Every year, Loch Lomond releases its Open Edition bottlings, and every year, I find myself impressed. But the 154th Open Edition, a non-age-stated single malt finished in Argentinian Malbec casks, might be the most intriguing one yet. I am not much of a golfer, but I know whisky, and this one deserves a proper conversation.
Let me lay out the specs first. This is a 46% ABV, non-chill filtered expression built on a backbone of bourbon cask maturation before being finished in those Malbec wine casks. It sits within Loch Lomond’s standard Open release tier, priced at around £45, which already sets expectations in a very favourable direction.
There is also an older, more premium release each year, a 19-year-old port finish this time around, but it is the standard bottling that consistently proves what remarkable value this distillery can deliver.
Red wine cask finishes in Scotch tend to polarise people. Personally, I have had brilliant examples and forgettable ones, so I always approach them with an open mind.
What struck me immediately about this expression is how the Malbec influence integrates rather than dominates. On the nose, the bourbon maturation leads with honey, coconut, and a lovely peachy sweetness, almost like apricot syrup.
The wine cask seeps through gradually, offering an alluring, almost Sauternes-like quality. Give it time in the glass and darker notes emerge: hazelnut cream, dark chocolate, and a tarter raspberry character that adds real complexity.
The palate is where things get genuinely fascinating. It arrives sweet and syrupy, very bourbon-driven, before a twofold dryness takes hold from both the Malbec tannins and a soft, unexpected smokiness. That gentle wisp of smoke lingers into the finish, sitting somewhere between the salinity of a Bruichladdich and the delicate peat of a Bowmore, though far less overtly peaty than either. There may well be a lightly peated cask tucked into this vatting.
Add a splash of water and the whole profile shifts beautifully, the red fruits bloom, the smoke deepens, and the overall effect reminds me remarkably of a Rob Roy cocktail: gently smoky, subtly sweet, with a tangy, almost bitters-like ginger note on the tail end.
At £45, this is a fabulous whisky doing exactly what Loch Lomond does best: delivering genuine interest and quality without demanding a premium price. There is a reason I named them distillery of the year.
A solid eight out of ten from me, and one I would recommend to anyone seeking something a little different on their shelf. If you have tried previous Open Editions, how does this Malbec finish compare for you?
To see my full tasting of the Loch Lomond The Open Edition 2026, watch my YouTube video.
Read the full article at The Loch Lomond Open Edition 2026: A Malbec-Finished Gem That Punches Well Above Its Price
