Last year, Douglas Laing introduced a 22-year-old Auchentoshan as the Old Particular line’s official Halloween bottling. It came in a wooden box, sported all kinds of creepy critters on the label and had a black wax bottle cap. I bought it, opened it and was in love. With hindsight, I woul even name it my personal favorite whisky of 2019. So when Douglas Laing released a 22-year-old Invergordon as their Easter edition this year, I had to get a bottle, too. The package is equally swell looking as the Auchentoshan’s. And the content of the bottle is also amazing. It brims with those sweet vanilla, toffee, pastry and candy notes that many drammers love in a good grain whisky. The refill hogshead did a wonderful job here, gently and unobtrusively shaping the spirit over a period of more than two decades. In my opinion, Douglas Laing have found the perfect moment to bottle it. The whisky has developed a lot of exciting flavors, yet it has also kept its easy-going character. It has a solid strength, but is not overpowering. It feels good and smooth in the mouth. And it is absolutely delicious. All in all, this is a very excellent Easter dram, which pairs nicely with a piece of chocolate (as Douglas Laing’s Director of Whisky, Cara Laing, recommends). Slainte!

by Tobi

Eye: Mild sunlight.
Nose: Such a wonderful sweetness! There’s fluffy biscuits with lemon icing followed by caramel sauce, vanilla milkshakes, banana split and sugar-coated peanuts. These yummy treats are accentuated by soft yellow fruits like mirabelles and peaches. And then there is also something slightly sour-ish that reminds me of goosebeerie jam. Smelling this warm, mellow and oh-so-delish dram really makes me drool.
Palate: Though bottled at cask strength, the Old Particular Easter Edition 2020 is easily palatable with an alcohol strength of slightly under 50 per cent. It feels rather light in the mouth, but also creamy. Flavor-wise, I get all kinds of sweet pastry and confectionery notes: milk chocolate, vanilla pudding, Caramac bars, jellied oranges, soft raisins and Belgian waffles with a lotta whipped cream on top. This is a really, really tasty grain!
Finish: As often with grain whisky matured in a refill cask, the finish is more on the quick side. It has vanilla, toffee, cake and cream plus a coy After Eight freshness further back.

Type: Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Region: Scotland (Lowlands)
Age: 22 Years
Vintage: 1997
Cask: Refill Hogshead
No. of bottles: 155
Alc. volume: 48.9 per cent
Bottle size: 0.7 litres
Price range: ~95.00 Euro
More info: http://www.douglaslaing.com/ (Bottler) ; http://www.bremerspirituosencontor.de/ (Importer)