Whisky review: Douglas Laing's Old Particular Single Cask Ledaig 16 years old bottled @ 48.4%

Whisky review: Douglas Laing's Old Particular Single Cask Ledaig 16 years old bottled @ 48.4%

-2nd Ledaig
-16 years old
-Single Cask
-Bottled at 48,4%
-153$

Colour: deeper gold, medium oily

Nose: back sticks, deep caramel, medicinal touches, white ashes, peat notes, yet very light. A very mice nose.

Mouth: depth of peat, medicinal oils, spicy peat, leather, burnt meat, sweet smoked bacon, bitter notes. Very meat smoke and sweet/slaty notes. Very interesting indeed.

Finish: lingering peatyness, a tad laphroig-ish, very long smooth peaty finish.

C-. Pricewise, it's one of the most ''acceptable'' of the range. Yet it remains out of reach for the normal consumer. As far as Ledaig goes, simply buy the NAS one, its like 60-70$.
A. for presentation. *see others*
A- for taste. Very good whisky indeed. Very complex, meat smoke and peat. Yet, I'm not sure I'd enjoy a full bottle of this...

Whisky review: Douglas Laing's Old Particular Single Cask Linkwood 18 years old bottled @ 48.4%

 Whisky review: Douglas Laing's Old Particular Single Cask Linkwood 18 years old bottled @ 48.4%

-1st Linkwood
-18 years old
-Single Cask, 328 bottles
-48,4%, no colouring
-173$

Colour: light golden, oily, long legs

Nose: deep creamy vanilla, hints of wood, needles, floral notes, citrus, light yet complex nose.

Mouth: caramel, spices, sherry, red dried fruits, salt notes, remains rough around the edges....

Finish: dry sherry, candied fruits, lingering sherry notes.

D for the price. DL needs to rethink its pricing policy as SAQ needs to tone down taxes not to be stuck with inventory at some point.
B for the taste. Maybe my expectations were too high or maybe I just not a big fan of light speysiders and spicy highlanders. But, I can't say it was unpleasant, yet it was not great either.
A for presentation. *see others*

Whisky review: Douglas Laing's Old Particular Single Cask Royal Lochnagar 16 years old bottled @ 48.4%

Whisky review: Douglas Laing's Old Particular Single Cask Royal Lochnagar 16 years old bottled @ 48.4%

-16 years old
-Single Cask 548 bottled
-48,4%, no colouring
-153$

Colour: very pale, straw, long legs, oily

Nose: very light, vanilla notes, vanilla bourbon, floral, juicy, fruity notes. Very light sweet nose.

Mouth: Light, chemical (marker tip), chili, ether notes, green fruits, very light. Short in mouth and robust. Not something I expected from a 16 years old....

Finish: greens, herbs, a tad vegetal, long finish. 

C- for the price. Complete rip off.
B- for the taste. Nice nose and finish but so disappointing otherwise. 
A great look for Douglas Laing...yet my suggestion: stop putting money on packaging and reduce bottling costs.

Whisky review: Douglas Laing's Old Particular Single Cask Ben Nevis 17 years old bottled @ 48.4%

Whisky review: Douglas Laing's Old Particular Single Cask Ben Nevis 17 years old bottled @ 48.4%

- 1st Ben Nevis
-17 years old
-Single Cask, 324 Bottles
-48,4%, no colouring
-178$

Colour: Very pale, straw, gold, medium medium

Nose: light salted caramel, mineral notes, depth of creamy minerals, fruit notes, sweet, juicy.

Mouth: crisp, caramel, sweet, pungent fruit, chili, hot yet not too robust, acid notes, yet it remains light...to light. Disappears way too quickly.

Finish: cherries, acid, a tad flat and not really memorable.

E. for price. 178$ is simply way too high and for this light taste whisky.
B for the taste. It's good, yet, it dies way too soon and not leave anything to be remembered by.
A for presentation. Looks awesome. 

Whisky reviews: Tasting event 2014-06-26 (Douglas Laing & Co. Ltd)

Whisky reviews: Tasting event 2014-06-26 (Douglas Laing & Co. Ltd)

In order

1- Ben Nevis
-17 years old
-Single Cask, 324 Bottles
-48,4%, no colouring
-178$

2- Royal Lochnagar
-16 years old
-Single Cask 548 bottled
-48,4%, no colouring
-153$

3- Linkwood
-18 years old
-Single Cask, 328 bottles
-48,4%, no colouring
-173$

4- Ledaig
-16 years old
-Single Cask
-153$

Whisky review: Glen Garioch Virgin Oak (NAS) bottled @ 48%

Whisky review: Glen Garioch Virgin Oak (NAS) bottled @ 48%

-3rd Glen Garioch if I'm not mistaken
-Virgin oak
-bottled above 40%
-American White Oak matured
-Non chill-filtered

Colour: Golden with red hints

Nose: wood sap (as one would expect from ''virgin oak''), acidic notes, apples, fruit juice.

Mouth: spices, wood sap, fresh cut wood, apples, bitter notes, yet light.

Finish: acidic notes, sap and some distant apples.

D for the price. 127$ for a NAS? really? I would not purchase this Glen Garioch. I would rebuy the Founder's reserve instead.
B+ for presentation. Same bottling with more fancy colours on it.
C+ for the taste. It's a good whisky but just ok in terms of Virgin Oak. The Deanston remains on of the best at a much better price point.

Spirit tasting: Pierre Ferrand ''1er Cru de Cognac, Original Formula'' bottled @ 45%

Spirit tasting: Pierre Ferrand ''1er Cru de Cognac, Original Formula'' bottled @ 45%

-2nd Cognac
-Tasted previously during SAQ salon
-VS in terms of raking.

Colour: Deep gold, medium bodied, oily

Nose: nice sweet mineral notes, yellow fruits, hints of leather notes, alcohol vapours come through, yet nothing unpleasant. Great depth for a VS. I love the mineral notes and fruits combination.

Mouth: Very strong entry, lots of mineral notes, leather, chili powdered fruits, pear, thickness to it yet it wants to turn to ''ether'' notes.When water is added, this Cognac is so much more settled, you get round mineral and fruit notes, very thick and dense regardless of the water.

Finish: mineral notes, bitter fruits, cherries, pears, very sticky and lingering minerals notes. Great finish

A- for the price. at 68, 75$ (SAQ) its a very nice Cognac and it's highly recommended
A for the taste (with water). Can give some XOs a ride for their money. So gentle with water you will wonder if they haven't blended much older Cognacs with this one.
B for presentation. I like the retro metal-covered cap. Clean looking bottle, but not a fan of the ''far west'' looking labels.

Spirit Tasting: Deau Cognac XO bottled @ 40%

Spirit Tasting: Deau Cognac XO bottled @ 40%

-1st Cognac on blog
-XO but I would side this with a low VSOP...
-Age evaluation 7-8 years old.

Colour: Very dark, mahogany wood, oily with long legs.

Nose: light mineral notes, fruity edges, fruits confits, cherries, black pitted cherries, pear, deepthness

Mouth: Very light entry, tad oily, pine needles, apple, chili pepper. A bit too ''robust'' for a XO, turn flat and burns....I mean, this is not an old spirit, it's fairly young and not really settled in.

Finish: light woody notes, black fruits....but nothing really lingering.

D for taste. I know XO can go for brandies as young as 8 years old....but the industry standards are usually higher as a lot of VSOPs are 8-10 years old (and older). It's too light and does not have the body of a proper XO.
A for presentation. Very elegant bottling, like great XO's.
E for price. 215$? Really? That's not 20 years old matured. It's rough and falls to pieces. 90$ tops for this. Rip off. Avoid.

Spirit Tasting: Longueteau VS bottled @ 42%

Spirit Tasting: Longueteau VS bottled @ 42%

-One of the best rum I have ever tasted by far.
-Matured in Ex-Cognac barrel.

Colour: Coppery, oily

Nose: deep mineral notes, very thick, fruit confit, rocks, touches of salt.

Mouth: So close to a nice VS Armagnac, mineral notes, dense fruits, covers the mouth and remain complex. Shows some signs of youth, but you will forgive him for it.


Finish: lingering cherries, mineral, nice heat, soft and gentle

E for pricing. at 90$ (SAQ) we have much better rum/whisky option than this one. I hope to see the price going down to 65$.
A+ for taste. For rum, it's simply mind-blowing. Strongly advise to buy if money allows it or if it can be found at a more reasonable price.
C- for presentation. Not sure how I should see it : (1) velvet premium attempt of VS(?) rum...(2) weird bottled brandy. Anyway, they should reconsider the bottling to fit a specific style.