Douglas Laing's Old Particular Single Casks Review

Barely three months ago, Douglas Laing & Co owners, Stewart and Fred Laing went their separate ways in commercial terms yesterday after running the company they inherited from their father more than 40 years ago.But a few days ago, Douglas Laing announced Old Particular Single Casks, which they claim to be their best ever single malt range, and if you trust me, I think it really is!.

So this new range launched in September, 2013, the Old Particular is a set of bottles each selected from a single cask and bottled according to Douglas Laing’s philosophy: bottlings from only one casks, without added coloring and without chill filtration. No nonsenses as they used to say.
Malts featured in this first batch of bottles include whiskies from Bowmore, Caperdonich and Port Ellen ( definitively I want to taste this one! ).

It is a interesting fact that the whiskies has three different bottling strenghts. Whiskies up to 18 years old are bottled at 48.4%, over 18 years old at 51.5% and some rarities ( jewels I would say ) are bottled at cask strength ( like the Bowmore I am going to taste right now ).

So let me introduce you the whiskies of today tasting.

Auchroisk 18 years old Douglas Laing Old Particular

“Truly fantastic whisky! Definitively this is a great way of starting this endeavour”

91

This dram has a fino-like color.

Nose (91): more than average. honey, citrus, floral, spices, vanilla, candies, oranges. Great nose!

Palate (92): powerful, oily. honey, floral, citrus, vanilla, spices, floral, wood.

Finish (91): longer than average. honey, oranges, spices.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Auchroisk 18 years old Douglas Laing Old Particular with 91 points over 100.

Glen Garioch 21 years old Douglas Laing Old Particular

“Lovely whisky with a delicious biscuit character. It is much like a Glen Garioch on steroids”

91

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (91): more than average. honey, fruits, cream, biscuits, vanilla, citrus.

Palate (91): powerful, oily. honey, biscuits, vanilla, spices, citrus, candies.

Finish (90): longer than average. honey, fruits, spices.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Glen Garioch 21 years old Douglas Laing Old Particular with 91 points over 100.

Bowmore 25 years old Douglas Laing Old Particular

“Magnificent! Maybe it is not the best Bowmore I have had but it is so close. I definitively want one bottle of this single malt”

92

This dram has a gold-like color.

Nose (91): more than average. peat, wood, honey, spices, floral, vanilla.

Palate (92): powerful, oily. peat, honey, citrus, earth, floral, vanilla, coffee.

Finish (92): longer than average. peat, honey, spices, citrus.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Bowmore 25 years old Douglas Laing Old Particular with 92 points over 100.

Miguel says…

Things like this range really returns me hope about whisky industry.

The Auchroisk ( my first Auchroisk! ) is fantastic and well the Bowmore is so great and awesome that I really plan to order one as soon as it is around. The Glen Garioch is also quite nice with a biscuits aromas that remind of Glen Garioch Founders Reserve but even better.
I love the fact that all the whiskies are bottled at such nice strength. It is really disappointing to see that usually a great malt is ruined ( well… maybe it is a too strong word ) by adding too much water to bottle it at 40%.

A huge thanks to Douglas Laing for this set of samples.

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