Whisky Focus - Rock Oyster Cask Strength Limited Edition

Douglas Laing launch Rock Oyster Cask Strength Limited Edition.

Glasgow independent bottler Douglas Laing has added another Cask Strength edition to their popular Remarkable Regional Malts range. They have just announced the release of Rock Oyster Cask Strength Limited Edition, a blended malt whisky.

Like the other blended malts in Douglas Laing's Remarkable Regional Malts range, Rock Oyster is a Small Batch bottling created using a selection of single malts sourced from the region it represents, namely whiskies distilled on the Islands of Jura, Islay, Arran and Orkney.

This powerful 57.3% ABV Cask Strength limited edition follows the standard Rock Oyster which is bottled at a respectable 46.8% ABV and was launched around this time last year. It will be no surprise to hear that Douglas Laing tell me that the new Cask Strength expression delivers a massive amplification of all those coastal qualities you will find in the standard bottling. They describe it as: "Punchy peat smoke meets sweet honey and a briny, salty character, in a flavour combination that promises to transport the drinker to Scotland’s Whisky Islands."

Like Douglas Laing's other popular Remarkable Regional Malts, Big Peat (Islay), Scallywag (Speyside) and Timorous Beastie (Highland), both Rock Oyster standard and cask strength bottlings are non chill-filtered and have no added colouring.

As we have now come to expect from the team at Douglas Laing, much attention and consideration has been spent creating the packaging for the new cask strength edition which is a creative evolution of the original, offered in a premium gift tube with gold foil detail. Bespoke illustration against a maritime backdrop depicts a crew of sailors battling to retrieve a monstrous oyster from stormy seas, reflecting that monstrously maritime spirit inside. Those familiar with Douglas Laing’s Remarkable Regional Malts may recognise the bearded fisherman depicted in the scene.

Douglas Laing’s Managing Director Fred Laing commented: "For Rock Oyster Cask Strength, I’ve selected a range of casks from the Islands and lovingly vatted them together to create a blast of sea air on the nose and a tempestuously oceanic storm on the palate. Anticipate a big peat hit full of Islay phenols, iodine and coal dust, with a shake of pepper softening to a distinct honey sweetness from the Arran casks. The Isle of Jura brings waves of citrus and barley to the mix, and Orkney fetches up some salt from the deep."

Rock Oyster Cask Strength Limited Edition will be available from specialist whisky shops worldwide, including The Whisky Exchange priced around £50.
 

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