Timorous Beastie

18 Years Old

Indulge in the exquisite sophistication of Timorous Beastie 18 years old, a pinnacle expression within our Signature Series, available exclusively on douglaslaing.com, this special release has been crafted with meticulous care and aged to perfection in the finest Spanish Sherry Casks. Limited to just 650 bottles globally, you can expect a richer, sweeter profile of vanilla, juicy barley and dark chocolate… culminating in a decadent finish of macerated dark fruits and spiced orange.. Experience luxury in every sip!

The original Timorous Beastie, immortalised in Robert Burns’ famous Scots poem “To a Mouse” was a timid, little field mouse. Echoing our national bard’s wit, ours is most certainly not for the fainthearted! Inside there’s a medley of vanilla, malted barley, meringue, honey and citrus flavours just bursting to be unleashed… Part of the Remarkable Regional Malts range, the ultimate distillation of Scotland’s Malt Whisky Regions.

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Benrinnes 16 Years Old

A single malt from Benrinnes Distillery in the Speyside region. Aged for 16 years in refill American Oak casks before bottling. This single malt showcases a heavy, meaty style of Speyside malt with notes of toasted oak, peanut oil, citrus peel and white pepper. Bottled by The Whisky Cellar for the Brig O’Perth collection, at 56.1% ABV, at a natural colour and no chill filtration.

£70.00

ralfy review 1076 Extras – Two generations of Ballechin 10yo’s compared.

Sazerac Company Proudly Introduces Hawk’s Rock Distillery 

Steeped in the natural beauty of County Sligo, Ireland, Hawk’s Rock represents the rebranding of Lough Gill Distillery, which was acquired by the spirits leader in 2022 

County Sligo, Ireland (April 23, 2025) – Leading global spirits company Sazerac, which owns and operates award-winning distilleries and homeplaces worldwide including Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky; Domaine Sazerac de Segonzac in Cognac, France; and Paul John Distillery in Goa, India, is proud to announce the renaming of its recently-acquired Irish Whiskey Distillery to Hawk’s Rock Distillery. Formerly known as Lough Gill Distillery, Hawk’s Rock will continue to produce and age Irish Whiskey under the watchful eye of Master Blender Helen Mulholland on the over 100-acre site located in County Sligo, Ireland, which includes the nationally listed historic landmark Hazelwood House.

The name change reflects Sazerac Company’s vision for the future of Irish Whiskey – the art and science of blending, innovation and respect for Sligo’s rich heritage. Named after a prominent outcrop in the Ox Mountains that inspired Nobel Prize winning poet William Butler (W.B.) Yeats’ play “At the Hawk’s Well”, Hawk’s Rock Distillery aims to become a global hub for Irish Whiskey, while offering a gateway to explore the rich traditions of Sligo and the surrounding region.

“The renaming of Hawk’s Rock Distillery marks a new, yet familiar, frontier for us,” says Sazerac President and CEO Jake Wenz. “Sazerac is known for its balanced approach to honoring tradition while embracing change in constant pursuit of crafting the world’s best spirits at our distilleries in America, India, Canada and France.  Our mission holds true for Ireland, and we are excited to reveal how we are blending time-honored traditions with bold innovation to advance the art of Irish whiskey-making.”

Leading the Hawk’s Rock distillation team as Master Blender is Helen Mulholland, the first female Master Blender in Irish Whiskey history, Chair of the Irish Whiskey Association and a Whisky Hall of Fame inductee. She and her carefully-selected team have been entrusted with leading the creation and blending of Hawk’s Rock’s innovative new-to-world Irish whiskey brands, the first of which will debut in June 2025.

Sazerac Company acquired Lough Gill Distillery in 2022, drawn by its historical significance and the cultural richness of Ireland. Since then, the team has upgraded and tripled its warehouse capacity, expanded production and is modernizing the distillery, ensuring continued growth while maintaining its commitment to quality.

“This rebrand is just the beginning for Hawk’s Rock Distillery,” says Wenz. “Throughout the changes at Hawk’s Rock, our vision remains the same – creating a track record for the aging and blending of award-winning whiskeys – and this name change brings us one step closer to bringing that vision to life.”

While Hawk’s Rock Distillery is closed to the public during renovations, Sazerac has received planning permission to develop a future visitor experience in Sligo.

For more information, please visit www.hawksrockdistillery.com.

About Sazerac

With over 400 years of history, Sazerac is one of the world’s largest distilled spirits companies. Now in the fourth generation of the current family ownership, Sazerac strives each day to bring the finest spirits to consumers and communities around the world. Over 500 of the world’s most extraordinary brands are part of the Sazerac portfolio, including Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Eagle Rare, Weller, The Last Drop Distillers, Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, Southern Comfort, Wheatley Vodka, Meyers’s Rum, White X Cognac, Sazerac de Forge Cognac, Paddy’s Irish Whiskey, and many more. Sazerac is also the steward of many fine distilleries internationally, including Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky, United States; Domaine Sazerac de Segonzac in Cognac, France; Paul John Distillery in Goa, India; and Hawk’s Rock Distillery in County Sligo, Ireland. Additional impressive locations can be found in New Orleans, Montréal, London, Cork and Sydney, to name a few. To learn more visit www.sazerac.com.

The fourth Chapter in the Legacy Series, the Torabhaig Sound of Sleat is named after the narrow, powerful strip of sea dividing Skye and the mainland near the distillery. Matured exclusively in Quercus Alba American oak, this heavily peated single malt has a phenol level of 78ppm. Bottled at 46% ABV, this complex and flavourful whisky is non-chill filtered and natural in colour.

TORABHAIG
Sound of Sleat
70cl · 46% ABV
£59.95

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NOSE: Notes of delicate orange take the lead, followed by touches of apricot, popcorn and maritime seaweed. Subtle pipe tobacco adds to the elegant smokiness and is rounded out by honey, vanilla and boiled sweets.

PALATE: Light and zesty oak spice is joined by the rich and sweet bonfire smokiness that is so unmistakably Torabhaig spirit. Subtly waxy, with hints of honey and vanilla are balanced by the salinity and seaweed that ebbs away to white pepper and sweet spice.

FINISH: Lingering and elegant with notes of honey, storms and the ocean.

Our island spirits now reach almost every corner of the world, from New York to New Zealand, Texas to Tokyo. We’re especially proud to be making new friends in Japan, where Isle of Harris The Hearach have been warmly embraced by some of the country’s finest bars and bartenders.

Though our islands are far apart, we believe our communities share many values — a deep respect for nature, simplicity, and craftsmanship. Just like in whisky, there is often harmony in restraint, and richness in still-ness!

Thank you to Peter Kwasniewski from the team for this fabulous photo taken in Matsumoto Castle in Nagano Prefecture.

VISIT OUR JAPANESE WEBSITE

NEW WAVE SCOTTISH DISTILLERIES

Scotland’s whisky scene is flourishing with over 20 new distilleries since 2000. This shift is driven by the rising demand for single malts, which now make up a larger share of the market than ever before. In our latest explainer, we highlight some of the most exciting new distilleries shaping the future of Scotch whisky, from the Isle of Skye all the way to the Lowlands.

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Macaloney’s Cath-Nah-Aven, 46%

https://youtu.be/Om50jNQsKXo

Travelling down the road of classic sherry influence, here we have the Cath-Nah-Aven. A single malt that is fully matured in the rich styles of Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry.

This is of such familiarity to all of us who love whisky anyway, but in particular, for those of us who are fans of Speyside style whiskies – this is what the team at Macaloney’s have tried to pay homage to, with this syrupy, dark chocolate laden single malt.

A fun fact on their website is that this is sherry matured, but all of the wood is North American white oak (Quercus Alba) – whether or not these casks were seasoned (quite high chance) and then sold on to whisky manufacturers wo are in need of sherry barrels. This isn’t a new practice and has been occurring for decades. So just because your whisky might state ‘sherry seasoned casks’ chances are this is the type of barrel influence that you’ve loved for years and just not realised it.

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Timorous Beastie Highland Malt launches Final Bottling within its ‘Cheese Cellar’ Collection with the release of a Moscatel Finish Limited Edition.

Douglas Laing & Co. today proudly announces the third and final release in their Timorous Beastie ‘Cheese Cellar’ Collection. This innovative series has seen the award-winning Highland Malt undergo a range of carefully selected cask finishes, each chosen to craft the ultimate Whisky to complement artisan cheeses.

This final edition has been meticulously finished in White and Purple Moscatel casks, “imparting an exceptional depth of flavour to the spirit”. The result is said to be an exquisite expression, with tasting notes described as:

“Nose: A sweet spiciness on the nose gives way to dried fruits, caramel, and fresh orange peel.
Palate: The thick palate bursts with creamy malt and cereals, balanced by tangy marmalade and honeysuckle.
Finish: The sweet finish lingers on—anticipate orange blossom, a hint of spice, and apricot.”

To enhance the Whisky’s rich and complex profile, the ideal cheese pairing is Goat’s Cheese. The soft, tangy, and creamy characteristics of the Goat’s Cheese are said to “beautifully complement the Whisky’s sweet, fruity, and floral notes, creating a perfect harmony of flavour and texture.”

Housed in the signature tall black bottle of the Cheese Cellar Collection, this final release features the beloved Timorous Beastie mouse in a striking blue colourway, complemented by premium gold foil detailing and a deep blue wax dip seal. A foiled neck tag provides further insight into the expression’s tasting notes and its place in the series.

Bottled at 48% ABV and without colouring or chill-filtration, this whisky remains true to the Douglas Laing family philosophy of offering Scotch Whisky “as natural as it gets.

Scott Morrison, Senior Brand Manager, commented:

“With this final release in the Cheese Cellar Collection, we complete a journey of flavour exploration that Whisky and cheese lovers alike have embraced. The influence of the White and Purple Moscatel casks brings a refined sweetness and floral elegance, making this expression a fitting conclusion to the series.”

Strictly limited to just 4,200 bottles globally, Timorous Beastie ‘Moscatel Edition’ is expected to retail at £60.00 / €70.00. This final release marks the culmination of an exciting chapter for Timorous Beastie, celebrating the perfect marriage of Whisky and cheese in an exceptional collection.

ABOUT DOUGLAS LAING & CO.

www.douglaslaing.com

Douglas Laing & Co. is a leading independent Scotch Whisky distillery, blender and bottler specialising in the selection and release of Single Cask Single and Small Batch Malt Scotch Whiskies.

The company was founded by Fred Douglas Laing in 1948 and is still owned and run by the Laing family – Fred Laing Jr and his daughter Cara Laing.

The company philosophy is to bottle the way the distiller intended – at a high strength and without chill filtration to preserve the robust and unique character of the Whisky. Douglas Laing’s industry reputation and many awards are a testament to this ethos.

Douglas Laing’s Remarkable Regional Malts, the Ultimate Distillation of Scotland’s Malt Whisky Regions, encompasses The Epicurean Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky, Timorous Beastie (Highlands), Scallywag (Speyside), The Gauldrons (Campbeltown), Rock Island (Islands) and Big Peat (Islay).

Beyond its Blended Malts expertise, the award-winning Douglas Laing portfolio also includes Provenance, Premier Barrel, Old Particular, Xtra Old Particular, and XOP Black, collectively known as the firm’s “Exceptional Single Casks”.

DRAWING FROM NATURE

THE MACALLAN X CHARLES RENNIE MACKINTOSH

Introducing The Macallan Art is the Flower and Tree of Life by The Macallan, two limited edition single malts inspired by world renowned Scottish architect, designer and artist, Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Honouring Mackintosh and his enduring legacy, this art collaboration brings a shared interest and deep reverence for nature and its perpetual motion to life.

These expressions have been respectfully crafted to celebrate the circularity of nature captured in Mackintosh’s 1902 stained-glass panel ‘The Spirit of the Rose’.

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THE MACALLAN ART IS THE FLOWER

Matured in sherry seasoned European oak casks with notes of rich dried fruits, raisin and fig, polished oak, cherry, almonds, orange and treacle. This expression celebrates the uniqueness of natural beauty and the circularity of life and nature, paying tribute to Mackintosh using his own art and poetic prose.

THE MACALLAN BALLOT ~ We are pleased to share that The Macallan Art is the Flower will be available to purchase online via The Macallan Ballot for the UK and eligible countries in the EU. We will notify you when the ballot is open for entries.