The Epicurean Blended Malt

Rating: 9/23 I have no prior knowledge of this. It's a blended malt from the Lowlands, which is somewhat surprising as I typically associate that region with grain production. Nose: Not a prominent aroma. It's young and light, with a significant alcohol presence. I detect some grain – not strongly malted – along with tartness and sulfur, which I find unappealing. The nose is not good. Palate: Better than I anticipated. It's clearly quite young, but the elevated proof enhances the grain and cereal flavors. It's fairly light, and surprisingly, I perceive minimal sulfur compared to the nose, and what I do detect blends with a somewhat smoky character in the not-so-malted grain. There's considerable alcohol content. There's also a subtle fruity hint (light, like apple, pear, peach) and perhaps a faint floral note (possibly a touch of vanilla), but it's predominantly about the grain. It's somewhat harsh, but I can overlook some of that given the proof. It's difficult to discern pepper due to the harshness, but it might be present. It gradually becomes quite numbing, suggesting possible clove. The complexity is average, and the balance is unfortunately quite off. Finish: The alcohol lingers, accompanied by notes of hay. It's slightly more bitter on the finish, with a waft of burnt grass-like smoke. It has a lasting clean, grassy field character. I don't enjoy this, but I could tolerate a serving. It's too young with too many flaws in its profile. It strongly reminds me of Auchentoshan, which I appreciate in older expressions but find difficult to enjoy when young. I prefer Sir Edward's 12 due to its richness and sweetness, though not by a large margin. It is undeniably a few steps above Grant's. It seems like a 9. If priced over $20, it's not worth it, but at $15, it would be reasonably priced. $46?! Definitely not.

I sampled a 2020 bottling from batch 14. The bottle has been open for about a year. Unfortunately, this one is quite challenging to get through. Nose: Young and intense malt that evolves into a pleasant floral and herbal aroma. It's reminiscent of strolling through a dense meadow in springtime. However, the underdeveloped malt significantly detracts from it. Taste: Harsh. The 46% ABV does not benefit this whisky at all. The palate is dominated by herbal notes, with most of the floral characteristics from the nose absent. It concludes with an unnaturally sweet candy and burnt sugar flavor. The palate is completely unbalanced. Finish: Hot. Bitter herbs and burnt sugar. Not very enjoyable. Concluding thoughts: This is simply a poorly crafted blended malt that could have been very different if it were 40% ABV and a few years older. The harsh, immature malt completely spoils this dram, and I find the burnt sugar to be excessive. I'm not a fan of Lowland whisky, and this certainly did not change my mind.

I will be reviewing all the core expressions from Douglas Laing's Blended Whiskies, which certainly boast the most enjoyable and visually appealing bottles available. I'll commence with the most straightforward one: the epicurean. The narrative surrounding this epicurean figure shown on the bottle suggests he was a 1930s individual with a penchant for the finest food and beverages. This is a blend of lowland malts... quite intriguing. Bottled at 46.2% ABV. On the nose: Dry orange cake. Chantilly cream. Raisins. Tobacco. On the palate: quite bitter, with tobacco notes and some citric lime. The finish is medium-long, featuring a very pleasant ginger note. In summary, I award this dram a 78 out of 100. It's an accessible drink, even at 46.2% ABV. I adore the bottle. Cheers!

The aroma presents dill upfront, followed by a buttery scent, with subtle hints of flowers and grass. Lemon zest emerges alongside green apple and a gentle spearmint at the finish. Dilution reveals a rich chocolate flavor and makes the sweetness more obvious. Palate: Cinnamon is more pronounced, with robust grassy notes, fennel, pears, and apples. The spice persists, leading to a creamier texture with vanilla and mild herbs, reminiscent of mint tea. Adding water brings out fruitier notes of green grapes and a touch of banana with milk chocolate. Finish: A lasting blend of lemongrass, fennel, and mild oak.

This elegant, lowland blended malt from the superb Douglas Laing, embodying the spirit of a 1930s charming gentleman and connoisseur depicted on the bottle! It begins with a rich, buttery character with notes of lemongrass, malted barley, cereal, faint green banana, and crisp spearmint; followed by a full life with apple, pear, white grape, grass, and hints of chocolate fudge, sugary sweetness, and pepper; concluding with a gentle finish of cloudy lemonade, honeyed barley, granary bread, and a touch of thyme honey. February 2018 / August 2022

The Nose: overwhelmingly sweet red wine, evolving after some time into fresh grapefruit, and dark red grapes The Palate: slightly bitter and alcohol-forward, with delicate floral notes, butter, and some earthy undertones. It possesses a very oily and creamy texture The Finish: a touch of bitter lemon zest, and earthy notes, with a medium-length finish This is my initial encounter with this blender, and I anticipate sampling more of their creations. Regrettably, this particular one doesn't quite suit my preferences. It's good, and I would certainly opt for it over typical blended scotches.