Glenlaid is a new brand by Stravaig Spirits, who also bottle the Tri Carragh line of single casks. More on those single casks soonish.

To get a bit of continuity Ryan and Ola decided to not bottle everything as a single cask, single malt. Glenlaird is the brand to do that with. Currently there is a 10 and a 12 year old which they want to have as their default range. There might be an extension of that standard range in the future.

These single malts are of an undisclosed provenance to get a bit of leeway in what is to be used in the make-up. In the case of the the 10 year old they know it to be a Balmenach. The 12 year old is a Highland single malt and their best guess is that this is a Loch Lomond but there is no certainty to be given.

Last week saw an introductory online tasting of these two and four whiskies from the Tri Carragh range, because they are being introduced to The Netherlands by the importer Spirits Services. Samples were received and tasted, fun was had!

Glenlaird 10, 48% – Stravaig Spirits Limited

Sniff:
Big and feinty with lots of oily notes. Quite rough around the edges, with hints of a very old fashioned and slow approach. Rich with hints of leather and oak. Some old attics, a hint of orange pith. It takes some time to settle in the glass, but oxygen really opens it up.

Sip:
A hint of copper with a lot of character. A tad dry without it losing all the sweetness. Oak, barley, a hint of orange and a bit of a zesty bitterness.

Swallow:
The finish bites a little bit, it let’s you know it’s there. Still orangey, with a whiff of engine. A green note too, forest soil with pine needles.

Comments on Whiskybase that this tastes quite immature despite the age stated. I don’t disagree, but I do disagree with that being something negative. To me this one tastes like it’s been distilled in a very old fashioned way with the spirit given way more room compared to the cask. I love that it’s a bit clunky, it gives it something to be discovered and some more layers than yet another random bourbon cask driven whisky. As said to Tom during the tasting: “I wouldn’t mind drinking this for a night”.

85/100

Glenlaird 12, 48 – Stravaig Spirits Limited

Sniff:
Lightly peated with a bit of a honey sweetness. Vanilla, oak, digestive biscuits. Very well balanced and complex. A hint of banana and baked apple. Some grass and slate.

Sip:
The palate is a bit more sweet but the lightly peated edge keeps it in check, and brings some dryness. Some grass, moss, slate.

Swallow:
The finish brings a bit of a wood smoke too, charcoal. Quite long, and this lightly peated note really appeals to me.

Some side notes are somewhat important here. The choice was made to be able to always have a 12 year old whisky on the shelf. Therefore this one is bottled as such, but it’s actually a 14 year old single malt. The slightly peaty note gives it just that little bit extra to get stuck in, and it makes for a highly drinkable whisky.

86/100