Rock Island Rum Finish from Douglas Laing & Co.
Rock Island Rum Cask Edition is a new offering from independent bottler Douglas Laing % Co. It is a blended malt towhisky, a composition of malt whiskies (single malt) from several distilleries. As the name suggests, in this case we are dealing with distillates from distilleries located on the islands of Islay, Jura, Arran and Orkney. The distilleries themselves have not been disclosed, and while there is little room for maneuver in the case of Arran and Jura, it is unclear from which distillery (or distilleries) on Islay the ingredients in the blend come. Also in the case of Orkney, there are two possibilities.
Rock Island Rum Cask Edition is a limited edition whisky with a strength of 46.8% vol., whose character is meant to reflect the coastal, island origins of the distillates. In addition, this whisky has undergone additional maturation in Caribbean rum barrels. As the manufacturer reveals, barrels from rum factories located in Jamaica, Trinidad and Barbados were used. Rum aged in these barrels was previously used for Plantation brand rums.
The whisky has no age declaration, has not been cold-filtered and has not been colored with caramel. The manufacturer describes it as a subtle, smoky and sweet celebration of the sea. In its aroma and taste you will find hints of salted caramel, roasted oak, brown sugar and a slight whiff of smoke. Retail price of a single bottle is £66.63.
Brand Rock Island has been present in the Douglas Laing portfolio for some time, but this is the first edition finished in rum barrels. In addition to it, a basic version of Rock Island NAS is available, as well as versions of Rock Island 10yo, Cask Strength NAS, Sherry Edition NAS, Sherry Edition 14yo, and offered in 1-liter bottles, Rock Island Global Traveller's Edition NAS.
Douglas Laing has been offering a range of blended malt whiskies for years, including brands such as Scallywag, Timorous Beastie, Big Peat, and The Gauldrons.
It is worth mentioning in passing the fundamental difference between blended whisky and blended malt whisky. Blended whisky, the most popular category of Scotch whisky, is represented by brands such as Johnnie Walker, Ballantine's, Chivas Regal, Black & White, Grant's and many others. It is a whisky put together from malt distillates and grain distillates. The latter usually account for most of the volume, especially of the more popular blended whisky editions. In the case of blended malt, on the other hand, we are dealing with a mixture of only single malt whiskies, but from several distilleries, so that the final product can no longer be classified as single malt. The term "single" refers to distilleries. Thus, malt whisky that comes from only one distillery is referred to as single malt whisky and usually bears the name of the distillery from which it originated. A blend of malt whiskies from at least two distilleries is referred to as blended malt and does not contain a drop of grain whisky.
Douglas Laing also - and perhaps most importantly - has a wide range of malt whiskies from single distilleries, or single malt whiskies.
The House of Whisky Online offers a wide range of products whisky from under the Douglas Laing banner, including some earlier editions of Rock Island.
[08.08.2023 / Photo: Douglas Laing & Co]