Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask Balmenach 1983 (27 year old) 50%
Bourbon/ Code: OMC2034/ Dist Sept 1983 Btl: June 2011/ Tasted: June 2011
A lightly, spirity, almost grainy nose. The old wood notes – coffee and burnt caramel subdue the light, juicy orange fruit. Wood 1 Spirit 0!!! If you sniff hard enough one can detect some lovely brittle honey but you have to sniff so hard that you feel that your nose is going to turn inside out. Maybe I’m being a bit harsh and it does become quite floral with time. Maybe the palate will be its redemption?
Ah, well, no! It’s gentle and juicy, albeit it briefly before in wades the bitter/ burnt cocoa oak. There’s some floral spirit but it’s undistinguishable and becomes rather spirity. Old and dried out.
Whisky According to Chris Whiskyman 