Loch Lomond Whiskies has unveiled a new single malt whisky, Steam & Fire.
In a new concept for the Scotch whisky producer, the spirit has been finished in heavily charred American oak casks that were charred at Loch Lomond Whiskies' own cooperage. It is one of only a handful of distilleries in Scotland to operate an in-house cooperage.
Steam & Fire single malt is produced from liquids distilled both in Loch Lomond's traditional swan neck pot stills and its straight-necked 'Lomond' stills. Prior to its 10-month finishing period in the heavily charred casks, the spirit was matured in a combination of first-fill bourbon and refill American oak casks.
Michael Henry, Loch Lomond Whiskies master blender, said: “Steam & Fire is unlike anything we have created at our distillery before. Intended to capture our extensive and unique capabilities in whisky making, it is a striking expression which speaks to the heart of what Loch Lomond Whiskies is trying to achieve and our ongoing experimentation with flavour.
“Steam & Fire is a representation of our quest to create whisky outside of the ordinary, bringing together our impressive capabilities in distillation and maturation.”
The launch of Steam & Fire includes a collaboration with open-fire chef Genevieve Taylor, who formerly partnered with the distillery on its Remarkable Makers campaign.
She said: “Fire as a method for cooking is a time-honoured craft, much like whisky making, which has survived for generations. It is such strong primal element and in many ways it can be unpredictable. Like a master blender, you have to very carefully control all of the variables to curate the final flavour you want.
Steam & Fire is available from lochlomondwhiskies.co.uk and specialist retailers including Master of Malt, with a recommended priced of £45.