The core of Douglas Laing's Speyside range is a sherry-driven blend with a badger for a mascot and a cheerfully irreverent style.

Expert Review

Scallywag Douglas Laing Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 46% is a Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky matured in sherry casks and bottled at 46% ABV.

Scallywag is a Scotch whisky with an aromatic flavour of oak, vanilla and a sherry finish. Scallywag Whisky blends several Speyside malts, all matured or finished in sherry casks, giving the range its rich, sweet signature style.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is sweet with raisin, caramel and a lightly spiced oak.

Palate

The palate is soft with sherry sweetness, dried fruit and a mild spiciness.

Finish

The finish is medium-long and sweet, with lingering sherry.

Specifications

Name: Scallywag Douglas Laing Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 46%
Distillery: Scallywag
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: sherry casks
EAN No.: 5014218796490

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Sweet · Approachable

Did You Know?

Scallywag was launched by Douglas Laing as part of a series of characterful blends, where each bottle has its own animal mascot, from Big Peat to Rock Oyster.

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Before the current label found its place on the shelf, The Hive looked a little different. This release is a glimpse of Wemyss Malts' earlier design, carrying exactly the same honeyed soul that has made The Hive a fixture of the range.

Please note: this bottle carries the older label design of The Hive, prior to Wemyss Malts updating the packaging. The contents follow the same recipe and quality as the current release.

Expert description

The Hive is a Blended Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 46% ABV by Wemyss Malts, assembled from selected casks sourced from several Scottish distilleries.

Wemyss Malts runs its business on a philosophy borrowed from the wine trade: the family acts as a negociant, seeking out the finest single casks from across Scotland, which are then tasted and selected by a nosing panel chaired by whisky writer Charlie Maclean. The casks are not named after the distillery but after their characteristic flavour profile, which is how The Hive name became synonymous with a soft, honeyed style.

This "Old version" represents an earlier chapter in The Hive's history, carrying a label design different from what is found on today's shelves.

Tasting notes

Nose

Honey cake and ripe apricots, lifted by a light, floral scent of white honey.

Palate

Sweet and full-bodied with caramelised sugar, golden raisins and a silky texture.

Finish

Short to medium, with a warm close of honey and a hint of spiced oak.

Specifications

Name: The Hive
Bottler: Wemyss Malts
Type: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: NA
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
EAN: 0040232144936

Flavour profile

Honey · Raisin · Silky

Did you know?

Wemyss Malts' nosing panel is chaired by Charlie Maclean, author of more than eight books on whisky, and the panel only selects casks good enough to stand alone as a Single Cask or join one of the named blends such as The Hive.

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At the foot of Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain, the distillery of the same name has been producing whisky since 1825 – and this bottle pays tribute to its older, traditional style.

Expert's Description

McDonald's Traditional Ben Nevis is a Scotch Pure Malt Whisky from the Ben Nevis distillery near Fort William, bottled at 46%.

The bottle is designed as a replica of an older Ben Nevis release and carries the name of founder "Long John" MacDonald, who established the distillery in 1825 at the foot of Scotland's highest mountain.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The glass first greets you with honey, quickly followed by shortbread and a hint of vanilla.

Palate

The palate is full-bodied with apple compote, malt and creamy vanilla.

Finish

The finish is gently sweet.

Specifications

Distillery: Ben Nevis
Region/Country: Fort William, Highlands, Scotland
Type: Scotch Pure Malt Whisky
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Replika af historisk flaske
EAN no.: 5026673000616

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Soft · Vanilla-sweet · Floral

Did You Know?

Ben Nevis Distillery has been owned by the Japanese company Nikka since 1989, one of the earliest examples of Japanese investment in Scotch whisky.

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The name comes from the crooked shoulder Speyside distillery workers once developed from decades of turning heavy malt by hand – a physical toll that Monkey Shoulder honours in every bottle.

Expert's Description

Monkey Shoulder is a Blended Malt Scotch Whisky combining three Speyside single malts, bottled at 40%.

The blend of Glenfiddich, Balvenie and Kininvie is designed to work equally well neat and as the backbone of whisky cocktails, which has made Monkey Shoulder one of the bartending world's favourite blended malts globally.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose offers vanilla, citrus peel and honey.

Palate

On the palate there is honeycomb and fresh citrus acidity, while creamy vanilla adds a final twist.

Finish

The finish is soft and lingering.

Specifications

Distillery: William Grant & Sons
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40 %
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Batch 27
EAN no.: 5010327105215

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Soft · Vanilla-sweet · Floral

Did You Know?

Monkey Shoulder is a vatting of three single malts from William Grant & Sons – Glenfiddich, Balvenie and Kininvie – blended by master blender David Stewart.

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