Lochlea Sowing 3rd Crop Single Malt, 46%

Since 2022, the Lowlands-based Lochlea distillery has been annually releasing four seasonal single malts that mark different points in the barley-growing calendar. The First Crop releases in 2022 were followed by the Second Crop in 2023, and 2024 sees the series draw to a close with the Third (and final) Crop. This is the Sowing edition, marking the point in the year that a new crop of barley is sown on the distillery's surrounding farm, so don't worry, there are still a few more expressions to go before its seasonal releases come to an end.

As with previous Sowing Editions, this single malt was matured entirely in first-fill bourbon barrels, and bottled without added colour or chill filtration, but this one spent nine months longer in cask than the Second Crop release! The folks at Lochlea explain that this expression differs from the Second Crop Sowing Edition, due to a colder climate at the time of distillation, resulting in delicious notes of crisp, fresh orchard fruits, as opposed to the stewed fruit characteristics achieved during warmer months.