Loch Lomond Single Malt Whisky

In 2017, Loch Lomond's owner signed a promotion agreement for its products in the expanding Chinese market; in June 2019, Loch Lomond's ties with China deepened further. Exponent Equity, the private equity fund that has been managing Loch Lomond Group (Loch Lomond Distillery's parent company) since 2014, announced it had sold the company to China's Hillhouse Capital for approximately $500 million to $550 million. Loch Lomond Distillery's equipment is extraordinary. When built in 1966, it was installed with a pair of straight neck stills. In 1990, another pair of stills was added. Four years later, a grain distillery was launched. In 1998, a pair of traditional pot stills was installed; in 2007, a single grain Coffey still was added, later supplemented by a third pair of straight neck stills. Now, the distillery boasts 13 stills of four completely different types! Of the 5 million liters of malt whisky produced annually at Loch Lomond Distillery, 3.5 million liters are distilled in Coffey stills for the popular Loch Lomond Single Grain Whisky (actually single malt, but not recognized as such by the SWA because no pot stills are used). Whiskies under the Loch Lomond brand have their spirit distilled in traditional stills and are blended with whisky distilled in straight neck stills before bottling. The Inchmurrin brand whisky comes from straight neck stills. Also from straight neck stills are the heavily peated Inchmoan brand whisky, and other brands not heavily promoted in official packaging (Inchfad, Glen Douglas, Craiglodge, and Croftengea). Other equipment includes a 9.5-ton full lauter mash tun, 10 stainless steel fermentation tanks (fermentation time 92-160 hours) dedicated to malt whisky processing. Additionally, there are 18 pieces of equipment dedicated to grain whisky processing. Regular releases include three brands: Loch Lomond, comprising Classic, Original, 10-year, 12-year, and 18-year expressions; Inchmurrin, with 12-year, 18-year whiskies and a Madeira wine cask finish; and Inchmoan 12-year and 1992 vintage. Duty-free products include Loch Lomond Single Grain, Signature blended Scotch, 12-year single malt, plus Inchmurrin Madeira cask finish, 10-year single cask, and 10-year Inchmoan. Limited editions include Loch Lomond The Open Special Edition (British Open Golf Championship) and a 50-year-old expression.