Review: Lagavulin 1994 Distillers Edition

Lagavulin 1994 Distillers EditionLagavulin 1994 Distillers Edition – 43% abv

Info: Lagavulin, finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. Yum. Distilled 1994, bottled 2010. 43% abv.
Colour: Rusty gold, slightly orangey.
Nose: On the nose you’ve got those sassy Lagavulin notes; sweet peat, ozone, salty sea breeze, Lapsang… but it’s all held in check a little by beautiful rich fruitcake fruit notes from the secondary maturation in sweet PX sherry casks. Almost a drop of milk chocolate, hints of seville orange marmalade.
Palate: On the palate it’s fairly oily, it’s laid back and easy on your tongue, hints of spices. There’s sweet Christmas fruitcake flavours amongst gentle peat and moss notes, the two integrating perfectly together. A slight tar background with hints of salt.
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Bumper Review: The Wood Makes the Whisky | Gordon and MacPhail

gordon macphail logo

The Wood Makes the Whisky | Gordon and MacPhail

Below you’ll find a bumper review of 18 G&M whiskies, but first let’s take a quick look at why I’m reviewing these whiskies in the first place… In short, it’s all about wood!

The Wood Makes the WhiskyGordon and MacPhail’s Ewen Macintosh (Chief Operating Officer) possibly sums up their ‘Wood Makes the Whisky’ campaign best when he said “Here at Gordon & MacPhail we have always been focused on the close relationship between oak and spirit, and have learned from vast experience that wood really does make the whisky. We have selected the special series of whiskies to demonstrate this complex relationship.

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Multi Review: Eleven Douglas Laing Single Malts

douglas laing logo roundelEleven Douglas Laing Single Malts

As a Douglas Laing Fellow (that’s basically a voluntary brand ambassador) I’m lucky enough to get sent quite a few samples from time to time, along with lots of other goodies. (What a great Christmas jumper for 2016!)

As such, I’ve had eleven samples sitting waiting to be enjoyed, so why not over the Christmas break sit back and do a multi review of them all?! Many are no longer available online, but you may find them on shop shelves when looking so the notes are still useful as a reference. Also, it goes to show the quality of stock that Douglas Laing have access to, so even if a bottle I have reviewed isn’t available any more, then you can be sure there’s a very similar replacement ready to purchase.

So, let’s get drinking reviewing…

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Multi Review: Five Douglas Laing Single Grains

douglas laing logo roundelFive Douglas Laing Single Grains

Douglas Laing independently bottle single malt whiskies and single grain whiskies under various different brands within their range.

Let’s take a look at five of their single grain whiskies, ranging from a younger 11yo right up to a stonking 50yo.

Single grain’s often don’t pack the same flavour hit as single malts, mostly due to the different production process… that said, I’ve always found them to have plenty of flavour, especially if picked well, as Douglas Laing surely does. Therefore, for me, I’m a big fan, I like easy going whiskies that don’t tax me too much, I’m lazy like that. Also, they generally cost less, winner!

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Review: Yula II 21 Years Old (Douglas Laing)

Yula II 21 Years OldYula II – 21 Years Old – 52.3% abv

Info: Yula II 21 Years Old from Douglas Laing was released a year after the first Yula was released and becomes the second in a trilogy of limited editions.
Colour: Light summary gold.
Nose: Punchy and up front, the 21 years haven’t dulled this dram one bit. It’s full of bite, full of Islay coastal wind, salt and peat. Instantly you feel like you’re sat on a beach during a late summer’s evening storm, watching the waves go by. After a little while the nose settles and out comes floral peat notes, and a real cereal character.
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Review: Timorous Beastie 21yo & 40yo

Timorous Beastie LogoTimorous Beastie: 21 Year Old and 40 Year Old

The good folks at Douglas Laing have had Timorous Beastie in their line up for a couple of years now… Have a read of my thoughts of the original here.

Timorous Beastie is a marriage of Highland Single Malts from Dalmore, Glengoyne, Glen Garioch and Blair Athol distilleries.

What’s new is that there’s now various other special editions in the lineup to enjoy! Sadly they sold pretty much as quickly as they were released, but no matter, let’s take a look at them anyway, and if you happen to find a bottle to buy somewhere then you’ll know what treats you have in store!

Let’s take a look at the new 21 year old, and the 40 year old…

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Review: Glenfiddich IPA

Glenfiddich IPAGlenfiddich Experimental Series – IPA Cask Finish – 43% abv

Info: Since at least 2009, Grant’s has had their “Cask Editions – Ale Cask Finish” offering. Now Glenfiddich (the same company as Grant’s) has what they describe as “The first experiment of its kind. Malt Master Brian Kinsman collaborated with Seb Jones, an entrepreneurial Speyside brewer, to create a new craft IPA and pioneer the way for a new kind of single malt scotch whisky”. Hopefully the previous 7 years of experience has helped them in this experiment, let’s see…
Colour: Clear and bright gold.
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Review: BenRiach 22yo Moscatel

benriach 22 year old moscatel wood finish whiskyBenRiach 22yo Moscatel – 46% abv

Info: The BenRiach 22yo Moscatel was originally matured in American bourbon barrels before being finished in Moscatel wine casks from Portugal and Spain. Non chill filtered, natural colour, 46% abv.
Colour: Rusty dark gold with red tints.
Nose: A nice lively nose with lots of fruity flavours, some spirit notes and hints of oaky cask wood. The fruits are like mushed down autumn fruits with a dollop of chantilly cream. With some air, further rich notes of orange marmalade and fig come through.
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Review: GlenDronach 25yo Grandeur Batch 8

GlenDronach 25yo Grandeur Batch 8GlenDronach 25yo Grandeur Batch 8 – 50.5% abv

Info: Matured for 25 years in Oloroso Sherry casks. 1,505 bottles, 50.5% abv.
Colour: Deep, rich, dark, winter sherry fruits.
Nose: Like the colour, the nose is deep and dark, jam packed with winter sherry fruits, berries, malt and brown sugar caramels. Old fashioned, vintage whisky.
Palate: Lovely thick and oily, your palate is covered in gently sweet whisky flavours, which isn’t spice dominated, rather it’s bolstered by gentle spices to elevate the whole thing to a higher level. There’s a herbal nature at the middle of the dram followed by older antique oaks at the back to balance things out.
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Review: GlenDronach 14yo Marsala

GlenDronach 14yo MarsalaGlenDronach 14yo Marsala – 46% abv

Info: This GlenDronach 14yo Marsala single malt is finished in casks which previously held Marsala wine.
Colour: Golden with deep yellow tints.
Nose: There’s what I’d call a proper nose going on here, something really full of flavours which keep you wanting to smell for ages. There’s plenty of sweet malt, backed up by sweet fruits, summery grapes and Cantaloupe melons, all with the backing of something properly matured in dunnage warehouses.
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