Loch Lomond Group highlights exclusivity through four limited-editions in its line-up for next month’s TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition (Basement 2 B 14).
Loch Lomond Whiskies, The Spirit of The Open, will present 2019 expressions to celebrate its five-year partnership with golf’s original championship. Two travel retail exclusives from Glen Scotia and Littlemill brands will also be highlighted.
Loch Lomond Group Managing Director Andre de Almeida said: “Since launching our bespoke global travel retail Scotch whisky range just over two years ago, we’ve experienced strong demand from retailers for our brands and we’re keen to support their drive for more diversity across the channel.”
Loch Lomond The Open Special Edition 2019 was created in conjunction with Loch Lomond Whiskies’ golf ambassador Colin Montgomerie. Loch Lomond The Open Course Collection Royal Portrush 19yo was developed with former Open Champion Darren Clarke, who is also a Loch Lomond Whiskies golf brand ambassador.
Both expressions aim to showcase the worlds of whisky and golf, described by Loch Lomond as “two of Scotland’s most iconic exports”.
Loch Lomond The Open Special Edition 2019 is presented in a green golf-inspired box. Loch Lomond The Open Course Collection Royal Portrush honours the 148th Open Championship, which is returning to Northern Ireland after a near 70-year absence. The 19yo single malt was matured in American oak and finished in claret casks. Its green packaging, which is signed by Clarke, depicts a map of Royal Portrush Golf Club course.
Both expressions are available now in global travel retail.
Glen Scotia Vintage 1991 single malt, which will be the Campbeltown distillery’s oldest release, is exclusive to travel retail as is the Littlemill Vintage 1992. The Littlemill expression comes with a 5cl vial for those who would like to sample the whisky while keeping the bottle intact. Every bottle is individually numbered and comes from a very small parcel of stock, consisting of just three casks.
According to the Loch Lomond Group, new historic documentary evidence proves that Littlemill was the oldest licensed whisky distillery in Scotland.
Loch Lomond Group CEO Colin Matthews commented: “We are thrilled and excited to have discovered these clear and unambiguous documents dating back to 1773 that confirm that Littlemill was indeed the very first Scottish distillery to obtain a licence to sell ‘excisable liquors’.”
Littlemill started producing whisky legally from 1772 in Bowling, on the banks of the River Clyde near Glasgow. The distillery closed in 1994 and the buildings were destroyed by fire in 2004.
Loch Lomond Group said Littlemill stills provided the inspiration for the opening of the Loch Lomond Distillery in the 1960s.
Loch Lomond Group launched the Littlemill 40yo Celestial Edition (46.8% ABV) in late 2018, the oldest expression ever to be released from the lost distillery. Only 250 bottles have been produced, each presented in a box with a map of the night sky seen above Littlemill Distillery on the night the spirit was barrelled.
The latest addition to the Littlemill range will be released in September. Littlemill 29yo (RRP £2,500 (US$3,270); 47.3% ABV) is the third release from the Private Cellar Collection and limited to 600 bottles worldwide.
Its bespoke Glencairn crystal decanter is etched with an illustration of the River Clyde and a silver star signifying the Littlemill distillery’s location. The presentation box includes a 5c miniature, a piece of a Littlemill cask, details of the Littlemill history and tasting notes from Master Distiller Michael Henry.
