Whisky Focus - McGibbon’s Golf Range Small Batch Scotch Whiskies

Independent Glasgow based Scotch whisky specialist Douglas Laing have announced the re-launch of their McGibbon's Golf Range which happens to coincide with the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.

I spotted the new whiskies last Friday in the small Scottish gift shop just as you come out of the World Duty Free shop in Glasgow airport. The McGibbon's Golf Range will be very much aimed at the gift market and golf enthusiasts but knowing Fred Laing, Douglas Laing's Managing Director and Master Blender I am sure he has created something special that will please not only golfers but us whisky enthusiasts also.

The range features the "Special Reserve" ceramic Golf Club decanter and the "Premium Reserve" Golf Bag decanter. This is the re-launch of the bottlings which earned Douglas Laing the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement in 1990.

Uniting Scotland’s heritage of golf and Scotch Whisky, both are Small Batch specialist bottlings at 43% alcohol strength which are hand-bottled into limited edition ceramic decanters.

Honouring a golfers trusty 3 wood, the Special Reserve has been matured in an inspired combination of 3 different types of oak cask: first and second-fill Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry. The result Douglas Laing tell me is a Whisky displaying rich burnt sugar, vanilla, sweet malt and runny honey.

The Premium Reserve Golf Bag has a high proportion of old malts and Oloroso sherry cask matured Whisky which Douglas Laing describe as a unique Whisky revealing stewed fruits, creamy caramel, zesty orange and dark chocolate.

Douglas Laing’s Managing Director and Master Blender Fred Laing commented, "We are absolutely delighted to have refreshed and brought back these old favourites. The timing is perfect as the Ryder Cup excitement builds and it is an ideal way of combining two of Scotland’s greatest passions – golf and Scotch Whisky."

You will find the McGibbon’s Special Reserve and Premium Reserve available from good Whisky retailers from September 2014.
 

• UK Shops
   
• USA Shops
   
• European Shops
  

Whisky Focus