Single Cask From Hunter Laing
Old
Malt Cask Series
Created by Hunter Laing, Old Malt Cask is a range of exceptional single-cask releases from every region in Scotland. They pride themselves on bottling at exactly the right time to capture the unique characteristics of each cask. Each whisky is bottled at 50% ABV to maintain drinkability and every new expression is non-chill filtered.
HUNTER LAING & COMPANY
Hunter Laing & Co, an independent bottling company and Islay whisky distiller based in Glasgow was established in 2013 when the brothers Fred and Stewart of Douglas Laing & Co decided to split the company assets and operate their own independent bottling operations. While Fred Laing was joined by his daughter Cara, Stewart Laing’s two sons Andrew and Scott were recruited to the new firm.
As a young man, Stewart Laing learnt about the whisky
business at Bruichladdich distillery under A&B Grant & Co. He then worked
for Stevenson Taylor & Co, a wine and spirits company to gain an insight
into the commercial side of the Scotch whisky industry.
He then joined the family company of Douglas Laing
& Co, initially being involved in the bottling side of the operation,
before accompanying his father Fred on sales trips to the firm’s key blended
Scotch markets in Asia and South America. Following the death of Fred senior in
1982, Stewart and his brother Fred ran the business until 2013, moving away
from the export blend market to concentrate on specialised single malt
bottlings.
In 2016, Hunter Laing & Co. revealed plans to build
its own single malt distillery on Islay to meet the rising demand for peated Scotch
whisky. Ardnahoe distillery, situated on the island’s east coast, filled its
first cask of whisky on 9 November 2018 and opened to the public the following
April.
The company is headed by Stewart Laing and his sons
Andrew and Scott, who had previously established their own bottling enterprise
called Edition Spirits, which was absorbed into Hunter Laing along with new
customers and markets in the Far East.
Hunter Laing’s portfolio of brands includes Old Malt
Cask – rare and old malts bottled at 50% ABV, the Old & Rare selection –
cask strength bottlings of older malts, House Of Peers and Sovereign Single
Grain, as well as a bottling facility in East Kilbride. In 2014 a new range of
younger single malts was launched under the Hepburn’s Choice banner, along with
the blended malt Highland Journey.
THE OLD MALT CASKS
The Old Malt Cask range was first created by Douglas Laing back in 1998 as their flagship range of single cask bottlings and the core principles of the range have remained unchanged. All OMC bottlings are single cask releases and are bottled at 50% abv unless the natural cask strength has fallen below this mark. All whiskies are non-chill-filtered and bottled without the addition of caramel colouring.
There have been some remarkable whiskies bottled in this range over the years. Early glories such as the 1952 Glenlochy, 1960 Bunnahabhains and later bottlings of 1971 Clynelish and 1969 Port Ellen at great ages are all highly sought after and now very difficult to find.
There have been spectacular examples from numerous distilleries including 1971 Brora, 1967 Ardbeg - and a multitude of other terrific Ardbeg single casks from the 1970s - and Port Ellen has also featured strongly in the range over the years.
Today there are still forgotten gems appearing, bottlings such as 1970 Glen Ord and 1966 Banff which don’t show up very often but are very popular when they do. The Old Malt Cask range remains popular and continues to bottle excellent single cask malt whiskies at the very quaffable strength of 50%.
In 2018 Hunter Laing opened its first distillery,
Ardnahoe, on Islay, alongside the release of fair-price sourced Islay single malt,
Scarabus, which created a favourable impression at Feis Ile 2019.
Old Malt Cask has spent twenty years as one of the
market leaders in the single cask category. I will look only at the affordable range
of their releases, starting at £62.95 and stretching up to £42,500. All these bottles are available at Hard To Find Whisky.
BLAIR ATHOL
The original distillery was named Aldour after the burn which supplied it with process water, but changed its name to Blair Athol [after a village seven miles to the north] in 1825, more likely to sweeten the Duke of Athol who owned the land.
A member of the ‘nutty-spicy’ camp which defined the old Bell’s distilleries, Blair Athol takes the first part of the descriptor to its boldest expression. Cloudy worts and a short fermentation time give the nutty base, but it is distillation which adds real weight to the distillate. A controlled level of solids coming across in the wash still add a rich, deep, malt-loaf character to the new make. It is this character which allows it to show so well in ex-Sherry, although for blending purposes the majority of the make is destined for ex-Bourbon.
THE OLD MALT CASK
Single Sherry Cask 2011 11-Year-Old Whisky £69.95
|
DISTILLERY |
BLAIR ATHOL |
 |
|
Series
|
Single
Sherry Cask |
|
|
Vintage |
2011 |
|
|
Year
Bottled |
2022 |
|
|
Age |
11
Years |
|
|
Alcohol
ABV |
50
% |
|
|
Cask
Strength |
No |
|
|
Cask
Wood Type |
Sherry |
|
|
Cask
Number |
19614 |
|
|
Single
Cask |
Yes |
|
|
Number
Bottled |
729 |
|
|
Packaging |
Original
Box |
|
|
Bottler |
Hunter Laing |
|
|
Country
of Origin |
Scotland |
|
|
Stopper |
Cork |
|
|
Bottle
Type |
Standard |
|
|
Bottle
Size |
70 Cl |
|
|
Neck
Level |
Full Level |
Product Description: One of 729 bottles from a single Sherry Butt (HL19614). This 11-year-old single cask Blair Athol was distilled in June 2011 and bottled in August 2022 as part of Hunter Laing Old Malt Cask Range.
Tasting
Notes:
Nose:
Vanilla, Custard, Apricots, Honey
Taste:
Caramel over Ginger sponge cake
Finish: Long with Toffee and Brown Sugar
FETTERCAIRN
This traditional distillery set in the foothills of the wild Cairngorm Mountains was once owned by the father of a British Prime Minister, John Gladstone.
Fettercairn has a traditional distillery set-up with an open-topped mash tun (producing cloudy wort), wooden washbacks and small stills. There are even soap grinders on the sides of the wash stills. These would have been used to add non-perfumed soap as a surfactant to stop the stills from boiling over.
Everything points to a firm, quite heavy, nutty style. This was accentuated between 1995 and 2009 when the condensers were made of stainless steel. This added a slightly burnt, pot ale character to the new make. However, a quirky cooling ring attached to the top of the swan neck, which sprays cold water down the sides of the still, aids reflux and helps the spirit lean toward a lighter style.
THE OLD MALT CASK
Single Cask #19420 - 2008 13-Year-Old Whisky £84.95
|
DISTILLERY | FETTERCAIRN |
 |
|
Series |
Single Oak Cask |
|
|
Vintage |
2008 |
|
|
Year Bottled |
2022 |
|
|
Age |
13 year old |
|
|
Alcohol ABV |
50 % |
|
|
Cask Strength |
No |
|
|
Cask Wood Type |
Bourbon |
|
|
Cask Number |
19420 |
|
|
Single Cask |
Yes |
|
|
Number Bottled |
122 |
|
|
Packaging |
Cardboard Tube |
|
|
Bottler |
Hunter Laing |
|
|
Country of Origin |
Scotland |
|
|
Stopper |
Cork |
|
|
Bottle Type |
Standard |
|
|
Bottle Size |
70cl |
|
|
Neck Level |
Full Level |
|
|
HTFW Cat. No. |
LP16334 |
Product Description: This Single Malt from Fettercairn is one of 122 bottles, charged from a single bourbon cask. Distilled in April 2008 and bottled in April 2022, for a total ageing period of 13 years.
Tasting Notes
Nose:
Orange, lemon zest and malted barley
Palate:
Sweet, fruity, malty and rich
Finish:
Long, lively and spicy
GLEN GARIOCH
This is an old distillery which for many years was
self-sufficient in malt. In fact, the maltings, sadly now disused, dwarf the
production facility. That malted barley would have been dried with peat from
Pitsligo, giving Glen Garioch its distinctive reek.
Although the layout inside Glen Garioch is typical of a
centuries-old site, with small rooms being added on and converted into use as
production increased, it contains a relatively modern kit. The mash tun, squeezed
inside a tiny chamber, has a lauter system; the washbacks, in another tight
room nearby, are stainless steel. The stillhouse with a panoramic window facing
the road has three stills, but only one pair is used.
Ferments are short, giving a deep cereal and spice note
to the new spirit which also has a distinctive waxy, tallow-like, character.
When mature, the heaviness changes into a thick, fat texture, allowing honeyed
fruits and heather to emerge.
THE OLD MALT CASK
Single Cask 2008 13-Year-Old Whisky £69.95
|
DISTILLERY |
GLEN
GARIOCH |
 |
|
Series |
Single Cask |
|
|
Vintage |
2008 |
|
|
Year Bottled |
2022 |
|
|
Age |
13 year old |
|
|
Alcohol ABV |
50 % |
|
|
Cask Strength |
No |
|
|
Cask Wood Type |
Hogshead |
|
|
Cask Number |
19524 |
|
|
Single Cask |
Yes |
|
|
Number Bottled |
287 |
|
|
Packaging |
Original Box |
|
|
Bottler |
Hunter Laing |
|
|
Country Origin |
Scotland |
|
|
Stopper |
Cork |
|
|
Bottle Type |
Standard |
|
|
Bottle Size |
70cl |
|
|
Neck Level |
Full Level |
|
|
HTFW Cat. No. |
LP16827 |
Product Description
Distilled at Glen Garioch in 2008, this Single Malt is
one of 287 bottles charged from a single refill hogshead cask.
Nose: Butterscotch yoghurt, vanilla pastry and waxy
toffee apple.
Palate: Tart fruit jam, lemon oil and green apples.
Finish: Long, satisfying and pleasantly sour.
CRAIGELLACHIE
Sulphur notes in new make is an emotive subject in
recent years, but it is one which is also misunderstood. People do not know
that this sulphur disappears in time. It acts as a marker; an indication that
once its cloak has been lifted a spirit will emerge either as meaty (Cragganmore,
Mortlach, Benrinnes) or fragrant (Glenkinchie, Speyburn, Balblair, AnCnoc, and
Craigellachie) In other words, sulphur can be desirable.
Most of the sulphur comes from barley and is naturally
produced during the whisky-making process. If you cut down the amount of copper
available to spirit vapour the higher the sulphur levels in the new make will
be. Craigellachie revels in its sulphurous nature.
Long fermentation has however fixed fruitiness within
the spirit and this tropical/floral note emerges in the mature spirit. It’s
this character: full, yet aromatic which has made Craigellachie a prized malt
for blending; it has been a major contributor to White Horse and Old Smuggler since
the late 19th century – with the result that it had to wait until 2014 to
receive its promotion to the rank of front-line malts.
THE OLD MALT CASK
Single Sherry Cask 2007 15-Year-Old Whisky £89.95
|
Description |
Single Sherry Class |
|
|
Vintage |
2007 |
|
|
Year
Bottled |
2022 |
|
|
Age |
15 year old |
|
|
Alcohol
ABV |
50 % |
|
|
Cask
Strength |
No |
|
|
Cask Wood Type |
Sherry |
|
|
Cask
Number |
19528 |
|
|
Single
Cask |
Yes |
|
|
Number Bottled |
753 |
|
|
Packaging |
Cardboard Tube |
|
|
Bottler |
Hunter Laing |
|
|
Country Origin |
Scotland |
|
|
Stopper |
Cork |
|
|
Bottle
Type |
Standard |
|
|
Bottle
Size |
70cl |
|
|
Neck
Level |
Full Level |
|
|
HTFW
Cat. No. |
LP16832 |
Product Description
One of 310 bottles charged from a single sherry butt (#19528), this 15-year-old Single Malt from Craigellachie was distilled in April 2007 and bottled July 2022.
Nose: Apples, toffee and garden flowers.
Palate: Fruit chews, salted caramel and red berries.
Finish: A long finish with lingering spice.
SPEYBURN
Tradition and innovation are regular bedfellows in the world of single malt and the products from Speyburn are a classic example. Speyburn’s parent, Inver House Distillers, is a believer in the old way of making whisky and has kept the distillery pretty much the same as when it was first designed by Charles Doig.
Speyburn's stillhouse is the same (albeit now with
steam-driven stills) and the worm tubs have been retained. Like most worm sites
this method of condensing produces a deliberately sulphury new make like
Knockdhu, Dalwhinnie and Glenkinchie, which changes in the cask to reveal the
singular delicate, fragrant character which lies underneath.
Located in a tight little glen opposite Glen Grant,
Speyburn started operation in 1897 and was one of a number of distilleries with
the classic Doig’s pagoda, the defining feature of
any plant, originally built to help ventilate
the distillery’s kiln. It would have worked hard as Doig also installed the
first ‘pneumatic’ (drum) maltings in the Highlands on site, allowing Speyburn’s
production not to be tied to the size of its malting floors. These stayed in
use at Speyburn until 1968.
In recent years, Speyburn has been marketed as a value-for-money malt in the US. While this has resulted in large volumes in terms of
sales, the price pot hasn’t helped the whisky’s reputation. Strangely for a
top-10 malt brand, it is still unknown to most of the world and probably
under-appreciated where it’s a best-seller.
THE OLD MALT CASK
Single Sherry Cask 2007 15-year-old Whisky
|
DISTILLERY |
SPEYBURN |
 |
|
Description |
Single Sherry Cask |
|
|
Vintage |
2007 |
|
|
Year Bottled |
2022 |
|
|
Age |
15 year old |
|
|
Alcohol ABV |
50 % |
|
|
Cask Strength |
No |
|
|
Cask Wood
Type |
Sherry |
|
|
Cask Number |
19721 |
|
|
Single Cask |
Yes |
|
|
Number
Bottled |
669 |
|
|
Packaging |
Cardboard Tube |
|
|
Bottler |
Hunter Laing |
|
|
Country of
Origin |
Scotland |
|
|
Stopper |
Cork |
|
|
Bottle Type |
Standard |
|
|
Bottle Size |
70cl |
|
|
Neck Level |
Full Level |
|
|
HTFW Cat. No. |
LP17202 |
Product Description
One of 669 bottles that were charged from a single
sherry butt, this single malt from Speyburn was allowed to mature for 15 years.
Nose: Toffee, strawberries and malt.
Palate: Sweet chocolate orange with toasted almond.
Finish: Long, morish and dessert-like.
BENRIACH
In a similar vein to its immediate neighbours Glen
Elgin & Longmorn, fruit is at the heart of the Benriach character, here
manifesting itself as pears and peaches with an added aromatic top note.
Vibrant when young, it matures well – especially in
refill casks where fruits take on a more tropical edge and extra spiciness
steadily develops.
Benriach once produced a smoky distillate for blending
purposes. The enthusiastic reaction to this style when its new owner bottled
examples means a peated season takes place every year. A wide range of finishes
– of both styles – is also available. Many of the bottlings have been given
Latin names and the brand name has been rewritten as BenRiach.
The Pattison crash of 1899, coupled with a downturn in
the domestic market, took Benriach down, only running for two years before
languishing in silence for the next 65, during which its large malting facility
was used to supply Longmorn’s requirements.
The upturn in whisky’s fortunes in the 1960s saw
Benriach run from 1965 onwards. A single malt was bottled in 1995 but volumes
were limited and its reputation was not particularly high. As a result, most
malt whisky drinkers dismissed it.
Once bought by Billy Walker, a selective series of
bottlings, mixing old (from Seagram days), very young (from their ownership)
and peated (from both) proved an eye-opener to malt drinkers. It has rapidly
become a strong performer in the global market. Today it is back in full
production and in 2013 the floor maltings reopened.
The BenRiach Distilling Co. now owns Benriach itself,
Glendronach and Glenglassaugh, under Brown-Forman’s stewardship.
THE OLD MALT CASK
Single Cask Matured 2001 20-year-old Whisky £169.95
|
DISTILLERY |
BENRIACH |
 |
|
Description |
Single Cask Matured |
|
|
Vintage |
2001 |
|
|
Year Bottled |
2022 |
|
|
Age |
20 year old |
|
|
Alcohol ABV |
50 % |
|
|
Cask Strength |
No |
|
|
Cask Wood
Type |
Hogshead |
|
|
Cask Number |
19523 |
|
|
Single Cask |
Yes |
|
|
Number
Bottled |
297 |
|
|
Packaging |
Cardboard Tube |
|
|
Bottler |
Hunter Laing |
|
|
Country of
Origin |
Scotland |
|
|
Stopper |
Cork |
|
|
Bottle Type |
Standard |
|
|
Bottle Size |
70cl |
|
|
Neck Level |
Full Level |
|
|
HTFW Cat. No. |
LP16831 |
Product Description
One of 297 bottles charged from a single hogshead cask (#19523), this Single Malt from BenRiach was distilled in October 2001 and bottled July 2022.
Nose: Caramel and fragrant orchard fruits.
Palate: Oranges, apples and grapefruit, overlaid with malted barley.
Finish: Fruity with a touch of drying oak.