A Shaggy Coo Story...

We just love the label on this inaugural single cask malt whisky bottling by Lost Loch, in collaboration with @whiskyteuchter, showcasing the finest Highland Cow you ever did see.

Here, I introduce the whisky behind the label, which is reminiscent of those cartoons from That Boutique-y Whisky Company. It's fun and colourful, which may not be the norm when it comes to whisky labelling, however there are some hidden meanings behind the features on show.

Firstly, the bottling was filled near Aboyne on Royal Deeside which is full of history, with connections to MacBeth (no, not that one), but King of Scotland (1040-1057). The stone on the label is MacBeth's Stone, said to be laid at the site of his mortal wounding during the Battle of Lumphanan in 1057.

On the left of the label is a depiction of a Scottish Castle, apart from whisky, Scotland is rather well known for its Castles, and the North East has more castles than any other region of Scotland.

Lastly comes the big, ginger Highland Cow. An icon of Scottish tradition and one of our favourite beasts. Here it is, standing proudly amongst the Scottish Mountains, carrying a life-saving cask of whisky (like a Swiss St Bernard carries Brandy).

The name, Auchlossan was the name given to a loch that once sat opposite the Lost Loch Distillery (hence the name, Lost Loch). The Loch was drained as the land was deemed more important for arable farming rather than the duck shooting and fishing it was used for.

Lot's of lovely stories and connections, with plenty of thought behind the eye-catching name and label. However, the real loveliness comes from inside the bottle and this 10 year old Miltonduff that has been finished in an Oloroso Cask is a very pleasant dram.

 Sherry spices of nutmeg, cinnamon and, dare I say   it, ginger, are the order of the day here. There's a   familiar Miltonduff sweet, malty character with soft   orchard fruits and a touch of honey, although the   overriding character is dry.

The colour, and then flavour, of the cask are quite mellow and honestly, it was a surprise to see this coming from a First Fill cask. However, this allows that spirit character to meld beautifully with the cask without the sherry overpowering the whisky.

There's a lot of subtle notes here, with not one dominant flavour taking the main stage. There's dark chocolate, a little orange peel, some roasted nuts and an oak spice. The cinnamon and nutmeg come back with a ginger kick, leading to a dry but long finish.

This is a complex dram, and far away from what you'd say is a Sherry-Bomb. It's subtle cask influence allows time to explore other flavours popping up and a drop of water introduces more sweet notes, the dark chocolate becomes milk chocolate and the spices subdue, making way to apple pie and creamy malt.

A great little whisky for a reasonable price of £75.00. At a cask strength of 52.2%, there's bang for your buck here as well.