Inchmoan is the peated expression from Loch Lomond distillery, named for one of the islands in the loch. Loch Lomond's extraordinary versatility — the distillery houses both traditional pot stills and the unusual straight-necked Lomond stills — allows it to produce a wide range of spirit styles from a single site. Inchmoan represents the heavily peated end of that spectrum, using peat-dried barley to produce a smoky Highland malt.
The smoke character is earthy and campfire-like — different from the maritime peat of Islay or the floral peat of some Highland distilleries. At twelve years, the peat has mellowed into the spirit without losing its assertiveness, creating a balanced interplay between smoke, malt and oak. The 46% bottling strength is sensible, giving the smoke enough body to express itself without aggression.
Inchmoan 12 offers peated whisky at a Highland price — significantly cheaper than most Islay malts of equivalent age. The smoke style will not satisfy drinkers who demand the iodine and maritime intensity of the western isles, but for those who enjoy a gentler, more earthy smoke, Inchmoan is a well-made and reasonably priced alternative. Another demonstration of Loch Lomond's remarkable ability to produce diverse and characterful whisky from a single site.
