Fond Memories of Robin Laing By The Whisky Boys

The weather has been exceptional in central Scotland over the past few weeks, and I have enjoyed sitting in the sun reflecting.  A Brad Paisley song came on the radio, Whisky Lullaby, and I remember Robin Laing singing this many years ago at a Bruichladdich concert he gave on Islay.  This prompted me to play Robin’s CD Whisky and Death. 

Unfortunately, and far too early, Robin passed away last December, and I have no doubt that he is not only missed in the Whisky Community but also in the Folk Music Community.  I always enjoyed Robin’s very witty and clever lyrics, which were an expression of his great sense of humour; in fact, I always enjoyed being in Robin’s company.  

I was also very privileged to sit on tasting panels for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society where Robin presided as the Chair.  He had extensive knowledge about Whisky and loved everything relating to it, and whilst I was working at the Vaults in Leith he was a regular member of the team.

His first bottling, “Expression” was a single malt distilled in 2003 and bottled 7 years later. Its maturation was in a Port Cask.

Expression ll was also a single malt from a single cask. My bottle is number 130 of 313. Distilled in 2003 and bottled in 2015.

Robin also, over the years, had bottled some Whisky under his name, and I was very lucky to purchase a couple of Bruichladdich’s called Inspiration and Inspiration II.  This is a delicious dram.  I think Bruichladdich has a wide selection of expressions, which makes me think of another great Whisky gentleman who passed far too early, Derek Mather. Derek was the owner/chef at Artisan restaurant in Wishaw, but he also had the world’s largest collection of Bruichladdichs and was very well known in Whisky Circles. 

I catch myself smiling at Robin’s ability not just to sing witty songs, but he told wonderful stories. Some of his music can be found on Amazon Music, and I would suggest that if you feel like a wee dram and you want a smile put on your face, check these songs out.   For me, one of the funniest is “We can’t let Al Qaeda Get Their hands on this” from his album One for the Road – the lyrics are really clever.

So I’m sitting in my garden listening to this funny, bright, humorous man, and I raise my glass of Bruichladdich Inspiration and think of Robin and Derek raising a glass and hope they know they are greatly missed.  I think the Angels have taken a bit more of their fair share – Slainte.