Scallywag Small Batch Release - Douglas Laing's
Delicate, Juicy, Oak, Vanilla2022-10-02
What could be better than a dog with a monocle as a bottle label? The blend from Speyside is decorative in its own peculiar way. It is said to contain Mortlach, Macallan, Glenrothes and a few more.
Smell
The dominant sweetness on the nose reminds us of nothing other than vanilla pudding with icing, as strange as that may sound. In addition, we have an undertone of grain and malt, as well as sherry aromas.
Taste
In contrast to the nose, we have surprisingly little sweetness, but plenty of vanilla, cardamom and a little oak, which provides a slightly woody dryness. Green grassy notes are present as well as a hint of coked grass. Sherry flavours are in the background. The mouthfeel is slightly oily
Finish
The finish is light on oak tannins, a little cocoa and a bit of sherry tumbles at the end. A cheeky shot of black pepper follows at the very end.
Thoughts
The composition from Douglas Laing is coherent and the peppery finish is exactly what we expected from a cheeky whisky. Smell and taste go together, even if the nose promises more sweetness at first. The vanilla note is tasty and really intense. If someone asked us for a good, accessible blend, we would recommend the Scallywag without having to think about it.
Rating: 80/100 - Excellent (Marcel: 82 | Sascha: 78)
Value for Money: 5/5 - Very Good
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