The Pride of Speyside in Cask Strength - Malt and Oak: Whisky Tasting Notes | Whisky Guide | Whisky Blog

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When not nosing, tasting, drinking and reading about malt whisky, I own one of Israel's premiere boutique coaching practices, specializing in small businesses and executive teams.
Trained in the law, I was an international law attorney and took part in Israel's peace negotiations with the Palestinians, as well as representing my country at the UN for parts of the negotiations on the implementation of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Later I was appointed to the military bench.
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Malt and Oak is an independent whisky blog, offering my own views, opinions and news from the world of malt whisky.
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1. All whisky reviews published are of whiskies I have personally tasted and noted. Guest bloggers only write about their own personal tastings.

2. With the exception of official whisky samples, I accept no consideration whatsoever from any distillery, bottler, distributor, drink company or store for my opinions.

3. I maintain strict impartiality and objectivity in tasting all whiskies, not least when tasting official samples. Any review of official whisky samples sent to me will be so noted in the post.

4. I will accept invitations to tastings, events and official visits, and full disclosure will be made on any tasting notes and articles resulting from these events or visits.

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Douglas Laing recently launched the ‘Remarkable Regional Malts’ as an umbrella brand for the vatted/blended malts combining the highly popular Islay Big Peat with The Speyside Scallywag, Timorous Beastie from the Highlands and the maritime Rock Oyster from the Islands.

Together with a new website (and online store), Douglas Laing has launched a video for the ‘Remarkable Regional Malts’:

After coming out with an annual Christmas edition of Big Peat at cask strength for the past four years (with a new expression just two months or so away), we get a cask strength Scallywag, the Speyside sherry vatted malt that’s comprised of whisky from the Mortlach, Macallan and Glenrothes distilleries.

Photo Credit: Douglas Laing

Photo Credit: Douglas Laing

Douglas Laing Scallywag Cask Strength (53.6% ABV, NCF, NC)

Appearance: Bronze, thin legs with very long residual droplets.

Nose: Roasting coffee beans , sherry, salty and sweet alcoholic burn, fresh cherries. This is young-ish spirit with quite a bit of sherry, but there’s also caramel, wood spices, and dried fruit that comes out after a bit of time in the glass.

Palate: Sharp peppery spice, with sherry, ground cinnamon and cardamom, together with some very subdued toffee and honey.

Linger: Pepper on the tongue with chili in the back of the gullet, with the residual flavor you get after sucking a Werther’s Original candy, only nowhere near as sweet.

Conclusion

This is a beautiful example of a vatted malt in which the sum is greater than its parts. This dram is complex and enjoyable, especially if spice and sherry are your thing.

I have to say that I really hope to see a cask strength Rock Oyster 🙂

Official sample provided by Douglas Laing & Co.

September 8, 2015 Michael Bendavid

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