Timorous Beastie – Highland Vatted Malt – 46.8%

Info: Douglas Laing & Co. has launched a new blended Highland Scotch whisky named after a mouse immortalised in a poem by Robert Burns. It contains various whiskies including Blair Athol, Glen Garioch, Dalmore and Glengoyne. It’s a blend of malts, not a blended whisky!

Colour: Lightly golden, slightly cloudy.

Nose: It’s a nose that seems familiar, and yet isn’t. Highland nature comes out at you, it’s nutty, sweet (honey) and bold with plenty of malt and a bit of young leather in the background. After a while buttery notes come forward.

Palate: There’s a puff of smoke here, whether it’s in the malt or from the casks it works well against the rounded malty nature. There’s a tickle of spices and what starts as honey and ends as raisins.

Finish: The finish is really quite long, sweet, smoky puffs and lots of rich raisins and a few walnuts along with vanilla fudge and subtle oak.

Thoughts: Yet again the folks at Douglas Laing have produced a great blended whisky here, it’s thick, packed with flavour and interesting to drink. Don’t forget it’s other family members, Big Peat and Scallywag.

Available: The Green Welly Stop – £36

Thanks to Douglas Laing for the sample. Great wee package, and the sugar mouse was fantastic!