Remarkable Regional Malts with a Twist 10 Year Old

The Remarkable Regional Malts from Douglas Laing are very popular. The series consists of the following: The Epicurean (Lowlands), Timorous Beastie (Highlands), Scallywag (Speyside), Rock Oyster (Islands), The Gauldrons (Campbeltown) and Big Peat (Islay). To celebrate the 70th anniversary of Douglas Laing, this 10 years old vatting was released, said to contain all previous releases.

The nose is a bit of a mix (doh!) of everything. I get sugared cornflakes, citrus and peach, sweet malt, pebbles on the beach, vanilla and honey, chalk and seaweeds. Mildly burnt cake (unfortunately I have some experience with that). Soft but unmistakable smoke in the background. Neither here nor there, in my opinion, but it does work.

Soft arrival, but immediately pretty peaty. I think it’s clear that Rock Oyster and Big Peat are the most important ingredients in the mix. Lots of citrus, before it suddenly turns very sweet. Reminds me a bit of Bowmore in fact. And then quite piquant. Black pepper becomes quite loud. But again: it works.

The finish is medium long, salt versus sweet with a lovely smokiness. Dry terminus.

Well… it’s not bad, but not a top dram either. Around 60 EUR for a bottle in an admittedly funny tube. But it on the table of your B&B when on Islay while enjoying the sunset at Bowmore (luckily I have some experience with that as well).