Glasgow-based independent bottler Douglas Laing & Co has launched winter limited editions of its Scallywag and Big Peat malt Scotch whiskies. Scallywag Winter Edition has a Cognac cask finish, and Big Peat Winter Edition has a French red wine cask finish, and both are available now at select retailers and online.
Both expressions return as annual seasonal releases from two of the company’s flagship brands.
Scallywag Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky Winter Edition finished its maturation in Cognac casks from the French region. The company bottled the whisky at a natural cask strength of 54.2% ABV.
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The official notes from the brand describe a nose of stewed orchard fruits, honeyed malt and soft vanilla, wrapped in gentle spice. Caramelized sugars, dark chocolate and ripe berries lead the palate into warming oak, and a long, spiced sweetness follows on the finish.
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Scott Morrison, senior brand manager, said: “Scallywag’s Winter Edition is all about indulgence and warmth.”
He added: “This Cognac cask finish brings an elegant depth to the spirit, layering rich fruit, chocolate and spice in a way that feels perfectly at home during the colder months.”
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READ THE STORYBig Peat Islay Malt Scotch Whisky Winter Edition carries a 10-year age statement. The liquid spent its final 16 months in hand-selected French red wine casks before bottling at 48% ABV.
According to the official notes from the brand, the nose is warming, earthy and smoke-led, with black forest fruits, vanilla and butterscotch. Toffee, dark chocolate and subtle nuttiness appear on the palate, with home-baking spice and dry peat smoke on the finish.
Cara Laing, managing director, said: “Big Peat’s Winter Edition continues to explore the harmony between smoke and sweetness.”
“The Red Wine cask finish enhances his rich, earthy character with a vibrant fruitiness – creating a dram that feels both powerful and perfectly suited to winter,” she added.
Neither whisky contains added coloring, and the company did not chill-filter either release. Douglas Laing aims the pair at connoisseurs, collectors and seasonal gift buyers.
Scallywag Winter Edition retails at $79 (£60 / ₹7,718), or €69 in Europe. Big Peat Winter Edition costs $86 (£65 / ₹8,361), or €74.
Big Peat is the first of the company’s Remarkable Regional Malts range. The brand draws on various single malts from Islay, including malts from Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Bowmore, and Port Ellen, and it launched in 2009.
Staff at Douglas Laing’s Glasgow offices refer to Big Peat as a person. That habit explains the “his” in Laing’s quote. Big Peat is lovingly referred to as an actual human person in the Glasgow offices of Douglas Laing & Co.
Scallywag followed Big Peat into the range. Scallywag was launched in 2013, its name inspired by a lineage of Douglas Laing family Fox Terriers.
The range has since grown to six blended malts. It now includes Scallywag (Speyside), Big Peat (Islay), Timorous Beastie (Highland), Rock Island (Islands), The Gauldrons (Campbeltown) and The Epicurean (Lowland).
Douglas Laing remains in family hands. The company was founded by Fred Douglas Laing in 1948 and is still owned and run by the Laing family – Fred Laing Jr and his daughter Cara Laing.
