Douglas Laing Rock Oyster 18 yo

Nose: Quite gentle, with a whiff of smoke, sea-spray (it’s a maritime mix of malts, from the Islands after all), gentle brine, and black pepper, and some oak which gives away the actual age of this, and it’s quite nice. gentle but still complex.

Palate: The palate is more powerful than the nose suggested: quite a lot of fresh ground black pepper, earthy peat, and smoke. Some hints of tobacco boxes, salty caramel, vanilla custard, more pepper and oak.

Finish: lovely smoke, earthy peat, vanilla and pepper.

This is quite a nice dram indeed, it’s gentle at times, but also packs a nice peppery punch. Very good and a tadf better than it’s youthful brethren. A worthy blended malt with decent age on it. Well done.