Douglas Laing 40 Years Timorous Beastie 54.7% NV

Professional reviews

Serge Valentin (91)

This new beastie gathers some Blair Athol, Glen Garioch, Dalmore, and Glengoyne amongst others. So it is technically ‘regional’ as all malts come from the Highlands region, but between Glengoyne in the extreme south and Dalmore (almost) in the extreme north, there is some space.

Now the Timorous Beastie NAS from two or three years ago was excellent, so…

Colour: pale gold. Nose: are we sure there isn’t any Tomatin inside? Because they’re remarkably close, with same-ish fresh fruits and this surprising brightness (from a forty). And same hints of cigar boxes, menthol, beeswax, plain honey, and oranges. It’s even got an ‘old Sauternes’ side that cannot be bad news. And more vanilla than in the Tomatin, that’s probably bourbon wood. With water: brings out farmier notes, wild porridge (eh?) and a whole beehive.

Mouth (neat): crikey! Perfect oiliness, herbs, flowers, fruits, waxes, several syrups (agave, sugarcane, and barley of course) and then a feeling of spiced-up orange juice. Ginger, cloves, gin and orange juice, does that exist in modern mixology? With water: not oak that comes into the way, that’s already great news. It rather gets more tangerine-y… Who doesn’t like tangerines?

Finish: medium, perhaps a little drier and drying, but that’s totally normal in a 40 yo.

Comments: ravishing. DL, one more point if you mail me the exact proportions! Feels a little Dalmore-forward at times (old fresh Dalmore) and sometimes not. In any case, in the same league as the rather perfect new Tomatin 40. But the beastie’s five times cheaper And I thought not that the Tomatin’s price was extortionate. In any case, BFYB alert for the wee beastie!

Words of Whisky (90)

:

Color: Amber

Nose: Fresh, sweet and balanced. Is this really bottled at almost 55 percent? Hard to believe. A touch of glue, but mainly honey, beeswax and candied bananas. It has a lot of sweetness to offer. But also a hint of lime juice, burlap and eucalyptus. There are some oranges and peaches here too.

Taste; Yes, thank you please. Nice and oily. Why can't every whisky be oily and thick? Some bitter oranges and grape fruit, as well as plenty of cinnamon, ginger and some marzipan. Cane sugar too. Again, pretty sweet.

Finish: Sweet with some mild spices. Pretty long.

Comments: Really, really good. And if (unlike me) you're a sweet tooth, you'll probably like this a lot better even.