Douglas Laing

St. Magdalene 30 yo 1982/2012 Douglas Laing

March 18, 2013
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The nose is to die for, but on the palate this whisky is a bit edgy and not quite as harmonious as I would expect from a 90+ point dram. – Rating: 87/100

Midleton 20 yo 1991 For The Whisky Exchange

February 25, 2013
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This is what Irish whiskey is all about, a true benchmark for the ‘pure potstill’ style. – Rating: 92/100

Benriach Batch 1 – That Boutique-y Whisky Company

December 4, 2012
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The nose is quite spicy but on the palate it is surprisingly mild with sweet fruit taking the lead. A rich and satisfying dram. – Rating: 86/100

Tamdhu 1989/2011 Douglas Laing

July 6, 2012

The sherry influence on this malt is extreme, but it works very well. The wood is in the background here. – Rating: 89/100

Bowmore 2000/2011 Douglas Laing

May 19, 2012

It reminds me a bit of the Bowmore Darkest, but the youthful freshness makes this dram even more delightful. – Rating: 89/100

Highland Park 1978/2011 Douglas Laing

May 3, 2012
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It could be a geat whisky, but the adstringent wood tannins are much too strong for my taste. But you will love this dram, if you like that. – Rating: 80/100

Dumbarton 46 yo 1964 Clan Denny

April 12, 2012

Really a typical old grain whsky, showing off lots of fruity, sweet and spicy flavours. The caramel/peach mix is delightful but it also has a sharp edge. – Rating: 87/100

Mortlach 12 yo 1994 Douglas Laing

September 17, 2011

The palate does not quite keep up the promise of the nose. But this still is a very decent malt, albeit not too typical for this distillery – Rating: 83/100

Laphroaig 1989/2009 Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask

July 19, 2011

This dram is living proof that combining peat and sherry can work very well. Strangely it feels slighty watery neat, but adding a little water gives it some more depth. – Rating: 89/100

Girvan 1990/2010 Clan Denny

April 5, 2011
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Even after twenty years in the cask, the grain whisky has retained some of its bite. The wood adds quite a bit of spiciness to that. Remarkably un-fruity for a grain but quite enjoyable. – Rating: 83/100

Big Peat

January 27, 2011
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Contrary to its name this isn’t a true peat monster. But it is a dangerously sippable smooth and smoky malt with a lot going on on the palate. – Rating: 86/100

Glenlivet 1996/2009 Old Malt Cask

October 7, 2010

You don’t find younger sherried Glenlivetes very often, and this is quite a fine specimen. Rich and fruity with a nice spicniess that is just about right. – Rating: 84/100

Deanston 1992/2009 Douglas Laing

June 26, 2010

The sharp nose is not tamed by water. The tingle on the palate is too strong to be fully enjoyable, not to mention the lack of complexity. – Rating: 75/100

Ardmore 1993/2005 Douglas Laing

March 5, 2010

A bit similar to the Benriach Heavily Peated, but doesn’t quite reach it. Still a very nice peated Speysider, though. – Score: 84/100

Dufftown 1991/2004 Old Malt Cask

November 24, 2009

Quite similar to the Lochnagar from Signatory Full bodied and even more spicy. This one can use a bit of water. – Score: 83/100