Back to the Bootlegging Days: Spearhead Surprises (Review)

Now that summer has truly arrived—with a few extremely hot days behind us and the holidays around the corner—it’s the season when many of us reach for mixed drinks rather than neat spirits. As you’ll read in this review, Spearhead whisky fits that moment perfectly.

On hot days, people often default to mixers with gin or rum, but whisky can make fantastic summer drinks too! And the whisky we’re trying today is tailor-made for that.

Loch Lomond Distillery has crafted this release specifically for the mixed-drink market, using whisky made from 100% malted barley and distilled in a coffey still. Whiskies made solely from malted barley are usually distilled in pot stills, so Spearhead is intentionally taking a different path. The result is a gentler spirit that’s easy to sip neat and shines in a well-made cocktail.

The Spearhead bottle has clearly been thoughtfully designed. It’s sturdy yet elegant, pours easily, and its style evokes the Prohibition era and the cocktail bars it inspired: the speakeasies. A bottle that channels the spirit of the Roaring Twenties and Art Deco.

It would look right at home behind a cocktail bar or on your own shelf. The bold red on the label nods to the cask toasting method. This isn’t just done the traditional way—it’s followed by an infrared toast as well.

That allows the temperature to be held steady for longer, drawing out specific flavors from the wood during maturation. Spearhead is first matured in ex-bourbon casks, then finished in both traditionally and infrared-toasted new American oak.

We first tasted the whisky neat for our notes, but Spearhead themselves emphasize how beautifully it works in a mix. While the first serve on their website, the Spear&Beer, sounds intriguing, we opted for our own “perfect serve”: the Rusty Spear. That’s 50 mL Spearhead Single Grain and 150 mL ginger ale—Franklin & Sons in our case—over ice with a wedge of lime.

It sounds like an instant party on a hot summer’s day, so we had to try it. The result? A delicious mix—refreshing and not too sweet. Just as important: it’s easy to make yet feels indulgent. Spearhead’s smooth single grain shows off its vanilla and brown sugar notes here.

Taster’s tip: a basil or mint leaf is a great addition.

Following a distillery recipe is always a safe bet, but we wouldn’t be Whisky Monkeys if we didn’t explore for ourselves! The summer weather is a wellspring of inspiration. Time to raid the garden and the drinks cabinet before heading to the kitchen.

Armed with fresh summer fruit and a few mixers, we started experimenting. We took our cue from the whisky’s inherent berry notes. A handful of fresh fruit in the glass—a mix of red gooseberries, raspberries, and redcurrants.

We muddled it well with a few dashes of orange bitters and the juice of a small lime wedge. Add 50 mL of Spearhead whisky, top with some ice and lightly sparkling mineral water. The result is a fruity mix where the whisky’s malty character unexpectedly steps forward. It’s not perfect yet—but it’s very promising.

This whisky definitely invites further experimentation with mixers and cocktails! Perfect for summer, but it wouldn’t be out of place in a mug of hot chocolate come winter either.

Spearhead Single Grain is a smooth, very affordable whisky that’s exceptionally well-suited to mixing and cocktails. If you love cocktails and you’re looking for a soft, approachable whisky, this is a solid recommendation. In a stylish setup, the bottle’s looks will also stand out. It’s available at several retailers in the Netherlands—and it’s a sure-fire hit.

+ Fresh, smooth, and gently sweet

+ Well priced

+ Highly mixable

- Not the most expressive whisky neat (but that’s not what it’s made for)

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