Lochlea Fallow Edition Second Crop 700ML

Lochlea Fallow Edition Second Crop 700ML is a single estate Lowland single malt Scotch whisky bottled at 46% ABV in a 700ml bottle. This NAS expression stands apart through its dual-sherry maturation in Pedro Ximénez (55%) and Oloroso (45%) casks, all filled with spirit distilled from barley grown on the Lochlea farm itself — a genuinely field-to-bottle whisky.

Quick Facts: ABV: 46%  |  Origin: Ayrshire, Lowlands, Scotland  |  NAS (No Age Statement)  |  Distillery: Lochlea Distillery

Production & Heritage

Lochlea Distillery sits on a working farm in Ayrshire — the same farm where Robert Burns once lived and worked. The distillery operates as a true single estate operation: barley is grown in its own fields, harvested, distilled in copper pot stills with extended fermentation times, and matured in warehouses on the same land. The Fallow Edition series explores sherry cask maturation, and this Second Crop release shifts the balance toward Pedro Ximénez casks (55%) over Oloroso (45%), resulting in a notably richer, sweeter profile compared to the First Crop release, which reversed that ratio.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Rich manuka honey and golden syrup lead the way, followed by layers of dried fruit, banana bread, and subtle rose petals. There is a malty, biscuity backbone underneath the sweetness.

Taste: The entry is dense with dark chocolate and red berries, opening into a mid-palate driven by coffee beans and sweetly spiced candied ginger. Leather and aniseed add complexity as the PX influence asserts itself, while malt biscuit notes keep things grounded.

Finish: Medium in length with a textured, slightly drying quality. Freshly crushed almonds linger alongside fading echoes of dark chocolate and warm spice.

How to Drink Lochlea Second Crop

Best enjoyed neat or with a few drops of water to open up the layered sherry influence; the 46% ABV carries enough weight without overwhelming the palate. For cocktails, this expression works well in a Rob Roy, where its sherry-driven sweetness pairs naturally with sweet vermouth; a Blood and Sand, where its dark fruit and chocolate notes complement the cherry liqueur and orange juice; and a Penicillin, where its honeyed malt character adds depth beneath the ginger and lemon.

Best For

• Sherry cask whisky enthusiasts exploring the Lowlands region
• Gifting to a Scotch drinker who values farm-to-glass provenance
• Building a comparison tasting alongside the First Crop release
• After-dinner sipping as a dessert-style dram

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Lochlea Second Crop taste like? It delivers a rich, sherry-forward profile dominated by dark chocolate, coffee beans, candied ginger, and red berries, with a honeyed sweetness throughout and a medium almond-tinged finish.

How does Lochlea Second Crop compare to the First Crop? The Second Crop uses a higher proportion of Pedro Ximénez casks (55% vs. 45% in the First Crop), which shifts the flavor toward darker, sweeter notes like chocolate and dried fruit rather than the nuttier, drier Oloroso-led character of the First Crop. Both are bottled at 46% ABV and use estate-grown barley.

Is Lochlea Second Crop good for sipping neat? Yes — at 46% ABV and non-chill-filtered, it is built for neat drinking, with enough body and complexity from the sherry casks to reward slow exploration.

Where is Lochlea Second Crop made? It is distilled at Lochlea Distillery on a working farm in Ayrshire, within Scotland's Lowlands whisky region. The barley used in production is grown and harvested on the same estate.

What foods pair well with Lochlea Second Crop? Dark chocolate truffles complement its cocoa notes directly; aged Manchego cheese mirrors its nutty, sherry-adjacent character; sticky toffee pudding echoes the golden syrup and dried fruit sweetness; roasted figs with honey amplify its PX-driven richness; and mild blue cheese provides a savory contrast to the dram's sweetness.

What sizes does Lochlea Second Crop come in? The standard release is a 700ml bottle, which is the typical format for Scotch whisky in most international markets.

Is Lochlea Second Crop worth the price? It positions as a mid-range single malt, and the single estate provenance combined with quality sherry cask maturation delivers strong value within its tier — particularly for drinkers interested in newer Lowland distilleries producing full-flavored whisky.

Why Lochlea Second Crop?

Lochlea is one of very few Scottish distilleries that can claim true single estate status, growing its own barley on the same land where the whisky is distilled and matured. The Second Crop release leans heavily into Pedro Ximénez sherry influence, producing a dram with unusual richness and dessert-like depth for a Lowland malt. With a Whiskybase community rating of 84.42 from over 50 ratings, it has earned solid recognition among independent whisky enthusiasts. For anyone seeking a sherry-matured Scotch with genuine provenance and a distinctive flavor profile, this expression makes a compelling case for Ayrshire as serious whisky country.