BiggAndyy the Magazine

McClelland’s Lowland Single Malt Scotch is usually found on the bottom shelf of the Wine and Spirits stores that I frequent. But I really don’t think it quite belongs there. It is a budget priced scotch, usually going for $20 for a 750 ml bottle. But don’t let its shelf placement and inexpensive price lead you to think this is an inferior scotch. It is very good for what it is, a single malt scotch for someone not used to single malts.

Since I am very familiar with this scotch I will just briefly go through the diagnostics for you. It does not have an overpowering nose at all. If one could call the aroma from scotch “delicate” McClelland’s Lowland would be in that category. There is no attack at all, just a pleasant caramel and burnt oak that comes on easily and doesn’t offend, i.e. no nose burn.

McClelland’s Lowland is a lighter colored scotch, falling somewhere between chardonnay and sunlight. Since it is not listed on the bottle just how old the scotch is you can pretty much bet that it is quite young, probably only 3 years in the cask. That is ok. This scotch isn’t out to compete with MacAllan or Chivas. This scotch is an affordable plunge into the single malt scotch world.

The taste, let’s face it, is not what a much older (and bolder) single malt scotch will taste like. There is still the characteristic “whiskey bite” to the initial taste, but it is very subdued and almost creamy and fruity in flavor. This is not a scotch that needs to be sipped, you can dive right in and take a shot or two if you like. But it does bring to the table a lingering, pleasant aftertaste that is a hallmark of more premium scotches.

All in all, McClelland’s Lowland is my personal choice to have on hand for when the mood strikes for a dram of scotch. Eminently affordable, easy to drink, and easy to give as a gift, this single malt scotch may not be the King of Scotch, but it certainly is a worthy citizen of the kingdom.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 28th, 2007 at 11:05 am and is filed under Whisky Wednesday. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
        4,748

Tags: review, scotch, mcclelland, lowland, single, malt, inexpensive, cheap, budget