Douglas Laing Rosebank 1974 20 Years Old, The Whisky Fair

Tasted in Whisky Magazine Issue 45 by Michael Jackson and Dave Broom.

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Tasting Notes

Michael Jackson Nose Floral. Like a clean, invigorating, bath soap. Palate Quite big for a Lowlander. Sugared almonds. Cake decorations that look like slices of orange and lemon but are made from jelly, sprayed with sugar. Scones with rhubarb jam. Finish Drier. More almonds, glazed this time. Comment Who needs afternoon tea?

Dave Broom Nose Smoky. Has weight and touches of complexity. Wood ash, spent campfire, fig, coffee. Peat-dominant. Palate Very peaty (certainly when compared to everything else on show) and powdery peat at that. Sweet and light with firm oak. A bit confused. Finish Oak and smoke. Comment Some will love the combination of a cult malt, alcohol, great age and smoke but I'm not so convinced.