Croftengea is peated Loch Lomond (the favourite whisky of Captain Haddock in Tintin). It’s an active low-key distillery you rarely hear of, and they have a peculiar set of stills: copper pot stills, Lomond stills and a Coffey still. With this equipment they claim to produce eight different styles of whisky, both grain and malt.
They’re also using a slightly obsure array of names: Loch Lomond, Croftengea, Old Rhosdhu, Inchfad, Inchmoan, Inchmurrin, Craiglodge… it’s all produced at the same place. Today we’re having an official single cask release, distilled 26/01/1996 and bottled 06/09/2005.
The distillery is not too healthy and it’s said to be looking for new investors.
Croftengea 9 yo 1996 (45%, OB 2005, sherry finished hogshead #283, 380 btl.)
Nose: full of dry smoke, with earthy overtones. Cold barbecue ash. Then lots of dark chocolate with syrupy sultanas and even hints of raspberry ganache. Cecina de León.
Mouth: same story. Big peat smoke, burnt grass and lots of pepper. Moves to slightly herbal and bitter notes (espresso). Gets thinner in the end and leaves a sourness of oak.
Finish: long, smoky, peppery and slightly sour.
Not a bad dram, even hinting towards sherried Port Ellen but a little thin and rough to play in the same league. Quite cheap in auctions, rarely over € 60-70. Although this shop thinks it’s worth € 200, ha! Thanks Bert.
Score: 84/100