Dry sherry aromas mingle with stewed raisin and roasted hazelnut, complemented by a fresh citrus edge.

Creamy milk chocolate and orange zest flavours lead to spiced stewed fruits.  The finish is fruity with lingering citrus.

An 11 year old Glenrothes which has been bottled by Gordon & MacPhail for its Discovery bottling series. The series separates single malts into three categories, 'Sherry', 'Smoky' or 'Bourbon' to give a (not so subtle) clue to its flavour profile. This is a wonderful sherried whisky, packed full of fruity and chocolatey notes.

Nose Cinnamon butter, chocolate covered toffee and toasted malt, with sherried dried fruit and more baking spices.

Palate Forest fruit jam on fresh toast, perhaps slightly burnt, with stewed orchard fruit and more cinnamon.

Finish Orange peel, a hint of raisin and melted dark chocolate.

Filled from casks that were laid down at the Tomatin distillery in 2009, this new 'Discovery' release from G&M sees the exclusive use of American oak ex-bourbon barrels to produce a sweet and smooth single malt. The nose is intense with honey and fragrant pear, with a background note of spring blossoms. The palate is fruity with melon and white peach, leading to vanilla custard and a herbal finish that builds softly with oak spice.

A new addition to the 'Discovery' range from Gordon & MacPhail, this expression comes entirely from American oak casks from the GlenAllachie distillery in Speyside, Scotland. This wood profile is typified by creamy custard, fruity notes of apple and banana, and a flavour of blossom honey. A great example of this traditional style, and a distillery that is very rarely seen independently bottled like this.

TASTING NOTES
Perfumed green apples with dried banana and lime zest. Soft milk chocolate gives way to salted almonds and vanilla pod. Smooth and creamy custard combines with lemon posset and malted biscuit. Blossom honey undertones develop alongside subtle white pepper. Medium-bodied with spice.

Aroma: Rich and sweet with fruitcake and vanilla aromas. Sherry influences intertwine with zesty citrus notes.

Taste: Spicy with cinnamon, stewed plum and orange marmalade combining with a smooth milk chocolate finish.

Of all the distilleries in Diageo's portfolio, Glen Spey is the third smallest and remains one of the most obscure. Virtually all of its output goes into blends, in particular, J&B (which at the time of writing is the sixth biggest whisky brand in the world). Douglas Laing have bottled this rarity from a single refill hogshead REF - DL13903. Aromas of nutmeg and cinnamon arrive with a citrus zest while the palate promises strawberry candy, spiced oak, coconut shavings and milk chocolate.

One of 347 bottles

Still owned by Ian Macleod, this Southern Highlander is noted for its emphasis on sherry casks and unpeated malt. In this example from Douglas Laing, expect Glengoyne's typical clean, crisp barley combined with aromas of barley sugar sweets, gingerbread biscuits and new leather, followed by flavours of sponge cake, green apples and honey. 48.4% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. 366 bottles from a refill hogshead REF - DL14574.

Glengoyne is a small farm-style distillery located under the slopes of Dumgoyne in at the southern border of the Scottish Highlands.

The second bottling from Douglas Laing's 2020 outturn this is also from a refill hogshead REF - DL14559. Distilled in August 2005

The notes say to expect the distillery's typical clean, crisp, fruity barley but in a mouthcoating, syrupy, even sugary style with a touch of citrus tang. Non chill filtered at 48.4%. 260 bottles from a refill hogshead.

Nose: Clean and crisp, sweet and spiced, gristy and honeyed.... so fresh and fruity.

Palate: Deliciously mouthcoating in syrupy, sugary style - warming spice and runs to barley.

Finish: Gently toasted developing to allspice, tangy citrus notes and Malted barley (FHL).

A old age Speysider from Inchgower, independently bottled by Douglas Laing after 25 years  spent in a sherry butt REF - DL14183. An outturn of 242 bottles at 51.5% ABV.

Nose: Sweet and barley-rich initially, then comes tangerines, brown sugar and a damp oak style.

Palate: Lots of spices (cinnamon, nutmeg) running to vanilla essence and stewed fruits.

Finish: Long ? detect golden syrup, a slight floral character, milk chocolate and barley.

This was Tomatin was distilled in the Highlands in December 2008. 

It spent a decade in a single refill hogshead REF - DL13774, and was bottled by Douglas Laing in November 2019 with an outturn of 384 bottles at 48.4% ABV.

Nose: Big and richly defined in Malted barley, gentle spices and fruit.

Palate: Hits big with cereal, honey, vanilla and even a hint of salt.

Finish: Dark molasses mix interestingly with all the aforementioned (FHL).

Ledaig 23YO 1998 Black Series D.Laing is a vintage whiskey from Tobermory Distillery by Douglas Laing & Co. Whiskey distilled in 1998. It matured for 23 years. Whiskey bottled without cold filtration.

This whisky was distilled in 1989, and spent 30 years in a bourbon barrel (DL13917)before being bottled in April 2020. Just 280 cask strength bottles were released for the Xtra Old Particular series at 52.8% ABV.

Nose: Rich, darkly malted, intriguingly spiced and fruity.

Palate: Warming and ginger spiced as the big palate opens showing later Muscovado sugar and the gentlest oak - all running to a stewed fruit and vanilla custard finish.

Sweet vanilla and dry cured meat aromas.  Peat smoke undertones are complemented by banana and apricot.

Ripe Banana, kiwi and vibrant hints of fresh citrus, leading to a long, sweet and smoky finish.