Douglas Laing Double Barrel 10 Year Old Ardbeg & Glenrothes

Douglas Laing introduced the Double Barrel series a few years ago. It is a special vatting of two single malts. The combinations, at first glance, seem a bit odd and farfetched and make me wonder if they will work at all. How about Talisker & Craigellachie, Bowmore & Glenallachie, Caol Ila & Tamdhu, Ledaig & Bowmore, Mortlach & Laphroaig, Laphroaig & Macallan. Just sayin’. Well, the proof of the pudding and so forth, so I will try this Ardbeg & Glenrothes. Will the brute Ardbeg not totally crush the gentle Glenrothes?

Err, no, not on the nose. While the Ardbeg peat is clear from the start and translates into grass, moss and wet earth, the subtle Glenrothes soon emerges with butterscotch and vanilla, but also yeast and grain. Quite a bit of lemon juice, some zest included. This is not bad.

Err, yes on the palate. The attack is not really powerful, but spicy. Fresh with again loads of peat. Nice smokiness. Ashes and dying bonfire. This is pure Islay. Citrus and vanilla struggle to get ahead. Once they do break through, a decent mix with vanilla and honey ermerges. Almond paste? Salt versus sweet. Mildly drying. A bit austere, sir! The nose made me expect more sweetness, though.

The drying, bitter effect continues in the long finish, which makes me pull a bit of a face.

Lovely nose, but on the palate and definitely in the astringent finish, I find the combo not working. Nice experiment, sure, but little more.