Chinese whisky remains one of the most compelling frontiers in the single malt world, and the Laizhou Bourbon Cask (Peated) is precisely the sort of bottling that demands we pay attention. Bottled at a robust 50% ABV with no age statement, this is a whisky that leads with confidence — it asks you to judge it on what's in the glass, not a number on the label.
Laizhou hails from China's Shandong province, a region better known for its brewing tradition than its distilling credentials. The decision to work with bourbon casks and peated malt tells you something about intent here: this is a distillery reaching toward the Scottish and American traditions simultaneously, aiming for that intersection of smoke and sweetness that so many whisky drinkers find irresistible. At fifty percent, they've had the good sense to bottle at a strength that preserves character without tipping into cask-strength territory — a sensible choice for a whisky seeking a broad audience.
Tasting Notes
I won't fabricate specifics where my notes don't warrant it, but I can speak to what this style delivers. A peated single malt matured in ex-bourbon wood is a combination with serious pedigree — think of the interplay between vanilla-led American oak influence and that distinctive campfire backbone. At 50% ABV, expect this to carry weight on the palate with enough intensity to reward patient sipping. The NAS designation suggests a vatting chosen for profile rather than age, which in my experience often produces whiskies with surprising vibrancy and directness.
The Verdict
At £50.50, the Laizhou Bourbon Cask (Peated) sits in genuinely competitive territory. You're paying less than you would for many entry-level Islay malts, and what you're getting is a single malt bottled at a proper strength from a part of the world that is investing heavily in quality distillation. A 7.8 out of 10 reflects a whisky that earns its place on the shelf — this is well-constructed, thoughtfully presented, and priced fairly for what it offers. It won't replace your favourite Scotch, but it shouldn't have to. It stands as a credible single malt in its own right, and frankly, that alone is worth celebrating given how young the Chinese whisky industry remains.
I've been following the emergence of East Asian single malts for the better part of a decade now, and the trajectory is unmistakable. Laizhou may not yet carry the name recognition of its Japanese or Taiwanese counterparts, but bottlings like this — honest, well-made, and sensibly priced — are exactly how reputations get built. I'd encourage any serious whisky drinker to try this before the rest of the market catches on.
Best Served
Pour this neat in a Glencairn and give it five minutes to open up. At 50% ABV, a few drops of still water will soften the delivery and let the bourbon-cask influence come forward. If you're in the mood for something longer, this style takes well to a Highball — the peat gives it enough backbone to stand up to soda water without losing its identity. I'd keep the ice to a minimum; there's too much going on here to drown it.
