Douglas Laing releases Scallywag whisky inspired by family dog

Douglas Laing & Co has created a small batch blended Speyside malt whisky named Scallywag, inspired by the family’s long line of Fox Terriers.

Douglas Laing & Co’s Scallywag prominently features the family Fox Terrier on its packaging

The vatting of several single malts from across Speyside’s distilleries – including Mortlach, Macallan and Glenrothes amongst others – uses a high proportion of liquid from Spanish Sherry Butts.

Non chill-filtered and bottled at 46% abv, Douglas Laing’s Scallywag  is described as having a “richly spiced character” with vanilla, sweet stewed fruit and Christmas pudding notes.

Fred Laing, managing director of Douglas Laing & Co, said: “From a chance sketch by a designer of our sweet, wee, rascal of a Fox Terrier, our Scallywag Malt Whisky was born. ‘Sweet’ was the key which focused us on Speyside. Its cask selection is self-evidently heavy on the Sherry background, balanced by first-fill Bourbon casks – so the resulting ‘vatted’ malt comes with an excellent pedigree.”

The family Fox Terrier is featured prominently on Scallywag’s packaging. It will be available from specialist whisky retailers from November 2013.