Reviews #4 & 5: Douglas Laing's Epicurian and Timorous Beastie

After the reading a post on the Christmas release of Big Peat, I decided to pick up a bottle to try out. I got to the store and they did not have it. However, they had the rest of the Remarkable Regional Malts by Douglas Laing on sale. I picked up Rock Oyster. I was pleased enough by that blend, I went bought the rest of his blends. Tonight I'll review Douglas Laing's NAS Highland and Lowland blends.

Douglas Laing’s The Epicurean (Lowland Blend)

There is not much information on the bottle as for as where this is from, distilleries or the like. I have never had a lowland scotch, at least labeled as such. This is largely due to reviews where the opinion seems to be try Auchentoshan Three Wood or better yet, skip the lowlands.

Lowland - NAS Blend - NCF - No Color Added - $45 ($35 on sale) - 46.8%

Color - Between white wine and pale straw

Nose - Honey, pears, grass and key limes,

Taste - New wood, sugar, pepper, apples, light citrus, some florals

Finish - Medium - Grass, lots of grass, creme brulee sugar

Overall - 7 - This is a very nice drinking whiskey. A few drops of water really takes the heat down. I can see this as a nice sipping whiskey that is easy and approachable. While there are more complex scotches, this one can be easily drank. I will for sure go back and pick up more bottles while it is on sale.

Douglas Laing’s Timorous Beastie (Highland Blend)

This bottle gives you some of the distillaries used in the blend. "Blair Athol, Glen Garioch, Dalmore and Glengoyne among others." Since I have not really ever had one of these besides Dalmore in a flight, I am not going to be picking them out here, sorry to disappoint.

Highland - NAS Blend - NCF - No Color Added - $50 ($40 on sale) - 46.8%

Color - Pale Gold

Nose - Honey, apple, as I keep at it floral notes, lavender

Taste - First I get the porridge/oatmeal cereal notes then raisin and some spice, nutmeg, allspice.

Finish - Medium Long - Cereal and as strange as it sounds, some dairy.

Overall - 5.5 - This comes in a little hot, but at 46.8%, it is excusable. A few drops of water was enough to eliminate the heat. This is a nice dram but I probably wouldn't buy another bottle. It seems a little one dimensional but still nice to drink. It is a cereal bomb, if that is a thing.

10 Best in Show

9 Great Dram for Special Occasions

8 Worthy of consistent spot in my collection

7 Worth picking up a bottle if in the mood

6 I would buy a bottle if it went on sale

5 I would drink it happily if offered

4 I would drink it if offered on the rocks

3 Maybe some soda will make this potable

2 I'll Pass

1 Toilet cleaner