Royal Lochnagar is part of the Classic malts since 2005 (part of the second wave that also included Caol Ila, Cardhu and Clynelish) and the Distillers Edition was introduced in 2008. It is finished in old Muscat wine casks.
Lochnagar is the training distillery of the Diageo group, a lot of distillery managers are trained there before being transferred. Maybe this is why it’s not being promoted very much, nor released often.
Royal Lochnagar 2000 ‘Distiller’s Edition’ (40%, OB 2012, Muscat finish, RL/00-12W)
Nose: a floral nose that starts on bergamot and evolves towards leather and fruits. Yellow plums, grapes. Growing sweeter on apricot jam. Nice interaction of grassy and fruity notes. Very light toasted oak.
Mouth: quite mild and fruity again, very sweet and relatively oily. Vanilla cake, malty sweetness and sugared cereals. Soft pepper and the return of floral citrus notes. Hints of honeyed Arizona green tea.
Finish: rather short, with the same leafy tea notes and sweet grassy notes.
Classic spirit, quite a wide range of aromas, from floral notes to toasted ones. A relatively gentle finishing and a light dram altogether. Around € 45.
Score: 81/100