Rock Oyster Whisky Tasting – Douglas Laing

by Nicola Young · Published April 28, 2015 · Updated April 28, 2015

To help Douglas Laing celebrate the new launch of their coastal Blended Malt “Rock Oyster” – both myself and Jim were invited along to The Good Spirit Company in Glasgow to sample Rock Oyster Whisky with its name sake… and to also take a closer look at some of the single malts that were used to create this “Blended Malt” .

The evening eased us in gently with a “very different” coastal cocktail:

“Be Calmed”

Seaweed
50ml whisky (Rock Oyster)
30ml manzania sherry
lemon
sugar

Palettes well and truly warmed up we went for the Scotch, DL Ambassador Graeme Dunnet started the deconstruction with of course, the top bill Rock Oyster. Tasting notes below.

Rock Oyster – Vatted Malt 46.8%
Nose: Weetabix, brown sugar, salted chip stix, salted crackers, icy margarita mix, vanilla, a touch rubbery
Taste: vanilla rock bun, salted bread, pineapple pastry, toffee, salted latte

Next we were treated to a few coastal lovelies from DL’s Old Particular range that played a part in concocting the Rock Oyster, tasting notes below.

Highland Park 1996 18 YO 48.4% Old Particular – you can buy it here
Nose: salted toffee, tagine of Moroccan spice, orange gloupy fondant, sugared almonds, fresh vanilla pod
Taste: Flapjacks, honeyed sticky crackers, pepper & sweet black liquorice

Arran 1996 18 YO 48.4% Old Particular – sold out
Nose: stodgy thick porridge, lime jelly, coconut milk, almost a waft of advocaat
Taste: pina colada, coconut cream, bounty, suntan lotion, fondant, custard – where’s my flip flops?

Bowmore 1999 15YO 18.4% Old Particular – you can buy it here
Nose: Oily coal, crystalised ginger, bitter dark & salty chocolate
Taste: Toast & thick rind marmalade, orange rind, sweet & tangy

Over the evening there was copious amounts of Cumbrae Oysters available, with different and various garnishes and toppings, see pic. I have to admit they worked well with all drams, but with the exception of the Arran. The Arran was outstanding (my fav of the night) and oh so sweet, but the salty notes from the oysters worked against the flavours, all others went hand in hand.

Thanks to Cara, Graeme and the guys at the Good Spirit Company for a wonderful evening.

NB: Rock Oyster is part of a regional series by Douglas Laing, Big Peat (Islay Malts), Scallywag (Speyside Malts), Timorous Beastie (Highland Malts) & Rock Oyster (Coastal Malts)