New Blended Malt from Douglas Laing – “TIMOROUS BEASTIE”–tasting notes

A new product from D.Laing is always good news, and after the “Scallywag” comes another blended malt, this time made from a few single malts from the Scottish Highlands. Here’s the PR :

Established in 1948, leading independent Scotch Whisky specialist, Douglas Laing & Co today announce the release of their brand new Highland “Vatted” Malt – Timorous Beastie.
Douglas Laing’s Timorous Beastie is a Small Batch bottling created using only the finest Highland Malts including – amongst others – Dalmore, Glengoyne and Glen Garioch.
Bottled at 46.8% alcohol strength, without colouring and not chill-filtered, this specialist Small Batch bottling displays a charming sweet, heather honey and Highland character.
The original Timorous Beastie, immortalised in Robert Burns’ famous Scots poem “To a Mouse”, was a timid, little field mouse. Echoing our national bard’s wit, this Highland Malt is most certainly not for the fainthearted!
Says Douglas Laing’s Managing Director (and Master Blender) Fred Laing: “What we have within the heart of our Timorous Beastie Vatted Malt is a selection of great Highland Malts on their own. Together they combine brilliantly – with some punchy packaging – to complete a triumphant trio of regional Malts which now covers Islay with Big Peat, Speyside with Scallywag and the Highlands with Timorous Beastie.” Douglas Laing’s Timorous Beastie will be available from specialist Whisky retailers from September 2014.

I was able to taste some over at Maltstock, and also to obtain a sample to taste in the quiet of my home (the maltstock tasting was a campfire tasting in which i also smoked a cigar, not exactly perfect tasting conditions).

Timorous Beastie , 46.8%, 34.99 GBP (US$56.50)

Nose: Sweet entry with creamy vanilla orange marmalade , lemon drops and spicy wood. A fruity note of apple and pear (orchard fruit if you will) .

Palate: Spicy on entry then getting woodier and creamier with bitter chocolate mint and almonds. Less creamy an inviting than the nose. Some beeswax too.

Finish: Beeswax,honey, ginger, cereals.

A very pleasant waxy, creamy and fruity combination. A highland blended malt alright it is! enjoyable stuff, even if not very cheap. Good work regarding the bottle design. It looks lovely.

Score: 84/100

Official sample provided by D.Laing.