Reviews #6 & 7: Douglas Laing's Rock Oyster and Scallywag
Douglas Laing’s Rock Oyster (Island Blend)
This one is includes whiskeys from the Island of Orkney, Arran, Jura and Islay. I am a fan of Highland Park, the southern Islay distilleries, so I will see if I can pick those out. I have had one bottle of Arran, a special release but I don't really remember any strong characteristics. I have not had Jura so I cannot pick that one out either.
Islands - NAS Blend - NCF - No Color Added - $50 ($40 on sale) - 46.8%
Color - Pale Gold
Nose - Sea salt air comes hits me first, it changes, still that ocean breeze. It changes as I nose but it is still sea air. Getting past that, there is a little citrus and some barley. A hint of smoke in there, a familiar smoke but I cannot pick it out. Highland Park maybe?
Taste - It tastes nice but I am having problems picking out the flavors. Spiced wood that has a must to it. Honey, more spice, pepper. Some peat creeps in, I am more sure that is that Highland Park peat.
Finish - Medium long, honey and sea air.
Overall - 7 - I enjoyed this dram and as an added bonus, so did my non-scotch drinking friends. The nose reminds me more of a Talisker than the islands listed. The body is where I had trouble picking out the characteristics. There is some complexity there but I had problem parsing it out. I didn't really get much as far as Islay characteristics, so I would not recommend it if you are looking for that style. The brine and seaside characteristics are heavy and enjoyable. If you are an Island fan, I would pick it up.
Douglas Laing’s Skallywag (Speyside Blend)
This one is a blend of "sweetly spiced" Sherry Butts and "vanilla'd" bourbon hogsheads. The distilleries incorporated includes Mortlach, Macallan, and Glenrothes. Macallan was the start of my descent into the scotch hobby and poverty, so lets see if I can pull that out.
Speyside- NAS Blend - NCF - No Color Added - $60 ($50 on sale) - 46%
Color - Amber
Nose - Sweet toffee, baking spices and vanilla.
Taste - Toffee, poached apples, sweetness, cinnamon, candied figs
Finish - Medium Long - Dryness, I am salivating - Christmas Cake and Oranges
Overall - 5.5 - This is a pleasant dram for sure. However, it just doesn't do enough to make me want another bottle. At $60, I would go with Macallan, Balvenie or whatever you favorite entry level Speyside you prefer.
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
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