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Douglas Laing debuts its first Strathearn single malt
Independent bottler Douglas Laing & Co has relaunched the Strathearn whisky brand as its inaugural single malt.
In October 2019, independent whisky bottler Douglas Laing & Co moved into distilling with the purchase of Perthshire-based single malt Scotch producer Strathearn Distillery.
The new Strathearn Single Malt was bottled from 32 casks, a combination of ex-Bourbon, virgin and ex-Sherry casks.
Some of the casks came from Strathearn Distillery as part of the acquisition and others were distilled under Douglas Laing’s ownership.
Douglas Laing said the brand was distilled without any automation.
The raw ingredients undergo a long fermentation time of 144 hours to create the brand’s fruity character. The spirit cut points are chosen through smell and taste. The distilling process leads to the production of one barrel a day.
Douglas Laing only uses Maris Otter malt to create the whisky’s ‘creamy, malty’ flavour.
Bottled at 50% ABV, the resulting liquid is described as a ‘bold yet soothing’ dram.
The palate brings notes of honey, buttercream, dried apricots and a hint of spice. The finish is said to be reminiscent of home baking and buttery oat biscuits.
Created by Strathearn’s lead distiller, Angela Brown, future releases of the whisky will aim to have a ‘rich and refined’ flavour.
Cara Laing, managing director of Douglas Laing & Co, said: “This moment has been a long time coming, and one that we are extremely proud to share with the world. As the third generation at the helm of Douglas Laing, I am proud to be leading this move into this exciting new venture of distilling.
“Our Strathearn Distillery team make a barrel of spirit per shift or, simply speaking, a barrel a day. This may be a drop in the ocean compared to some distilleries, but for Strathearn, it’s a proudly handcrafted drop that embodies the spirit of the distillery.
“Strathearn is the epitome of quality over quantity. It is a part of our family history, but rest assured this is only the beginning for Douglas Laing Distilling.”
The whisky is priced at RRP £85 (US$106) and is available from The Whisky Exchange, Master of Malt and specialist whisky retailers in the UK and Europe.
It will make its debut in Asia, the US and Canada from mid-May.