Rock Oyster 18 YO

Rock Oyster 18 YO, 46.8 %

Today I present a limited edition of the Douglas Laing Regional Malt from the Islands region - the Rock Oyster 18 YO.

Here is the official blurb from Douglas Laing:

Rock Oyster 18 Years Old is a maritime marriage of Malts distilled on Arran, Islay, Jura and Orkney. Rich with flavours of the sea, Rock Oyster’s new limited edition delivers a blast of sea air, tobacco and sweet peat, brought to life on the packaging by a detailed illustration of a sailboat battling stormy seas off Scotland’s West Coast.

You can buy the Rock Oyster 18 YO in Norway at NOK 795 (7792501), directly from Douglas Laing at GBP 90, and in the UK at around GBP 75. This product is not currently available in Sweden.

Nose: Cool and restrained. There's some fresh orchard fruits here, as well as notes of heather and dusty attics. A mild smokiness with elements of both chocolate and minerals forms the base. More oaky on the nose with time.

Taste: Medium body and less than medium sweetness. Wet driftwood smoking and sputtering on a beach. Salty sea spray in the air. Honey mixed with notes that are rather flinty and mineral.

Finish: Medium long finish. Chocolate smoke, honey and ice-cream. A slight bitter-ish touch and some oakiness. The fruitiness is gone now.

Comments: A solid dram, that represents the island region in a fine way. I do feel that the mineral notes I associate with Jura take a bit too much room in the blend.

Score (85/100)

Sláinte! - Thomas