Hunter Laing Caledonian Tasting Notes

Hunter Laing Sovereign Caledonian 1982 (35 year old) 46.9%

Code: SOV2117/ Dist: Feb 1982 Btl: 2017/ Tasted: Nov 2017

Intense aromas of dark, dried fruit and subtle treacle. Almost malty in character with sweet cinnamon, pepper, heather, raisin, plum, orange and mature American oak. The grain gives it a lovely crisp edge and with time some toasty oak appears.

The palate opens with the dark dried fruit fouind on the nose, followed by sweet vanilla oak and hints of sub-Cognac-esque oxidised fruit. Hints of dark chocolate, spice comes through and some citrus notes freshen the mid palate. Long and succulent with dark chocolate, earth and vanilla. Slightly drying finish but the tannins are super smooth and a little treacle balances.

Hunter Laing Sovereign Caledonian 1974 (41 year old) 50.2%

Bourbon/ Dist: Mar 1974 Btl: Oct 2015/ Code: SOV2071/ Tasted: Nov 2015

Impressively deep aromas of rum-like dried fruit and fragrant oak. Luscious and juicy with the oak becoming more ‘Bourbony’. Hints of Seville orange conserve, baked apple, raisins and sweet spice. Late hint of smoke.

The palate is full and Bourbony with hints of coffee, sultana, raisin and dried citrus. The nippy grains balance the oak and it becomes wonderfully spicy on the middle with a touch of chocolate and lightly bittering elements. Seriously crisp and spicy finish with the dark honey, desiccated coconut, vanilla and cocoa underlying.

Scotch Malt Whisky Society Caledonian Tasting Notes

Scotch Malt Whisky Society Caledonian G3.1 29 year old 60.1%

Bourbon Cask/ Tasted: Sept 2008

Succulently mature aromas of dried fruits, crystallised citrus peel, grass and soft toffee. With time the aromas deepen and intensify becoming wonderfully creamy and coffeed. It’s incredibly complex and develops an almost grainy edge to the proceedings. Magnificent nose! Water really ramps up the toffee-coffee-bourbon oak explosion. This must be a first fill cask. 

As complex as the enticing nose would suggest, the flavours mirror the nose. The depth of this magnificent dram just about keeps the high alcohol in check. With water it softens and sweetens accenting mature tropical nuances. The finish: Amazing is the only way to describe it. Long and elegant with a late fruity flourish.

Water brings out a violet like note. An truly amazing whisky. A Lowland that believes it is an old grain whisky! (Tasted blind – technically it is!)

Douglas Laing Caledonian Tasting Notes

Douglas Laing ‘The Clan Denny’ Caledonian 1965 (45 year old) 47.3%

Bourbon/ Code: DEN0073/ Dist: Aug 1965 Btl: Sept 2011/ Tasted: Sept 2011

The nose is pure, liquid butterscotch, warm toffee and buckets of oak vanillins. It’s big, bold and bourbon-esque with some lovely, sweet and spicy grains shooting the through the oak morass. With time some slightly floral aromas appear as do hints of burnt toffee and popcorn. 

The palate is quite dry and tannic, but it quickly moves into soft toffee and almonds. The oak is no where near as obtrusive and overblown as the nose would suggest and thus the palate displays a greater degree of graininess. Wonderfully soft and succulent on the middle with some gentle rum-like dried fruit. Stunning length with hints of mocha and burnt toffee on the finish.