Douglas Laing Xtra Old Particular Glenturret 1987 (30 year old) 45.3%
Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: XOP0132/ DL12378
Dist: Dec 1987 Btl: Feb 2018/ Tasted: Apr 2018
A classic, mature nose of sawdusty American oak and honey with a sliver of tart, green citrus fruit – gooseberry and lime, which really builds and grabs the attention! With time some darker, maltier, baked apple and cherry emerges along with dark and white chocolate as well as a touch of vanilla. But, wow! That citrus!
The palate is full, exuberant and juicy (and I don’t often say that about ‘turret!) The citrus found on the nose is present here but not as intense, but still gives it a lovely gooseberry and lemon note to balance the vanilla and toffee’d oak. Quite oily and barley’d on the middle but it’s so mellow and beautifully honeyed. The citrus finally breaks through on the finish along with the returning lightly coffee’d and sawdusty oak.
Douglas Laing Old Particular Glenturret 2005 (12 year old) 48.4%
Sherry Puncheon/ Code: OLD0573/ DL12417
Dist: Nov 2005 Btl: Feb 2018/ Tasted: Jun 2018
A sulphur ruined nose! Dirty dried grape and prune, but mostly stinky sulphur!
The palate is young, raw and marc-like. Again sulphur tainted with sweet prune, grape and warm treacle. Dirty finish with a touch of sweet dried fruit – not a pleasant combination!
Douglas Laing Old Particular Glenturret 2006 (12 year old) 48.4%
Refill Sherry Hogshead/ Code: OLD0662/ DL12759
Dist: Apr 2006 Btl: Sept 2018/ Tasted: Nov 2018
A very herbal Oloroso nose with burnt scrub, earth and industrial cereal notes. Raw and very woody with the herbal notes aping a very young rye. Subtle treacle and tar notes with time.
The palate opens with burnt rye-like herbs, burnt toffee and hard industrial spirit. A touch of treacle comes through but it’s a herbal overkill! Short and tannic but spicy with lingering cereal and herbs.
Douglas Laing Old Particular Glenturret 2004 (15 year old) 48.4%
Sherry Puncheon/ Code: OLD0848/ DL13744
Dist: Mar 2004 Btl: Nov 2019/ Tasted: Jan 2020
A dense, heavily sherried nose with prune, walnut and a Pedro Ximinez grapiness. Hints of warm spice, menthol and late vanilla. Blemish free but all cask.
The palate is lighter in body but still heavily sherried with rasinated fruit, creamy vanilla and hints of toffee, butter, menthol and spice. Long and continuing herbal and oaky with lingering nutmeg, cinnamon and pepper.
Douglas Laing Old Particular Glenturret 1988 (27 year old) 45.4%
Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: OLD0290/ DL11092
Dist: Dec 1988 Btl: Mar 2016/ Tasted: Apr 2016
Aromas of damp earth and baked fruit with hints of ‘toshan-esque boiled sweets and rose petals. A touch of apricot, brandy butter, old vanilla, old herbs and light smoke follow. Very mature and intriguing!
The palate is soft, elegant and mature with creamy oak, barley and subtle wood spices. Lightly Cognac-esque dried fruit, brandy butter and gorgeous, mature American oak comes through on the middle. Very long with lingering baked fruit, sweet heather and oak. Superb depth and complexity with a finish that lasts for minutes!
Douglas Laing Old Particular Glenturret 1987 (28 year old) 51.5%
Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: OLD0278/ DL11028
Dist: Nov 1987 Btl: Dec 2015/ Tasted: Jan 2016
Big and oaky, which is not a surprise given the colour! Buttery, toffee’d and slightly herbal with hints of barley. The oak is very dominant but a touch of mature, baked fruit tries to balance and with time the oak becomes pleasantly sawdusty.
Like the nose, the palate is very oaky with butter, toffee and an almost popcorn-like character. Soft, mature, dried fruit comes through along with a touch of citrus, green apple and sour fruit. The palate shows a much better balance. Very long with the gentle spices and sawdusty oak lingering. Delightful!
Douglas Laing Old Particular Glenturret 1987 (28 year old) 45.9%
Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: OLD0333/ DL11199
Dist: Nov 1987 Btl: Jun 2016/ Tasted: Oct 2016
Quite herbal (marjoram) and ferny on the nose with a touch of cardboardy spice and linseed. A little musty to be honest but there’s some sweet barley beneath.
The palate is initially a little flat with hints of malt, oak and subtle spice. Not quite as funky as the nose with a pleasantly, dusty spice middle. Long, crisp and citric with ferny and herbal notes along with a light creamy oak finish. Not the greatest nose in the world but the palate sort of redeems itself.
Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask Glenturret 1994 (17 year old) 50%
Sherry Butt/ Code: OMC2135/ DL7972
Dist: Sept 1994 Btl: Dec 2011/ Tasted: Jan 2012
The nose is quite sulphured and rather industrial, which was not what I was expecting. Rather murky with some spicy citrus aromas attempting to emerge from the sulphur fug.
The palate is short, alcoholic with a touch of spicy, baked fruit and a lot more than a touch of sulphur! Pleasant? Ah, no!
Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask Glenturret 1994 (18 year old) 50%
Sherry Butt/ Code: OMC2205/ DL9037
Dist: Sept 1994 Btl: Sept 2012/ Tasted: Nov 2012
The nose is heavy with the leafy Oloroso character with a side serving of molasses, treacle, coffee and dark honey. However a light citrus not brightens the aromas. Gnetly spiced with plenty of sweet, dried fruit.
Soft, full and gently spiced on the palate. Very much mirroring the nose with sweet Oloroso, treacle, dried fruit and plenty of peppery spice, which builds and intensifies on the middle, again the citrus arrives along with some luscious, honeyed dark malt and treacle. Wonderfully soft and succulent! Lovely length with hints of burnt wood, demerara sugar along with a return of the sherry leafiness. Ok, so you can argue that there isn’t any distillery character but the sherry character is wonderfully clean and complex.
Whisky According to Chris Whiskyman 