Hunter Laing Scarabus Batch Strength Islay Single Malt 57% ABV

Scarabus Batch Strength is an Islay single malt Scotch whisky from Hunter Laing & Co., bottled at 57% ABV in a 700ml bottle. The distillery is not named. It is the stronger sibling of the standard Scarabus, which is bottled at 46%: for this edition a small number of casks are picked out by hand to be bottled at the higher strength, which gives the whisky's sweet, smoky core more weight. Like every Scarabus, it is bottled without colouring or chill filtration. The name comes from a place on Islay recorded since the 13th century, meaning a rocky place in Old Norse, and the label's symbols draw on the work of the Islay-born folklorist and inventor John Francis Campbell. It comes in a gift tube.

Tasting Notes: The house style of sweet peat smoke, with more intensity and a fuller mouthfeel.

Nose: Beach bonfire and peat smoke.

Palate: Sweet peat smoke with liquorice, toffee and vanilla.

Finish: Long, with lingering ashy notes.

Serve: Neat, then with a few drops of water to open up the 57% strength.