We are delighted to unveil a new addition to the Loch Lomond Whiskies portfolio; Steam & Fire, a remarkable single malt whisky finished in Heavily Charred Casks.
Loch Lomond Steam & Fire is a celebration of the incredible alchemy and engineering capability of our distillery and a product of our exploration, experimentation and know-how as master makers, distillers and coopers.
It brings to life our diverse distilling process and our hand-charred casks from our own in-house cooperage, resulting in this truly unique and imaginative whisky.
Steam & Fire begins its journey being distilled in a combination of Straight Neck and traditional Swan Neck Pot Stills before maturing in first fill Bourbon barrels and refill American Oak casks. This exceptional single malt is then finished in heavily charred American Oak for 10 months.
The heavily charred American oak barrels have a distinctive rich demerara sugar influence on the whisky, creating a rich flavour profile characterised by notes of orange, pear and melted brown sugar with a dark chocolate, and a soft smoke finish.
Michael Henry, our Master Blender said: “Fire is a powerful element which has a distinctive impact on the flavour whisky takes from the oak. It is key in breaking down the surface of the oak releasing the flavours locked within, with the temperature of the flame and length of charring time critical in determining the flavours imparted.
“At Loch Lomond Whiskies, we are driven to experiment with flavour, creating unique single malts that push the boundaries of what is possible.
“Steam & Fire is unlike anything we have created at our distillery before, and is a representation of this quest to create whisky outside of the ordinary, bringing together our impressive capabilities in distillation and maturation.”
REMARKABLE MAKERS
As part of our Remarkable Makers series and the launch of Steam & Fire, we collaborated with renowned open-fire chef Genevieve Taylor. Our Remarkable Makers series sees us expand our search for innovation n particular crafts by partnering with like-minded creators, makers and craftspeople from different industries.
Genevieve Taylor is an accomplished chef, the author of 12 cookery books and is fascinated by the science of cooking over fire. She is inspired by her lifelong love of nature and sustainability, with her recipes specifically created based on the seasonality and locality of ingredients.
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.
“Too much wood creates a very distinctive smoky flavour, which can distract from delicate dishes, whereas pure charcoal allows the subtleties of ingredients to come to the fore. The slightest change in this balance has a profound impact on the final recipe.”
Genevieve Taylor’s passion for fire cooking is driven by a curiosity to explore the extraordinary. She continued: “Loch Lomond Whiskies and I share a curious spirit, and an eternal desire to seek out new possibilities in our crafts. The traditional domestic kitchen can be a wonderful place, but it can also be restricting to creativity and exploration..
“Fire cooking opened up a whole new world of possibilities, and allows me to experiment with flavour and techniques which are outside of the ordinary.”
