Chapter 18
My first Douglas Laing
Good blends can be a symphony. Some times they’re overlooked compared to single malts, but this is where having an open whisky mind can really make a difference in your journey.
Following from Leo’s Chapter 18, we had the pleasure of reviewing three amazing drams among their latest releases. Courtesy of Dougal Barr, we’ll take you through our sensations and assign a new RGS Badge…who’s going to win this time? Let us know what you think in the link below.
Rock Island 14 Years Old Sherry Edition
Natural presentation as all Douglais Laing products. This is a 46.8% 14 years old blended malt matured mainly in Sherry Casks (as suggested by the name). Rock Island is the Islands blend including single malts from Arran, Islay, Jura and Orkney.
On the Nose: an immediate jump back to my primary school with peach and apricot fruit juice. Intense caramel. Warm cranberry muffins. A bit of time and sultanas start coming out, but in a measured way. Not a sherry predominant nose.
On the Palate: not too thick. Mineral and salty, a hint of peat but quite distant. Green and herbaceous.
Finish: More fruit now but apple and pear. Freshly cut ginger. Short and winey. Sweet and honeyed.
Overall: At around £65 in the UK being a limited edition is a really solid first dram. Minor peat around 10 ppm peat or even less extremely well balanced.
The Epicurean Amarone Edition
Too often ignored as a whisky region, Lowland is growing more and more on our whisky hearts.
This blend has been finished in an Amarone Wine cask from the north of Italy. We’re really fond of this finish, often more subtle and spicy than a port. Arran also makes a 50% NAS finished in Amarone and we invite you to try both. This one is bottled at a generous 48% which really enhance the experience.
On the Nose: boiled chestnut. Raw meat as when you walk in a butcher shop. Alpine strawberries. Pure chocolate with dried raspberries.
On the Palate: thick and spicy. My granny’s old wardrobe.
Finish: longer for sure. Amaro Montenegro. More wardrobe coming as an antique wind.
Overall: refined and interesting. At £65 it fights really hard with the first one for the badge
The Gauldrons Sherry Cask Edition #2
We came to this with high expectations being Campbeltown 50% abv and mainly sherry maturation. We rarely had such a tight match between drams, and this shows the consistency in their products.
On the Nose: celery carrot and onion (aka italian soffritto – the starting step for bolognese). Licorice. Apple and pear. Clementine zest. Vanilla pod. Quite a lot going on here. A dash of water and we also get roasted hazelnuts and praline.
On the Palate: sweet, baked apples. Almost strudel. A bit young and punchy.
Finish: very long and persistent whilst young and spicy. Fresh paint and plastic. We made it swim a bit and fresh tangerine juice came out.
Overall: same price point as the first 2, higher abv but no age statement. If you have a chance try them all as it’s quite a tight call this time.
Overall
One word: consistency. We’re so glad we had the chance to try 3 drams at similar price points with similar presentations.
So similar, so different. Showing both the consistency and commitment of Douglas Laing towards quality and variety. Three great expressions showing the diversity between whisky regions.
The Badge was a really tight call: Rock Island did win with the slimiest of the margins.
Drams
and more...
Today's drams
- Rock Island 14 Sherry Edition – 46.8%
- The Epicurean Amarone Edition – 48%
- The Gauldrons Sherry Cask – 50%