Douglas Laing launches Chinese New Year whiskies

Independent Scotch whisky bottler Douglas Laing has released a trio of limited edition single cask expressions to celebrate Chinese New Year – the year of the pig.

The three expressions include two Old Particular single cask bottlings – a 2007 Bunnahabhain and a 2007 Glengoyne – and a 1995 XOP Craigellachie, which has been matured in a single Sherry cask. The 1995 and 2007 vintages were selected as these were previous years of the pig. Each bottled at cask strength, without caramel colouring or chill filtration, the whiskies are to be sold as a set of three in Taiwan, priced at NT$19,999 (US$650). The XOP bottlings will also be available individually in China and Hong Kong. The XOP Craigellachie (52.3% abv) is said to have a rich mocha, cocoa flavour with candied peels, allspice and stewed fruits. The Old Particular Bunnahabhain (54.4% abv) boasts sweet peat, honeycomb, a coastal influence and citrus fruits. Meanwhile, the Old Particular Glengoyne (52.5% abv) has flavours of milk chocolate, honeyed barley and spice. The whiskies’ packaging features a golden pig and is presented in a wooden gift box. Each bottle has been individually numbered and comes complete with a hand-signed certificate and a new year message from father and daughter Fred and Cara Laing, chairman and director of whisky at Douglas Laing respectively. Fred Laing said: “Despite numerous visits to the Far East since the early 1970s, I have never been there during Chinese New Year, so to participate in this fashion with these rare bottlings, each so full of eastern promise, is wonderful and we’re thrilled to commemorate this iconic cultural moment.” Earlier this month, Douglas Laing released a cask strength 12-year-old Timorous Beastie whisky. In 2018, the company celebrated its 70^th anniversary and marked the occasion with numerous special releases – including a 1982 vintage Port Ellen and a 26-year-old Big Peat.