Lochlea releases its smokiest whisky yet with final seasonal release: Ploughing Edition (Third Crop)

Lochlea Distillery in Ayrshire is releasing its last ever seasonal limited-edition release; the third and final Lochlea Ploughing Edition (Third Crop) - a culmination of the three-year series concluding this year by the award-winning distillery.

This final release of Lochlea Ploughing Edition (Third Crop) is released during winter on the farm when the fields are ploughed in preparation for spring’s sowing season in the months ahead. It showcases the distillery’s signature fruit and cereal-forward spirit with a peated twist.

Lochlea’s seasonal releases have been much-celebrated amongst the whisky community and beyond around the world since launching with the First Crop series in 2023. The limited-edition range has been instrumental in showing the farm-to-cask distillery’s innovation and creativity, not only within cask maturation but also with spirit style.

Of the four whiskies in the seasonal range, Ploughing Edition is the only spirit with a distinctive smoky profile, achieved through it being matured exclusively in 100% ex-Islay 200 litre casks.

The powerful peated casks coupled with the extra year of ageing from the Second Crop combine to produce the smokiest of Lochlea’s whiskies released to date, with delicious flavours or green apple, toffee and malted biscuits, alongside the mouthwatering smoky taste.

Lochlea’s Master Blender, Jill Boyd – who joined the distillery team at the end of 2024 - commented: “We are delighted to share our third and final crop of Ploughing Edition – which also marks the end of the seasonal releases range. The range has been very well received over the past three years and has allowed us to tell our story with genuity and passion.“

“As a small farm-to-cask independent distillery growing all of our own barley here on the farm, it’s been imperative for us to talk about the importance of the land, the seasons and the farming calendar and the effect this has on our spirits. The seasonal Releases has showcased just how our spirits can evolve and change, influenced by the time of year and what profile of whisky we are looking to create to bring out the best of that season.”

“We hope whisky lovers have enjoyed joining us on the journey with the seasonal releases and will seek out this final release before it all disappears! We look forward to sharing more exciting innovations in the near future that tells another part of our Lochlea story.”

Lochlea’s seasonal releases are as follows:

• Ploughing Edition: released in winter when the fields are ploughed in preparation for spring.
• Sowing Edition: inspired by spring when the seed is sown for the year’s barley crop.
• Harvest Edition: timed with annual harvest on the farm.
• Fallow Edition: reflects the season of autumn on the farm when the fields are left fallow to rest after a busy harvest.

Availability & pricing of Ploughing Edition (Third Crop)

Like all Lochlea’s whiskies, Ploughing Edition (Third Crop) has no added colouring and is non-chill filtered – it has been bottled at 46% and has an RRP of £51.50. Available from Lochlea stockists from 27th March 2025 onwards and, like all the other seasonal releases, it is only available whilst stocks last.

Tasting notes Ploughing Edition (Third Crop):

• Nose: Fresh green apple, sweet toffee and comforting notes of signature Lochlea cereal
• Palate: More fresh fruit, giving way to wonderful savoury smoke and malted biscuits
• Finish: Moreish fresh coastal notes of sea salt and a long lingering hint of peat
• ABV: 46%
• RRP: £51.50

Lochlea’s core range product:

Lochlea also has a core whisky expression available all year round - Our Barley. This unpeated single malt has been matured in a combination of three different casks: first fill ex-bourbon, Oloroso sherry casks and STR barriques, all of which add depths of flavour to the spirit. Launched in July 2022, Our Barley has received much acclaim as a superb example of a young non-age statement (NAS) Lowlands whisky, made entirely from the distillery’s own home-grown barley.