This Unique Whisky Does Not Need a Chocolate Pairing (Review)

Independent bottler Douglas Laing & Co. releases a new chocolate-themed edition of Scallywag whisky every year. This year it’s time for the sixth instalment—one designed to make chocolate-loving whisky fans’ mouths water. This is the Scallywag The Chocolate Edition 2023 Review.

Douglas Laing has a broad portfolio of brands, several of which spotlight specific Scottish regions. These make up the Remarkable Regional Malts. One of the brands in this series is Scallywag. This whisky is inseparably tied to Speyside, as it’s crafted exclusively from Speyside single malts.

The name Scallywag didn’t come out of thin air. It’s inspired by a cherished part of the Douglas Laing family: their Fox Terriers. Even the label features one of the family’s dogs. That’s Binks, a Fox Terrier who was missing a tooth. In our Whisky Names Explained on the brand, we tell you all about it.

Alongside the core Scallywag range, Douglas Laing regularly releases special editions. There’s been an Espresso Edition and several iterations of The Chocolate Edition. The annual series now has a new chapter that lets you savour whisky and chocolate in one: The Chocolate Edition 2023.

Like its predecessors, Scallywag The Chocolate Edition 2023 promises a wealth of chocolatey indulgence. This time the whisky was matured in ex-Pedro Ximénez and ex-Oloroso sherry casks, which lend it a light amber hue. But does it truly smell and taste like chocolate?

On the nose, this Douglas Laing whisky first offers spice with a sweet hint of fruit and honey. Swirl it in the glass and the sweeter aromas open up, with the combination conjuring thoughts of cocoa, a lovely preview of what this blended malt will do on the palate.

You could almost describe the flavour of The Chocolate Edition 2023 as a bite of dark chocolate, but with a twist. At first sip, it lands with a spicy, slightly creamy feel on the tongue. The key difference from an actual bite of chocolate? There’s no need to chew.

This unfolds into a bold cocoa note, fruit from the sherry casks, and finally sweeter fudge tones that usher in the finish. During that finish, the creamy character gradually fades while the sweetness lingers. As bold as its opening is, its farewell is gentle.

With the Scallywag The Chocolate Edition 2023, Douglas Laing has, for the sixth time, delivered a whisky that’s not just a superb match for a bonbon, truffle, or a square of chocolate. It practically behaves like real chocolate itself, starting off with a tempting bitterness and ending sweet and creamy. It’s a perfect Speyside dram for chocolate lovers, and honestly, a whisky you should try even if chocolate isn’t usually your thing.

+ Chocolate from A to Z

+ Perfect alongside a chocolate or any sweet treat

+ Well priced for a limited edition

- Limited to just 4,200 bottles