Double Barrel Bowmore / Craigellachie (Douglas Laing)

Double Barrel Bowmore / Craigellachie (Douglas Laing) is a blended malt Scotch from Douglas Laing. It marries single malts from more than one distillery, Craigellachie among them. Bacardi's John Dewar and Sons bought it in 1998, alongside Aberfeldy, Aultmore and Royal Brackla.

The Craigellachie within gives a gentle apple and pear note. A bourbon barrel held it, vanilla and a soft spice over the oily malt. Worm tubs give little copper contact, so the new spirit is heavy and full, mellowing with time. Worm tubs give little copper contact, so the new spirit is robust and full, mellowing to tropical fruit with age. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the oily, tropical core over the years. Most of its make still goes to blending, a robust filler prized for its weight. A big sherry cask suits the muscular spirit, dried fruit meeting the meaty weight.

At 46% it is clean and soft. Soft orchard fruit, honey and a gentle spice run through it, smooth and approachable. It is robust and waxy, the muscular spirit shining through. The close is long, fruit over a meaty malt. A characterful blended malt Scotch.