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Lochside 1981 Oloroso Sherry Reserve 2010 (TWE)

Average score from 3 reviews and 4 ratings 91

Lochside 1981 Oloroso Sherry Reserve 2010 (TWE)

Product details

  • Brand: Lochside
  • Bottler: Unknown
  • ABV: 57.5%
  • Vintage: 1981
  • Bottled: 2010

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@Stu_R
Lochside 1981 Oloroso Sherry Reserve 2010 (TWE)

I first sampled this Lochside at The Whisky Show last year when it was still yet to be released. Even among the sheer deluge of wonderful drams tasted that day it still stood out, partly by virtue of the sheer individuality and characterful nature of the spirit that Lochside produced and also as a result of excellent cask selection.

Nose: A little edgy, flighty and flinty at first which, in my experience, is typical of Lochside; pink grapefruit, beautiful passion fruit and tart red currant at the fore with tangerine underneath. A little paraffin oil and limestone sharpness sits behind. There are some nice mentholated suggestions with eucalyptus and a dry, slightly bitter background nuttiness; walnuts/almond oil. Water smoothes over some of the sharpness and brings out blood oranges and hints of dried apricot.

Taste: Richer than expected on delivery but still with an edgy, grassy quality and again the typical lochside fruits; grapefruit, a little passion fruit and orange pith. The nutty background found in the nose is also present, still all on walnut/pecan and bitter almond. A spicier presence starts to build with a touch of nutmeg but the tannins remain restrained with some dusty hessian and chalk. A faint touch of sweet fennel shows late on.

Feel: Rich, supple and silky, medium bodied.

Finish: Some toasted oak, white pepper and sustained, though faint, fruits. Medium length.

I tasted this bottling alongside two other 1981 Lochside’s, in the form of a Blackadder Raw Cask c#617 and a 2009 Gordon and MacPhail bottling for La Maison du Whisky. They were all lovely, with the Blackadder being notable with regard to complexity, however the example from The Whisky Exchange stood out for me. The added influence of the European oak seemed to add depth and interest without taking anything away from the spirits overt and beautiful “lochsideness”.

Many thanks got to Tim over at The Whisky Exchange for the sample.

Lies....I seem to remember a few glasses being handed back to me empty---I kid ;-). Hehe and my sample is gone also. I really wanted a bottle of this one but it looks like it will sell out (I'm told there are not many bottles left) before my darling wife forgets to spend my money.

Given how scarce these Lochsides will become I agree. Of the batch of 81 casks that we have seen bottled most have been very high quality. This one just has that extra something for me though.....hmmmmmm credit card....no no..

@WhiskyNotes

Lochside 29 yo 1981 (57,5%, The Whisky Exchange 2010, oloroso cask)

Nose: great fruity notes (redcurrant, some tangerine, grapefruit, passion fruit) – fresh fruits mixed with dried fruits (raisins) and a lovely layer of oak polish / wax. Quite aromatic with a few floral touches. Some spices to add some depth. Whiffs of mint. Rounder than most of the Fino casks that we’ve seen recently, or so it seems. Mouth: starts on sweet grapefruit followed by plenty of spices and some grassy notes. The honeyed oloroso is noticeable in the background. Then getting drier and sharper with ginger and pepper and a growing bitterness (citrus zest). Still slightly waxy. Finish: like other Lochsides from this era: long with lemon zest and a Palo Cortado kind of woodiness.

It’s difficult to choose between all the great 1981 Lochsides we’ve seen lately. This is one of the more rounded with attractive fruits on the nose (more than the Fino casks). It’s just the bitterish and zesty flavours that keep me from scoring it much higher, but that’s part of the Lochside character as well. Excellent and exemplary – one of the best 1981’s for me.

Wow! This sounds utterly fantastic!

@WhiskyNotes

The Whisky Exchange was founded in 1999. In 2009/2010 they presented a series of excellent 10th Anniversary bottlings. This Lochside 1981 is their latest (probably last?) anniversary edition.

Lochside 29 yo 1981 (57,5%, The Whisky Exchange 2010, oloroso cask)

Nose: great fruity notes (redcurrant, some tangerine, grapefruit, passion fruit) – fresh fruits mixed with dried fruits (raisins) and a lovely layer of oak polish / wax. Quite aromatic with a few floral touches. Some spices to add some depth. Whiffs of mint. Rounder than most of the Fino casks that we’ve seen recently, or so it seems.

Mouth: starts on sweet grapefruit followed by plenty of spices and some grassy notes. The honeyed oloroso is noticeable in the background. Then getting drier and sharper with ginger and pepper and a growing bitterness (citrus zest). Still slightly waxy.

Finish: like other Lochsides from this era: long with lemon zest and a Palo Cortado kind of woodiness.

It’s difficult to choose between all the great 1981 Lochsides we’ve seen lately. This is one of the more rounded with attractive fruits on the nose (more than the Fino casks). It’s just the bitterish and zesty flavours that keep me from scoring it much higher, but that’s part of the Lochside character as well. Excellent and exemplary – one of the best 1981’s for me.

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