Douglas Laing Xtra Old Particular Aultmore 1990 (25 year) 54.4%
Sherry Butt/ Code: XOP0055/ DL11066
Dist: Feb 1990 Btl: Feb 2016/ Tasted: Mar 2016
Big, rich aromas of juicy, sun dried fruit with hints of orange rind and wonderfully mature, pruney, dark fruit. Gently and sweetly spiced with some subtle oxidation notes. With time a touch of malt biscuits.
The palate displays a huge depth of sherried rancio. Sweet raisins, oxidation, earth and sweet spice are layered over grippy but soft, chocolaty tannins. Quite crisp and mineral on the finish with the dried fruit and mocha notes lingering. Quite fresh and balanced for a sherry monster.
Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask Aultmore 1982 (30 year old) 50%
Bourbon/Code: OMC2189/ DL8533
Dist: May 1982 Btl: May 2012/ Tasted: July 2012
A hugely spicy nose. Sweet nutmeg, ginger, leather, tobacco, light coriander and herbal wood aromas come at you from all directions! Very, very dense with apricot, sawdusty, mature American oak, a touch of malt biscuit and earth. Really complex stuff!
Soft and spicy on the palate too! Leather, toffee and dark spices lead off, followed by plenty of slightly toasty mature oak, milk chocolate and yet more spice! It unfolds to display some beautiful Armagnac-esque dried fruit on the middle. The finish is quite dry but the dried fruit balances. Luscious and mature, with seriously lingering spices.
Douglas Laing Provenance Aultmore 2011 (6 year old) 46%
Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: PRV1337/ DL12072
Dist: May 2011 Btl: Aug 2017/ Tasted: Oct 2017
Young and slightly feinty, actually it’s very feinty. Maybe some subtle barley but that’s about it!
The palate opens with subtly sweet barley and thankfully less of the feintiness! Not much oak but a touch of citrus. Good length with lingering barley and a touch of spice.
Douglas Laing Provenance Aultmore 2008 (7 year old) 46%
Sherry Butt/ Code: PRV1170/ DL11064
Dist: Jun 2008 Btl: Mar 2016/ Tasted: Apr 2016
The nose is a bit subdued to begin with. Sticky, sweet sherry, dried grape, malt, treacle and wood smoke follow. Give it time and it opens up pleasantly to show a good herbal intensity.
The palate is quite sweet and sherried with dried fruit, herbs, malt and treacle. The alcohol balances the sweetness well and the finish is long and very spicy with hints of pepper and some drying tannins.
Douglas Laing Provenance Aultmore 2011 (8 year old) 46%
Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: PRV01489/ DL13731
Dist: May 2011 Btl: Sept 2019/ Tasted: Jan 2020
The nose opens with plenty of creamy American oak and gristy barley. With time the citrus and grassy/ herbal notes come through quite strongly.
The palate is crisp, citric and barley’d. Quite grassy with a pleasant malty core and subtler oak and spice. It does become quite oily on the middle and that follows through to the finish which is barley’d with lingering grass and malt.
Whisky According to Chris Whiskyman 