anyone mentioning this- I bought a bottle online a few months ago and I cannot find the 'smoothed to perfection' statement on their packaging. They seem to have replaced it with 'perfectly ballanced'

I'm drinking this right now and while I prefer Aberlour or McAllan it's pretty decent. Similar to the Deveron.

"Smooth" is overused in whisky marketing.

I am bit surprised with score of 82. 12 yr old is an amazing product. Bizarre!!

I drink so called premium scotch regularly and have done so for almost two decades. I do not know if this comes down to either my current mood (a desire for something different as this is the first time I am having this), being particularly thirsty and appreciative on a Friday, or perhaps the bottling varies at times? (2021 shout out: Yes? No? Hell No?? Just kidding, we all know how we feel about that). One flavour aspect I found straight from the nose that was left completely undiscussed was an initially off-putting vegetal and ashen aroma. As I took repeated whiffs and tastes it started to complement the other flavors, making it more multi faceted, even though he is right about its smoothness and directness of flavour being a laugh. I picked up on some leather, musk and a strange chimera of vegetable/meaty notes as well, with salt and old ash from time to time and just when you think it's off-putting, the taste blends into a salted caramel, creamy, slightly liquorice finish. I might change my opinion tomorrow (Note this was neat though, I found even a little water did not suit the dram in this case, except to mellow out it's best and worst characteristics), But for tonight, I feel it's an awesome 12 year old scotch and delightfully different from the dozens I've tasted before. Oh, and call me clueless perhaps, but there is definitely a sherryesque influence that bursts onto the scene in there. The more astute will probably help educate me though. (not a perfect analogy but comes off as a dalmore 12 & Glenmorangie sherry/port finish mix)

Nice, thank you very much for knocking the box off the table right when I was taking a sip! I laughed and it came off my nose... My tasting is done for the day.

Interestingly, Loch Lomond was Captain Haddock's favorite whiskey before the Loch Lomond distillery was even created. Wonder if the comics had some influence on the distillery's founding or if it was just a coincidence.

Harsh, just, and absolutely charming! Thanks Ralfy! Very interesting to hear what Loch Lomond have been doing. It was one of the first whiskies I tried, back when I was 16-something. Over a decade later I feel like I would give the new and improved one a chance to prove itself.

Best enjoyed, "If you've run out of Bells"!! Haha

Used to buy the malt when it came in the blue bottle and enjoy it, but stopped when they switched to the deer bottle. Cheers to you Ralfy and Captain Haddock.

So I've seen you mention on a few occasions, that a non chill filtered whisky was not clouding after water had been added. The implication being that *maybe* it might have some chill filtration. However, I could swear that I read somewhere that anything 46% and up does not require chill filtration due to the fact that the alcohol prevents clouding entirely.

Hi Ralfy... As I am unlikely to be stuck in a lighthouse in the middle of a storm - I will probably give the Loch Lomond a miss... Thanks for the review and subtle warning... ps - loved the reaction to the packaging!

That box was takin' the pish... just asking for a ralfy backhander!

Ralfy: "...I'm going to give this...." Me: "82!" Ralfy: "...82 out of 100." Me: "I'm finally getting good at this!"

"O you take the high road, and I'll take the low road, And I'll be in Scotland afore ye, But me and my true love will never meet again, On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond." I went to Scotland in 2008 and such a great country. One of my favorite parts aside the streets of Edinburgh was going to Loch Lomond on a boat. What a mystical, beautiful lake.

Not to boost up your ego too much....but you seriously have the best nose and palate ever:) When you said Tawny port..... this dram immediately popped out and reminded me of some notes that I have never gotten before except when I had the Glendronach 15 Tawny Port from about 4-5 years ago. Awesome review as usual Ralfy! Cheers from Ohio:)

Loch Lomond must be a subsidiary of Bowmore.

You showed THAT box what for, aye? Ha! Great review. Nobody does whisky better sir.

Saw this today for the first time. Only $27.99. May need to try it.

Just ssaw this at Costo in the Denver area. $25.00. Was surprized that Ralfy had done a review, maybe I will try it

Way to show that packaging who's not going to be patronised!! That was great!

Good point Ralfy about those dumb marketing phrases. The truth is that a good whisky can speak for itself and doesn't need such cheap marketing gimmicks.

I really enjoy the no age statement peated version now and again..

You had me laughing when you smacked that box away. :)

They get away with a lot more than alcoholism in Tintin comics. I'm glad to see you are so taken aback by the smoothness comment because with Canadian whisky it is on almost every bottle. Especially the premium ones which are made for people who should know better. If the marketing is anything to believe the difference between a $70 Canadian whisky and a $25 one is that the $70 one is "smoother". Pess off with that!

Just drinking my first LL and it's this 12 year. Find it to be refreshing and enjoying the maltiness and light fruits. Nice viscosity/mouthfeel.

Any chance of a review of Inchmoan 12?

Thanks again for another interesting review Ralfy.

Interesting to see 'smooth' used as a verb. How does one go about 'smoothing' a whisky? Must be a trade secret ;)

Hi Ralfy! I agree the ABV and non-chill filtering is move in the right direction. Cheers 😊🥃!

I recently bought a bottle of this whisky off Amazon, but got a "limited 2013 release organic" version, same logo of the blue one you showed on the video but with a white label. I was upset because it wasn't the bottle I wanted but kept it anyway because I wanted to try it. Found on a Spanish online liquor store the current 12 years and bought it and I recieved it today and...it was the wrong bottle again. Now I just really want the correct bottle because it got personal hahaha but watching this review I don't know if I really want to try it... 82 out of 100 is quite a high score but still, the review seemed bad-ish ¿? Anyway, great videos you make! totally subscribing

Hi Ralfy. Was just looking at an old review (481? I think) which featured a SMWS release. I have a cousin who got together with some friends for the purpose of buying and appreciating single malts in a similar way to the beginnings of the SMWS. Instead, their name is the Organisation for the Appreciation of Single Malts (i.e - ORGASM) - you have to admire their enthusiasm and their sense of humour. As they are local to each other but many hundreds of kilometres away from me I am unable to join their band of merry men - but it does show that you don't have to be in a group like SMWS to achieve similar buying results.

Yesterday I tried Loch Lomond 12 yrs at a friend's place. immediately noticed the oak flavour overpowering the taste, it gave an overall impression of non aged , strong punchy taste, generally not expected from 10+ yrs single malts. Next step was to look up to your views 😉. seems I'm not writing. overall non impressive scotch. Teachers highland cream blend would earn more fans than this

Just bought this for $40 in the upper Midwest, looking forward to it

Hi Ralfy, I tried the 18YO and wasn’t impressed at all. I got cardboard notes typical of tired casks used, and not any complexity, which I expected after 18 years of maturation

always been amazed at how much you draw from such tiny micro sips of 0.4ml

It is also Snowy’s favorite whisky.

Ralfy, have you tried the Loch Lomond Single Grain variant? The background is quite more interesting than the whisky, though as it is 100% malted barley.

Hi Ralfy, just bought a bottle here in Miami of Loch Lomond The Open Special Edition; no caramel and non chill-filtered at 46%; young but interesting, with an unexpected blast on the palate; have you tried it?

Ralfy, again, a good review, as usual. Indeed, at 14:10 through 14:30, you had a bit of a "Smooth to Perfection" moment. :) At 14:40, it was good that you took in a big breath. :) :) :) Sometimes, we all need a big breath. :) Danke & Slainte, Richard

I feel like by bringing in the old whisky you know you didn't like, you've given yourself a preconceived notion that the new one was going to fail no matter what. Should have left it out of the equation to avoid bias. It's not my favourite but I quite like it.

How would you compare this against talisker 10? Considering you gave both the same mark.? Tks

ROFL. That was awesome and so legitimate. That temper spiced it up and you made a good point.

Ralfy! You cursed!! Loch Lomond do intrigue me. They produce this one of course, inchmurrin, inchmoan, a grain and am I right in thinking that they are associated with Glen Scotia? Seems to me the y have/are building a broad portfolio of brands. Intrigued to hear more from you on these lot. Cheers

I found this to be a 'hot' whisky...flavours a bit harsh and not that memorable.I'll stick to Glenallachie and Glen Garioch in future..two of my fave 12 year olds...yummy!😋😋🥃🥃

Happy Monday ~ another Ralfy Review! 😀 Hello and thank you Dear Sir! Liking the bonnet.

Ah ha haaa! 😃 Now it’s not smoothed to perfection 😁 It’s now Perfectly balanced! .. in italic font 😁😄

just got this in the states for 34.00 For that price..I love it. Un chill filtered and all.

Is there CARAMEL COLOURING added?

I enjoy playing, guess the malt mark! Full disclosure, I went with 81, do I get a, 'one malt mark out', tee shirt, or is that another show hosted by a Scotsman?

One of your better reviews Ralfy. Love it.

Ralfy, do you have a list of scores you've given to whiskys over time? Or an explination of how your system works? Do you ever give scores under 70 or 60? Is a "basic 80" an average score, or is it lower than average?

Got an advert at the start of this video for Eden Mills St. Andrews regarding their first bottling in over 100 years... 7 different expressions...

I found this nice on the nose-a bit lacking on the tongue. At this price point though a fair buy and a decent scotch

I should have looked up your review before buying... bit of a mess, probably due to funny casks. I'll save it for whisky and soda, although, as you recommend, I shall not pour it down the drain. I will keep it as a reminder of what mediocre whisky is all about. I could have gotten a number of better whiskies for the same money... oh well, live and learn. Cheers and keep up the good work! I have learned a lot from you.

Sounds like a decent "re-structuring". Always interesting🙂

Honestly…..I was am disappointed as to the lack of complexity. It’s nice, but I’m rather used to a nice single malt evolving as it sits or while I’m finishing a taste. Still…an excellent value, and not at all a bad way to end a day’s work.

Tbh its £20 atm on MoM. As for the the rebranding they are owed by the same lot that own glen Scotia who had major rebranding lol

made my day with that backhand :D

Fantastic review, certainly full of character! So what does the cliche mean? You know - so we don't accidentally slip up and say it to a Scotsman?

As a bourbon drinker as well as a scotch drinker, "smooth" is a bad word. Sure I don't want harsh, but smooth = boring. I like it challenging. You might say, I like it a little rough! Of course, it's even worse if the spirit turns advertised as smooth turns out not to be smooth.

Smoothed to perfection... Blistering Barnacles!

Just to confirm Ralfy, you don't agree with the Loch Lomond's marketing team statement "smooth to perfection"?

Thanks ralfy amazing information

heard good things about the so called "single grain" quality vs value ....is the whole distillery improving? tempted to get this one for £35.....

This is in my local supermarket, here in Taiwan. It's about the same price as the Glenfiddich 12, to which you also gave an 82 (or did you later revise that to 84?) It just over 20 quid. For that price, I think I'll give it a try.

Uh, confused on the cask comment about the whiskey taking on flavors of the previous contents and not necessarily the wood...isn't that the whole point? Example, Sherry casks???

Smooth is good though Ralfy. It's what you want from "sipping" spirits. The smoother the better. Just be glad you don't get sweet and smooth. Heaven forbid you might get a bit of alcohol bite

same mark for both?

I just bought this, now I am wondering just what did I buy for 42.99.

Ralfy is the the best. 🥃

Re-charred wet casks... I highly doubt it

LL12 jus showd up on the shelvz 2day. Ralfy..thought Id giv it anothr look c b4 I giv it a bash. thnx m8. cheers

Ralfy, your comment at the beginning implied that Loch Lomond USED to be a factory style distillery with no visitors centre but this has all changed now. Not True! Loch Lomond still has no visitors centre. If you zoom into the distillery on Google Street you will find it in an industrial zone, surrounded by a white concrete wall and barb wire looking like a beer or soft drinks factory. It's true that their whiskies have vastly improved with quite a few ranges from non-peated, medium peated to highly peated and higher bottling strengths, non-chill-filtering and older age statements. However, I am not impressed by the heavy use of E150a colouring and the kitschy artwork on the label and box and pathetic and embarrising marketing text. Could there be anything more kitschy than putting a deer's head on the label? I suppose a Scottish piper in a kilt is slightly worse. Thank G-d for small favours. I can't beleive you said that Ralfy! "OchI LeNu" problably sums up Loch Lomond.

Ralfy you Rebelious Rye Revenge seaking Roughiant. Lovely review. As usual. You make whisky art.

What give me this natural Schott Mist that I look for?

as a random aside, is that canned haggis?

Good evening Ralfy