Whisky Journey 2020 - Tom, Dick & Hillary's (Loch Lomond)

for the rest of my Whisky Journey 2020 posts, do check out the collection label here.

another thing i loved about my Whisky Journey adventures was how they led me on a surprising trip of being a tourist in my own country, as i discovered hidden gems that i had never noticed before, like Tom, Dick & Hillary's down Mosque Street in Chinatown.

i can't count the number of times that i've traversed these streets before, which made it even more interesting to realise how each time i had never noticed this cosy little bar which turned out to be the next stop on my Whisky Journey. 

i had a great experience on my visit to Tom, Dick & Hillary's; there's just something special about the smaller bars with their welcoming atmosphere and personal charm - when i entered, i was greeted warmly by Adrian and Hazel, who immediately made me feel right at home while i waited for my drinking companion to show up.

for Whisky Journey 2020, Tom, Dick & Hillary's has a lovely collection of whiskies from Loch Lomond - their Loch Lomond Signature Blend is the free 10ml pour for this location, and they also offered the Single Grain, Original, 12-year-old and 18-year-old to complete the range.

i redeemed my free pour of the Loch Lomond Signature Blend (40% abv) which i found to be a relatively light and straightforward whisky. it's clear that grain whiskies are a component of this blend, with the first sniffs revealing the distinctive light grain aromas, though surprisingly on the milder and sweeter side of things. it's a simple dram without too much going on - the nosing is linear and the palate relatively clean and simple with a smooth and slightly sweet grain. with some time in the glass, a faint hint of sherry comes through on the palate, but that's about as complex as this one gets. it ends with a fuss-free short finish of sweet grain, a very easy to drink whisky that doesn't like to complicate things.

i decided to just pick one other from the range to try and went with Adrian's recommendation of the Loch Lomond 18-year-old (46% abv). this one has a significantly more intense aroma than the Signature Blend, with a strong grassiness coming through that verges on medicinal herbs. it's prevented from straying too far into that territory though with a complex blend of toffee, some sherry influence and a good amount of wood and smoke. the notes translate well taste-wise, and there's an additional slight sharpness on the palate with berries and a good deal of drywood, accentuated by a mild pepperiness that comes through closer to the finish. i found the finish on this one to be quite pleasant, moderate in length with a strong wood element and a touch of herbs and smoke. this is a somber savoury goodness with significant influence from the oak casks, a whisky definitely worth trying at Whisky Journey prices though it's not enough in my wheelhouse to be a purchase for me at non-discounted prices.

slàinte!

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this review is of a product that i had purchased at regular price with my own money. i wasn’t asked to review this as a condition of purchase and didn’t receive any incentives for writing this. i’m not affiliated with The Whisky Store, Tom, Dick & Hillary's or any of the other participating bars / distilleries, and as always, all opinions remain my own.

you can find out more about the Whisky Journey 2020 here.

Tom, Dick & Hillary's is at 11 Mosque Street, Singapore 059491.

all information correct at time of publishing.