Review by: Raygun

Two things I will never master: multivariate calculus and the various brands from Loch Lomond and their particular production methods and characteristics. Old Rhosdhu is a brand that was retired in 2000. It was made from unpeated malt and distilled on the straight-neck pot stills. This was released by Decadent Drinks under the now retired Whisky Sponge line, so a retired malt from a retired brand. Seems fitting. Reviewed from a sample. Rested about 15 minutes.

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Distillery: Loch Lomond (Old Rhosdhu)

Bottler: Decadent Drinks    

Region/style: Highlands single malt Scotch

ABV: 57.1%

Age: 29 years old. Distilled in 1993 and bottled in 2022.     

Cask type: Refill hogshead  

Color: 1.4 tawny. Natural color and non-chill-filtered. As dark as I’ve ever seen from a refill hogshead.

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Nose: Smells old. There’s a lot of wood and some cognac-like rancio. The alcohol is very strong and it’s probably going to take some water to get a better sense of it. Water brings out some candied orange peel, dried mango, and peaches.                        

Palate: Funny tasting this right after the Sponge Inchmurrin. It’s like you took that and subtracted the fruit. There’s caramel and cream, almost like ricotta. More rancio and some spice, notably cinnamon. OK, there’s a bit of fruit, canned peaches in particular, and some pear. Ah, there it is. Water does help. Brings out melon and gummi bears. Gets a little tropical, but not so vibrant. Like dried fruit more than fresh. The age comes through well.     

Finish: Not as hot as I’d have thought from the nose. There’s some hefty oak, but it’s not as tannic as it might have been. Some sweet ricotta like in cannoli filling. More peaches and pears. Just wish it had more fruity pop. Maybe water will help. Yes, water does help. Caramel, vanilla, gummi bears, and dried papaya. A little spicy zing, too.      

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Conclusion: I feel I need to give more attention to Loch Lomond. At least Whisky Sponge bottlings of it. I had this alongside a Sponge Inchmurrin (review coming soon). It’s definitely different from the Inchmurrin, no surprise at nearly twice the age. And yet recognizably has some common characteristics. The fruit is a bit more muted with the age and it’s more oaky. Took some water to coax it to open up, and now it’s delicious. Between the two of these, I feel like I could give up on peated Loch Lomond entirely. The unpeated seems so much better to me. That’s what I want more of.

Score: 88

Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky. (Convalmore 36)
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category. (Bruichladdich Black Art 4.1)
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram. (Ledaig 13 Amontillado)
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff. (Tomatin 18)
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting. (Glen Scotia 15)
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better. (Aultmore 12)
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink. (Glenmorangie 10)
• 50-59: Save it for mixing. (Old Pulteney 12)
• 0-49: Blech. (Muirhead’s Silver Seal 16)