Douglas Laing’s The Epicurean Review: Speysides Finest?

The world of whisky is vast. You could talk about it for hours and still barely scratch the surface. The Epicurean from Douglas Laing’s Remarkable Regional Malts is a Lowland whisky that pairs perfectly with a good story. How this blended whisky holds up is what you’ll read in this The Epicurean Review.

With the Remarkable Regional Malts, Douglas Laing tours every whisky region of Scotland. In the case of The Epicurean, that’s the Lowlands, home to distilleries like Kingsbarns, Bladnoch, Annandale, and Auchentoshan. We don’t name these for nothing, because The Epicurean Blended Malt is made in part from whiskies from these Scottish makers.

The story behind The Epicurean is that of a remarkable gentleman from the last century. Around 1930, Glasgow knew a charismatic, colorful figure whom everyone recognized. They called him The Epicurean. Once he arrived at a party, it never took long before people gathered around him.

The Epicurean traveled the world and always returned brimming with thrilling tales about the places he’d visited, the fascinating people he’d met, and all the delicious things he’d eaten and drunk. People couldn’t tear themselves away; once he started talking, the atmosphere came alive.

Douglas Laing’s The Epicurean is a blend crafted from whiskies sourced from undisclosed Lowland distilleries. There’s no age statement, yet it looks like a very young whisky indeed, remarkably light in color. It’s even a good shade paler than its stablemate from Douglas Laing: Timorous Beastie. If you didn’t know better, you might think the glass held a new make spirit.

On the nose, The Epicurean opens with a generous burst of citrus, followed by tart notes such as green apple. Given a bit more time, sweeter tones emerge. Think honey and a touch of hay.

On the palate, The Epicurean follows a similar arc: a slight bitterness at first, then quickly turning sweeter. In that sense, it’s almost comparable to a glass of bitter lemon. The soft drink greets you with a tang but soon charms with its sweetness.

As you head into the finish, a gentle pepper note peeks around the corner: a mildly spicy punchline that ties the story together. Unfortunately, it doesn’t linger long, but that only makes room for another sip and another story from The Epicurean.

With The Epicurean, Douglas Laing tells a fine story that’s accessible to everyone. This light whisky introduces itself with a touch of sourness but quickly veers toward the sweet. In the end there’s even a plot twist as the (admittedly short) finish kicks off with a hint of pepper. It’s a lovely whisky for a casual dram or when you’re not in the mood for something heavy on a warm day.

+ Delightfully light and approachable whisky

+ Very attractive price

+ Brings together several appealing elements (tang, sweetness, and a little spice)

- Don’t expect too much depth