Scallywag Noir Review: A Speyside Whisky Dances with Darkness

'Let the shadow pull you in'. This phrase can be read on the luxurious packaging of Scallywag Noir. It might sound like a reference to Star Wars, but it's all about the taste of the new Douglas Laing whisky. Find out what it's like and whether this limited edition whisky is for you in this Scallywag Noir review.

Douglas Laing has released a brand-new whisky under the Scallywag brand. The whisky is, as always, a blend of various Speyside whiskies, but this time with a Spanish twist.

The Scallywag Noir whisky has a finish in sherry casks from Andalusia in southern Spain. The casks have given a complex twist to the blended whisky from the Speyside region.

The description promises a lot for whisky lovers. Douglas Laing states that it's 'a journey to the deepest dungeons of taste, where darkness unveils its most decadent treasures'.

If you're familiar with the Star Wars franchise, you might think that this whisky will make you discover a dark side of yourself. Does the taste of this Scallywag whisky cause enthusiasts to have a new favourite?

The Scallywag Noir whisky not only has a dark name and a description heavily leaning on darkness. The packaging matches excellently. The whisky's box is predominantly black with striking golden accents.

The classic Scallywag terrier shines in a large logo on the front of the box and label, all in a golden hue. Surrounding it, various texts and other golden elements intricately dress it up.

The golden colour against the black background creates an elegant whole and gives the new Scallywag the look of a luxurious product you can present to an aficionado, even without gift wrap.

But what about the taste of the whisky?

The dark coloured Scallywag Noir whisky has reasonably 'thick tears' when poured. This is a good indication of a creamy whisky. But before we find out whether this is correct, let's smell first.

Initially, the whisky provides a clear note of fresh dark fruit on the nose. Think blueberries and forest fruits. After a while, a spicy note with a sweet hint of syrup emerges. It's an intriguing profile that invites you to take a sip.

The first sip of Scallywag Noir brings a strong taste of chocolate, chunky raisins, blueberries and ripe blackberries. There is an almost silky creaminess present that coats the palate. If Douglas Laing denotes darkness with this whisky, the dark side of Speyside tastes quite good.

After the initial taste, hints of cherries come through, and there's a spicy element of nutmeg and oak. There's also already a hint of molasses that strengthens as the whisky lingers on the tongue.

The taste of the berries and fruit also intensifies as the whisky continues to rest in the mouth. In the long finish, the whisky hangs in the throat for a while before finally releasing in a long farewell. The palate remains creamy for a long time thereafter.

Adding a drop of water to the whisky with over 52 percent alcohol keeps the existing flavours present, but a slightly sweeter balance emerges.

The range of Speyside whiskies that usually constitute Scallywag whisky is clearly elevated in terms of smell, taste, and colour in this limited edition. The Scallywag Noir whisky is remarkably complex, where one flavour nicely complements another.

Each sip makes you pause and appreciate the wonderful influence that casks have on the divine drink. This is therefore a whisky you must have tasted, whether you're a seasoned whisky drinker or just had your first drams.

+ A stylish look

+ A nice balance of flavours

+ Further opens with a tiny drop of water

- Not a lasting expression (limited edition)