Loch Lomond Grainstorm Peated Whisky Review: Peated Yet Sweet

Loch Lomond Distillery is a unique dual distillery. The whisky maker has a broad set of stills including a classic pot still, a Coffey still, and column stills. This allows them to create virtually any whisky you can imagine.

What stands out about the Loch Lomond Grainstorm is that it is a single grain whisky. You might expect due to its name a whisky of unmalted barley or other grains, but appearances can be deceptive. The Grainstorm is in fact distilled from malted barley.

The whisky has been titled single grain because it comes from the Coffey still, a column shaped still which is constantly used to distill spirit. The spirit is heated by steam and filtered through plates. If Michael Henry, Master Distiller at Loch Lomond, had chosen a pot still, it would have been a single malt whisky.

The Scottish rules around whisky making prevent the distillery from calling this a single malt whisky, even if it nearly is one. Except for the still used, this whisky has been made within the boundaries of a single malt whisky. Does that still provide a unique taste?

Loch Lomond has given the Grainstorm whiskies clear colors: green and red. The bright colors are not just a contrast on the shelf at the liquor store. The green packaging is for the peated whisky and the red for the unpeated whisky.

On the whisky box, like with every Loch Lomond whisky, you can see the still used and the story behind the whisky. In this case, it's the Coffey still that distills 24 hours a day.

In addition, the names of the Master Cooper Andy Moore and Master Blender Michael Henry can be seen, who with their knowledge, made this whisky a reality.

Time to pour the whisky. The color of the Single Grain whisky is almost gold and leaves beautiful tears on the glass when swirling. To the nose, you primarily get notes of fruit with a hint of graininess. Consider citrus peel, fresh applesauce, and other fresh fruit.

Upon longer smelling, vanilla emerges with sweet spice notes and a hint of freshly mowed grass. In the background, a tiny hint of smoke lingers, almost negligible. It's a delightful combination of smells that easily tempts you to take a sip.

In the mouth, that sweet fruitiness that makes the scent so attractive is the first thing to come forward. Green apple, star anise, and sweet peat notes pass through. The whisky never becomes smoky at any point.

Instead, the taste becomes sweeter and more floral towards the finish. Only at the very end, a hint of smoke makes an appearance, after all other tastes have already bid their farewell.

The Grainstorm not only surprises in the nose but also in the mouth. The whisky is made with heavily peated malted barley, but this does not really return in the taste. Lovers of an accessible whisky that is not very profound, have found a wonderful dram with this single grain.

+ Incredibly accessible for beginning whisky lovers

+ Very reasonably priced

+ In terms of flavors, very well balanced

- Not a whisky to contemplate for hours