| Scotch Whisky
Fred Laing Writes... March 2011
Dear Karen
Douglas Laing & Company was formed in 1949 by Fred Douglas Laing – father of the 2 current Director/Owners of the company today. Long established as blenders and bottlers with their KING OF SCOTS, JPS, McGIBBONS and DOUGLAS blends in different parts of the world, the company specialised specifically in old, rare blended Scotches ranging in age from 15-30 years of age in and around the Pacific basin through the 70s, 80s and early 90s. These were heady days for the company with the main cities in that region stocking our crystal and ceramic decanters in Duty Free Shops which spun out hereafter into the domestic day and night markets (both of which were very different in such markets, as Taiwan, Korea and Japan). When these Tiger economies hit their financial problems in the mid-1990s a re-think was required by Douglas Laing and Co who, by then, had built up some fabulous stocks of old whiskies for blended purposes – but now there was no blended market for them.
So in 1999 the OLD MALT CASK was launched as a specialist single cask release – bottled, unchill filtered, at 50° to commemorate our 50th anniversary in which the product was launched, endorsed by old timers in the whisky industry (such as Jack Milroy) having the view that this is the “golden strength”. The range today carries stocks from 10-40 years of age and is, we believe, perceived to be one of the leaders within this specialist niche of the Scotch Malt Whisky market.
So successful was the launch and developmental period of OMC that a less expensive, small batch, younger brother for the brand was felt to be appropriate – and in 2003 the PROVENANCE range was launched. Originally designed as the “Four Seasons” brand (until we were told that name was already registered!) we changed the name but kept the four seasonal highlights on the label, still visible today in its recently revamped packaging. In terms of “small batch” the range is still very artisanal in concept with a maximum of 3 casks ever “married” together. So with younger Malt whiskies selected allied to bottling at 46% alc vol, PROVENANCE tends to be more of a “fighter” in this premium sector of the single or double cask bottling sector of the Scotch Malt Whisky market.
For both these brands, Fred Laing and his young Malt Ambassador, Jan Beckers, get into the office before 8 am every morning specifically to select, taste and write notes on the releases they make. We believe one of our main differences from fellow competitors is that as the blending and bottling of our KING SCOTS/DOUGLAS blends are still so important to us – where a cask does not meet our Malt expectations, this can then be dropped into a blend bottling. Hopefully that is of some reassurance to clients/consumers that just because we have a cask in stock, it does not need to be released as a Malt bottling.
Thanks for your support – much appreciated by Hugh, Stewart and myself. As a family owned company we can never take any sales for granted and believe we must continue to select only the best malts for our all important clients around the world.
All best wishes
Fred Laing
|
|
