ABV 54.1%
It’s a cake face-off at the local baking competition.
Laura Foster
Douglas Laing
Brand
Cask Strength No. 2
Expression
Blended Malt
Type
No age statement
Age (Years)
2017
Year of Bottling
54.1%
ABV
Speyside
Region/Country
Independent Bottling
Bottling Type
Taster
Nose: Feel the burn from that ABV… at once sweet (fruit cake characters of hazelnuts, walnuts, dates, nutmeg, ginger) and earthy (coffee grounds, forest floor). Sharp redcurrants at the back.
Palate: Sweet and nutty at first. Reminds me of golden syrup cake, with a zing of lime peel. Dried chilli flakes and pencil shavings bring some austerity towards the end.
Finish: Coffee and walnut cake, like your grandma used to make. This one likes to linger.
Comment: It’s a cake face-off at the local baking competition.
Score: 8.2
Taster
Nose: Mellow vanilla fudge, with oranges, mandarin and pear juice. Fruit fades to leave malted barley, hay barns and hazelnuts. Vinous, white wine, with sandalwood, dried hops and syrup.
Palate: Marmalade, with dried apricots and vanilla. Cloves, pepper, and then an underbelly of cereal notes. Water takes a lot away, little that opens up.
Finish: Long and orangey with plenty of black pepper. Too tannic at times.
Comment: A bit of a rogue. Flavours are well expressed, but don’t come together perfectly.
Score: 7.8
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