Douglas Laing's Sweet Wee Scallywag Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Douglas Laing’s Scallywag is created using Speysiders including Mortlach, Macallan and Glenrothes. Bottled at 46% and non chill-filtered, this Small Batch bottling has a distinct rich, dark colour – extracted from the many Spanish Sherry Butts used during maturation. The result is a malt with a richly spiced character fused with vanilla (from the bourbon casks used), sweet stewed fruit, Christmas pudding, dark chocolate, zesty orange and sweet tobacco. No attention to detail has been missed in creating the Scallywag packaging. Inspired by the long line of Douglas Laing family Fox Terriers, which are renowned for being sweet yet rather mischievous dogs, it was felt the Scallywag name and Fox Terrier design was fitting for this richly spiced and deliciously sweet expression.

Says Douglas Laing’s Managing Director (and proud Fox Terrier owner) Fred Laing: “From a chance sketch by a designer of our sweet, wee, rascal of a Fox Terrier, our Scallywag Malt Whisky was born! “Sweet” was the key which focused us on Speyside. Its cask selection is self-evidently heavy on the sherry background, balanced by first-fill bourbon casks – so the resulting ‘Vatted’ Malt comes with an excellent pedigree”.

Tasting note: Bright pure gold. Attractive semi-sweet aromas of honey, toasted muesli and water cracker. Middle weighted, relaxed and fresh in the mouth featuring light dried grass / grain and biscuit flavours. Gains depth at the finish adding dried fruits and spices. Faint peat in the aftertaste? Very amicable. 46% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... A newer batch. DL’s website (liked the old one better! More character!) states that this is a blend of Mortlach, Macallan, and Glenrothes ‘amongst others’. Colour: pale gold. Nose: malt, malt, and malt. Plus Mars bars, cereals, tarte tatin, orange and vanilla cream, orange cake, and drops of earl grey tea. A little liquorice wood makes it firmer. Mouth: very malty and toffee-ish, well in the style of many official Glenrothes, with also some chocolate and dried figs. Tends to become a notch drying (black tea). Finish: rather long, malty, toffee-ish. Marmalade-filled chocolate and more black tea. Comments: indeed, very Speyside. Now it beats many entry-level NAS official Speysiders (welcome to blendoland), including the aforementioned brands. Which ain’t too hard to do indeed. 81 points - whiskyfun.com