Fary Lochan - A Jutlandic gem Blog posts by Luka Gottschalk

Our Whisky Blogger Luka Gottschalk dives into the world of Fary Lochan and tastes his way through several samples.

Post by Luka Gottschalk

Most whisky connoisseurs in Denmark have heard of the distillery Fary Lochan. When I heard the name ''Fary Lochan'' a few years ago, I thought it was a Scottish distillery, due to the Gaelic sound of the name.

It quickly turned out to be a misunderstanding! This is nothing less than a little gem from the town of Farre, located in southern Jutland. The name is based on the town's original name Fary and then the local lake; Lochan. It may be obvious to some, but to an unenlightened Copenhagen cod, it was not a given...

Fary Lochan is a small family-run distillery, but they have gradually become a major player in the Danish whisky market. There is no doubt that we are currently experiencing a 'whisky boom' here in little Denmark. Therefore, as a distillery, you need to create an identity and, not least, a recognizable product. Fary Lochan manages to do this by smoking their malt over nettles from Farre forest, an idea that founder Jens-Erik got from memories of the Funen smoked cheese from his childhood, which was smoked over nettles. This definitely gives the finished product a unique taste, which Fary Lochan can be proud to stand behind.

In addition to a very different and exciting smoking method, Fary Lochan also has a very recognizable distillate. I perceive Fary Lochan's house style as a very herbal and spicy expression in the whisky. Some of the nuances actually remind me a bit of the world of natural medicine. For example, I find that the flavor of echinacea (purple coneflower) pops up almost every time I have the pleasure of tasting a glass. On top of this, Fary Lochan uses a wide variety of different types of barrels and they are certainly not afraid to experiment.

Recently, Fary Lochan hosted a whisky tasting where we attendees had the opportunity to taste samples from a number of casks that have yet to be released. This was a fun opportunity to get a taste of what's to come from Fary Lochan. We tasted 5 different cask samples, all of which had something special to offer. For me, there were 3 different cask samples that I found particularly interesting.

Cask sample: Bourbon/Cognac cask - 11 years old - 59.9%.

I have a particular fondness for whiskey aged in cognac casks, so it was no surprise that this cask sample spoke to my heart.

The aroma offered notes of digestive biscuits, brown sugar, coconut and licorice root. A really delicious and welcoming scent.

The taste I perceived as an incredibly rounded version of a classic Bourbon aged Fary Lochan, with notes of echinacea, herbal tea, yeast, vanilla syrup and rich oak.

The finish had a delicate bitterness and a distinctly herbal flavor. I imagined a 'witch's brew' from the forest. After a while, a gentle note of coffee emerged and rounded off the whisky perfectly.

Barrel sample: Bourbon/Amontillado - 7 years old - 59.3%.

The next cask sample that really made an impression was a slightly younger whisky of 7 years. However, the young age of the whisky was compensated for by the Amontillado sherry casks, which are incredibly old and, thankfully, very active.

The aroma offered notes of plums, blackcurrants, cherries, mint and old wood. The aroma screamed sherry bomb on all parameters!

The taste was incredibly powerful and the sherry influence was really violent, dry and nutty in expression. This one is for those who enjoy a very sweet and heavy whisky.

The aftertaste remained dry and nutty for a very long time after consumption.

Barrel sample: Bourbon/PX/Moscatel - 8 years old - 60.6%.

The last cask sample that I noticed in particular had 3 different cask characters!

The aroma offered notes of menthol, peach, cantaloupe and milk chocolate. Definitely a more dessert-like whisky than its two predecessors.

The taste continued in the same vein with bright and mild notes of ripe strawberries, sweet oranges and a hint of black pepper.

The finish brought some slightly darker nuances to the whisky with notes of herbs, coffee and cocoa powder. This was by far the mildest and lightest cask sample of them all and it definitely has a place!

I will be patient and wait for these 3 casks to see the light of day and in the meantime there are plenty of other bottlings to enjoy! Among other things, a bottling called ''Sweet & Spicy Moscatel''has been released, which is very similar to the last cask sample. All in all, Fary Lochan is worthy of a recommendation, both for the experienced whisky lover and the novice.

Relaterede produkter

Fary Lochan Sherry Cask Danish Single Malt Whisky 52,5%

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Fary Lochan Sommer 2010/2015 Batch 01 Single Malt Danish Whisky 50 cl 46%

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Fary Lochan RUM Edition Batch 1 Rumfinish Danish Single Malt Whisky 50 cl 64,7%

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Fary Lochan RUM Edition Batch 3 Romfinish Danish Single Malt Whisky 50 cl 48,5%

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