Hey there, folks! How's it going? Hope everything's great on your end. Today, we're diving into a rather unique whisky from the Loch Lomond distillery. It's labeled as a Single Grain whisky, yet it's made entirely from malted barley—wait, what?

Here's the twist: by law, single malts must be distilled in pot stills. But this one was produced using continuous Coffey stills. Because of that, it doesn't meet the legal definition of a single malt, so they have to label it as a Single Grain instead.

Let's break it down and see what it's all about. But before we go any further, please check out my previous reviews.🥃✅

About the Loch Lomond distillery

Loch Lomond Distillery was established in 1964 by Littlemill Distillery Co. Ltd., with production beginning in 1966. It was named after the iconic Loch Lomond and located in Alexandria, just south of the loch. In 1971, it was acquired by Barton Brands of the U.S., and later passed to Amalgamated Distilled Products (ADP) in 1982.

The distillery briefly closed in 1984, but was rescued in 1985 by Glen Catrine Bonded Warehouse Ltd., a major bottler based in Ayrshire. Production resumed in 1987, initially focusing solely on single malt. A major development came in 1993, when Loch Lomond installed a Coffey still, making it the only distillery in Scotland at the time to produce both malt and grain whisky on-site.

In 1994, Glen Catrine expanded further by acquiring Glen Scotia Distillery in Campbeltown. Finally, in 2014, Loch Lomond Distillery, along with Glen Catrine and Glen Scotia, was sold to Exponent, a private equity firm, marking the start of a new era of growth and innovation.

Loch Lomond is known for its industrial-scale, 24/7 production. All malted barley is sourced from Scotland and milled in a Porteus mill. Three peat levels (light, medium, heavy) are used, giving flexibility in flavor profiles. A full lauter mash tun, capable of processing 10 tonnes per cycle, produces around 50,000 liters of mash per batch.

Fermentation is carried out in 41 stainless steel washbacks, ranging from 25,000 to 200,000 liters. The distillery uses not only distiller's yeast but also Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc wine yeasts, creating a distinctly fruity wash. Fermentations last 90+ hours, encouraging ester development for complex flavor.

Distillation is equally diverse. Loch Lomond operates both traditional copper pot stills for malt whisky and Coffey/column stills for grain whisky. The use of Coffey stills with 100% malted barley led to a legal dispute in 2008 with the Scotch Whisky Association, reinforcing that whisky made via continuous distillation—even from malted barley—cannot be labeled "Single Malt." Such whiskies are instead classified as Single Grain.

The distillery's total annual capacity is around 5 million liters of malt whisky and 18 million liters of grain whisky.

Loch Lomond has its own cooperage, established in 1994, where over 10,000 barrels per year are maintained and re-charred. This allows tight quality control over the maturation process. Whiskies are aged in bourbon casks and hogsheads, with age statements commonly including 12, 15, 18, and 21 years. Warehouses include both modern and historic racked buildings, some of which were once part of a shipbuilding foundry.

The core range

Loch Lomond produces a wide range of whiskies, including Single Malts, Single Grains, and Blends. I am not going to list them all as I usually do, it would take a century... Key brands include:

Loch Lomond – Known for soft, fruity, lightly peated Highland style whiskies. Available in various age statements and peated/no-age-statement variants.

Inchmurrin – Floral, grassy, and light. Named after Inchmurrin Island on Loch Lomond. Available in 12, 15, 18, and 21-year-old expressions.

Inchmoan – A heavily peated expression named after another island.

Inchfad – A rare, smoky variant, now used internally rather than publicly bottled.

Loch Lomond Grainstorm unpeated - Non-chill filtered, 46%

"Loch Lomond Single Grain Whisky is carefully distilled using only the finest malted barley. Distilled in our continuous still, this single grain has a smooth and sweet character with added complexity not usually found in a single grain. Expect juicy fruit notes, creamy vanilla and lemon zest.

Distilled in our continuous still using exclusively malted barley ensures this single grain is smooth, sweet with added complexity not usually found in a single grain. Matured in the finest American oak casks under the watchful eye of Michael Henry, our master blender, ensures the perfect harmony of flavour and aroma."

Nose: Bright and delicate with a fresh, malty character. Notes of bread dough, biscuits, and a light effervescence lead the way. Hints of vanilla emerge alongside orchard fruits like green apple, pear, and peach. Subtle grassy tones—hay and freshly cut lawn—are joined by nuances of beer, white wine, and a gentle yeasty note. Overall, it's very inviting—floral, fruity, and crisp.

Taste: Light and refreshing on entry, with a pleasantly oily texture that coats the mouth. The ABV feels well-balanced. There's a touch of spice followed by familiar beer-like maltiness, hay, and grassy elements. Flavors of toasted bread, digestive biscuits, green apples, ripe pears, and peaches follow through. A slight astringency lingers, complemented by black pepper, yeast, and a prosecco-like brightness. Exceptionally fresh and vibrant.

Finish: Medium in length, with a warming spice profile—cinnamon, black pepper, and a touch of chili heat. There's a faint hint of wet cardboard and some drying tannins, but also notes of oak, espresso, orchard fruits, and a dusting of brown sugar. A nice, well-rounded finish that will leave you wanting more.

Grainstorm is a pleasantly surprising and characterful single grain whisky that showcases impressive complexity and finesse for its style. Its bright, floral, and fruity nose immediately draws you in, setting the tone for a whisky that's light yet flavorful throughout. On the palate, it delivers a refreshing, oily texture with layers of malt, orchard fruit, and subtle spice, balanced by a touch of yeast and prosecco-like vibrancy. The finish is moderate but satisfying, bringing warmth, spice, and a soft sweetness with hints of oak and espresso.

Altogether, this whisky feels inviting, fresh, and well-crafted—a unique expression that stands out within the single grain category. While it's delicate and approachable, it still offers enough complexity to keep experienced palates engaged. I rate this 6.1/10. Buy it. Try it. Drink responsibly.

Some of the photos featured in this article are not my own; I've credited the original owners. All other images bearing my logo were taken and are owned by me.

Feel free to check out the scores and rankings I've given to each whisky I reviewed.

Thanks for reading—I hope you enjoyed it! Here's to many more drams. Sláinte!

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