The spirit in Spearhead whisky has a sweet style, similar to bourbon, and is crafted at Loch Lomond’s distillery using a continuous Coffey style still, allowing for a lighter spirit to be created.
The spirit is then aged in ex-bourbon barrels before finishing in a combination of fire and infrared-toasted virgin American oak barrels.
Infrared barrel toasting (which differs from the traditional method) allows for an exact level of toast that extracts natural properties in the barrel, releasing a range of flavours from the wood that are then caramelised to give a complex range of sweet notes.
Using a combination of traditionally fire toasted and infrared toasted barrels, the result is smooth, complex flavour.
The Loch Lomond Distillery is currently the only distillery in Scotland to use infrared toasted barrels to finish whisky.
The new whisky is ideal for summer cocktails such as a Clover Club, which replaces the traditionally-used gin base for whisky.
Alternatively, whisky drinkers can enjoy a spritzer-style serve, swapping wine for Spearhead and serving with Pêche de Vigne and ginger ale, or try a Spear and Beer, serving 50mls with a can of craft beer.
Tasting notes for Spearhead include vanilla pod, blackberries and dark chocolate.
Priced at £30 RRP, Spearhead has an ABV of 43% and is available to purchase online.
Calum Leslie, head of innovation at Loch Lomond Group, said: “We have been working very hard to create an innovative new Scotch Whisky and we are pleased to finally launch Spearhead to market.
“While this style of whisky is very popular in the Irish and American markets, there isn’t anything comparable in the Scotch sector.
"Spearhead is one of a kind, championing the single grain, and taking a non-traditional approach to whisky making that will resonate with people new to Scotch.
"It’s the perfect whisky for those who prefer the sweetness of a bourbon or enjoy a long-whisky based serve, with Spearhead taking a twist on some classic cocktails.
“Adopting our 200-year history of distilling, Spearhead has been created with the same level of care and expertise that goes into each and every one of Loch Lomond Group’s expressions, but it has its own unique journey.
"The end result is a bold, highly versatile liquid characterised by its sweet and light flavour.”
Spearhead will be available globally from summer 2021.
For more information, please visit the Spearhead website.
Ingredients
Spearhead – 35ml
Pêche de Vigne – 15ml
Lemon juice – 10ml
Mint leaves – 10
Orange bitters – 2dsh
Method
Fill glass with ice, then add all ingredients, top with ginger ale and garnish with a wedge of peach
Ingredients
Spearhead – 50ml
Ginger Ale – 150ml
Method
Fill glass with ice, then add all ingredients and garnish with a wedge of lime
Ingredients
Spearhead – 45ml
Campari – 10ml
Lemon juice – 15ml
Simple syrup – 10ml
Mandarin juice – 20ml
Method
Add all ingredients into tin with ice, then shake and double strain into highball or tumbler over ice.
Top with premium tonic and garnish with bay leaf or pineapple leaf.
