Douglas Laing Yula 20 Year Old 1995 Blended Malt

Let me stay with Douglas Laing for a moment to try their new blended malt. The Yula 20 Year Old is a blend of both Islay and Island malts. Yula is the name of a tragic Norse goddess who, with an apron full of stones, crossed the sea in search of her beloved one. The apron rips and the stones fall into the sea, forming islands. The last stone she loses becomes Islay, her final resting place. The Yula 20 Year Old is the first release in what is set to become a trilogy.

The nose is a fresh mix of coastal elements on the one hand and wonderful tropical fruit on the other. Think mango, pineapple on the BBQ, juicy pears, passion fruit and gooseberries. Maybe even some melon. Sweet malt. Light pepper and a bit of soot, as if from burnt cigarette paper. Finally a floral touch that flirts with perfume. Nice balance between salt and sweet.

Despite the high ABV, the arrival is pretty soft. Immediately pretty spicy and peaty, loads of smoke development before the fruit kicks in. All the fruit from the nose (bar the mango), joined by some loud citrus. Think lime and grapefruit. A bit zesty, even. But the floral note returns – in full force – making the whole just a tad soapy. Liquorice adds a bitter touch. Quite complex. Layered. I like it.

Nice, long and warm finish, in which – luckily – nothing of the soapiness is tob e found. After a rather insistent sweetness that lingers, this Yula dies a salty death.

Beautiful blended malt. Sweet versus salt in a smoky jacket. The perfume is borderline. Around 150 EUR. I am looking forward to the second and third release in this trilogy.