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The Epicurean Lowland Blended Malt NAS Douglas Laing 75cl 46.2% ABV
Small Batch Release series
Batch 7
Bottle code L 29 06 17
Color: straw.
Nose: fennel, hay, bread, rhubarb, wool, rosemary, apples, honey, pears, green bananas, hard candy, lemons, meadow herbs, and a bit of pine needles. Definitely some really interesting notes.
Taste: apples, ripe pears, honey, peaches, pepper, chocolate, mint, lemons, and a bit of salt. Sweet and rather simple.
Finish: honey, wet cardboard, pears, mint, pepper, alcoholic bitterness.
Score: 8. Between okay and good. +1+1=0.
Conclusion: the Epicurean was likely composed of one or more of Glenkinchie, Auchentoshan, and Bladnoch. What else was available in the Lowlands in 2017 for a budget-friendly mix? I would not be entirely surprised if, for example, a few drops came from an old and beautiful Littlemill cask, but even if that were the case, the mature flavors are completely buried under the presence of younger malts. Douglas Laing offers no transparency about the contents, so I'd assume they didn't use anything fancy in reasonable proportions. 79/100. Epicureans prioritize the absence of pain over the pursuit of intense pleasure, so I suppose it's fitting to name this dull whisky after them. It's bland, but there's nothing to really hate about it.
Small Batch Release series
Batch 7
Bottle code L 29 06 17
Color: straw.
Nose: fennel, hay, bread, rhubarb, wool, rosemary, apples, honey, pears, green bananas, hard candy, lemons, meadow herbs, and a bit of pine needles. Definitely some really interesting notes.
Taste: apples, ripe pears, honey, peaches, pepper, chocolate, mint, lemons, and a bit of salt. Sweet and rather simple.
Finish: honey, wet cardboard, pears, mint, pepper, alcoholic bitterness.
Score: 8. Between okay and good. +1+1=0.
Conclusion: the Epicurean was likely composed of one or more of Glenkinchie, Auchentoshan, and Bladnoch. What else was available in the Lowlands in 2017 for a budget-friendly mix? I would not be entirely surprised if, for example, a few drops came from an old and beautiful Littlemill cask, but even if that were the case, the mature flavors are completely buried under the presence of younger malts. Douglas Laing offers no transparency about the contents, so I'd assume they didn't use anything fancy in reasonable proportions. 79/100. Epicureans prioritize the absence of pain over the pursuit of intense pleasure, so I suppose it's fitting to name this dull whisky after them. It's bland, but there's nothing to really hate about it.
