DOUGLAS LAING

Established in 1948, Douglas Laing and Co is an Independent Scotch bottler. Based in Glasgow, Scotland, the company produces a number of brands including their Remarkable Regional Malts range, featuring expressions like The Epicurean, Scallywag, Rock Oyster and Big Peat, and Timorous Beastie, among several others. The family-owned business specializes in artisan, Small Batch, and Single Cask bottlings.The original Timorous Beastie is referenced in Scotsman Robert Burns famous poemTo aMouse. Named after the timid mouse, this Timorous Beastie is anything but. The embodiment of the Highland single malt, this whisky is a marriage of the regions finest Malts including Dalmore, Glengoyne, and Glen Garioch. Non-chill-filtered and bottled at 46.8 percent abv, this whisky is a viscose spirit, rich in character, with an incredible mouth-feel.Pick up your bottle today!

During the 19th century, illegal distilleries were commonplace throughout Scotland. In response, Parliament passed the Whisky Excise Act of 1823, which permitted distilleries in Scotland to distill whisky in exchange for a license that cost 10 and subjected each liter of whisky produced to a special tax. Within decades, Scotch whisky became one of the countrys greatest exports.Scallywag Speyside Blended Malt Small Batch Release is crafted by blending together single malt scotch whiskies distilled at some of the finest Speyside distilleries in Scotland, including Mortlach, Macallan and Glenrothes. The Speyside region is known for producing slightly oily whiskies, that are lighter yet more sweet on the palate. Once the Speyside whiskies used to craft Scallywag are identified, they ware married together in Spanish oak casks that were previously used to mature sherry. Then, the whisky is non-chill filtered before being brought to proof and bottled by hand.As a result, Scallywag Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky Small Batch Release has a soft yet sweet aroma, with hints of plantains, ginger, saltines and candied oranges. The aroma gives way to notes of nutmeg, toffee, cereal, honey and cinnamon on the palate, and leads to a finish accented by touches of red fruits, dark chocolate, tobacco and vanilla.Scallywag Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky Small Batch Release was named the Best Blended Malt Whisky at the 2014 World Whiskies Design Awards Competition, and earned the Silver Medal at the International Wine and Spirit Competition. In addition, it earned the Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and earned a score of 92 points at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge. Pick up a bottle today!

The southernmost of the Inner Hebridean Scottish Isles, the island of Islay (pronounced EYE-lah) is just 240 square miles and home to barely more than 3,400 people. Still, the island is one of just five distilling regions in Scotland whose identity is protected by law.Islays unique climate and geography impart signature characteristics to Scotch distilled and matured on the island. Despite its small size, the island boasts 130 miles of coastline, and the warm Gulf Stream from the Atlantic Ocean provides for cool winters and mild summers. In addition, the island is largely composed of peat, a phenolic compound that emits smoky aromas when burned. The salty winds and peat bogs of Islay result in Scotch that has a signature salinity and is balanced by a touch of smoke.The Big Peat Small Batch Islay Scotch Whisky is a vatting (or blending) of single malt whiskies that hail exclusively from the island of Islay. Produced by Douglas Laing one of the most prominent independent bottlers in Scotland each small-batch of The Big Peat is a blend of whiskies distilled at Ardbeg, Bowmore, Caol Ila and Port Ellen Distilleries (together with a couple of whiskies from other distilleries that remain classified).Ardberg Distillery, which is situated on the southern coast of Islay, was founded in 1815 by the MacDougall family. By 1886, nearly one-third of the population of Islay worked at the distillery. Today, Ardberg sources its peated malt from Port Ellen and distills one of the peatiest whiskies in the world.Founded in 1779 by John Simpson, Bowmore Distillery has stood on the shores of Loch Indaal a sea loch that opens out into the Atlantic Ocean for over two centuries. The distillery remains one of a handful of distilleries in Scotland that continues to malt and peat its own barley. Bowmore Distillery draws its water from Laggan River, which flows through peat bogs on its way to the distillery and provides a unique, mineral flavor to the whisky. In addition, the distillerys location on Loch Indaal contributes not only to the whiskys salinity, but also to its smoothness and complexity.Caol Ila Distillery (which is Gaelic for "Sound of Islay") is situated overlooking the strait between Islay and Jura, another island situated in the Inner Hebrides archipelago. Founded in 1846 by Hector Henderson, the distillery produces whiskies that are noted for their pale colors and signature, peaty yet floral aromas.Just a few miles west of Ardbeg Distillery, Port Ellen Distillery was founded in 1825 by Alexander Ker Mackay. The distillery is believed to have been the first to incorporate Septimus Foxs spirit safe design into its distillation process, and was one of the first distilleries to trade directly with the United States. Following World War I and the introduction of Prohibition in the United States, however, the distillery was forced to close its doors. In 1966, the distillery was rebuilt and began operating with four new stills heated by a mechanical coal stoker system. In the slump of 1983, the distillery was closed again, and remains closed to this day. The whisky made in the 17 years between its reopening and final closure, however, has acquired a reputation as some of the finest to have been made on Islay at the time.As a result of the blend of these whiskies, The Big Peat has an array of flavors that are unique to Islay. It has a salty aroma with a touch of smoke, and notes of oily peat on the tongue. The flavors give way to hints of caramel and vanilla, and the finish is smooth, with notes of spices and cinnamon.The Big Peat earned a score of 96 points from Jim Murrays Whisky Bible and was recommended in Ian Buxtons 101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die. In addition, it earned a score of 96 points from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge in 2014, which named it the "Best Blended Malt Scotch Whisky" in the world.Pick up a bottle today!