Douglas Laing's Epicurean range has quietly become one of the more interesting propositions in Scotch whisky — a genuine attempt to rehabilitate the Lowlands as a region worth paying attention to. The Three Wood Finish takes that mission and adds complexity through triple-cask maturation, bottled at a punchy 54.1% ABV with no age statement. At around £60, it sits in that increasingly competitive space where craft-forward blended malts compete with entry-level single malts for the attention of drinkers who want something with a bit of substance.
What makes The Epicurean interesting as a project is the deliberate focus on Lowland malt. For decades, the Lowlands have been the forgotten region — overshadowed by Speyside's commercial dominance and Islay's cult following. Douglas Laing have leaned into that underdog status rather than running from it, and the Three Wood Finish represents the more ambitious end of their lineup. The triple-wood treatment — while the specific cask types aren't fully confirmed — is clearly designed to layer richness onto the typically lighter Lowland malt character. At 54.1%, they've had the confidence to bottle at cask strength or near enough, which tells you something about their faith in what's in the glass.
Tasting Notes
I won't fabricate specific notes I can't verify from the official profile, but what I can say is this: expect the interplay between Lowland malt's natural grassiness and whatever the three wood types are contributing. At this ABV, there's going to be real weight and texture here. The NAS designation means Douglas Laing have prioritised flavour balance over age bragging rights, which in blended malt terms is usually the right call. You're buying this for what it tastes like, not for a number on the box.
The Verdict
I rate The Epicurean Three Wood Finish at 7.6 out of 10. It earns that score primarily on ambition and positioning. This is a blended malt that actually has a point of view — it's trying to showcase a specific region through a specific technique, and it's bottled at a strength that respects the drinker's intelligence. The price point is fair for a cask-strength Lowland blended malt with triple-wood finishing; you'd pay similar or more for plenty of standard-strength single malts with less going on. Where it loses a mark or two is the NAS uncertainty — I'd love to know more about what's actually in the vatting, and Douglas Laing could be more transparent there. But as a package, it works. It's a whisky with genuine character that doesn't rely on peat or sherry bombs to justify its existence.
Best Served
At 54.1%, you'll want a few drops of water to open this up — don't be shy about it. Start neat to get the full cask-strength impact, then add water gradually until the flavours separate and become legible. This is an after-dinner whisky, the kind of thing you pour when conversation is good and you want something in the glass that rewards a bit of attention. A solid tulip-shaped glass will concentrate whatever the three woods are contributing. Skip the ice — at this price and this strength, dilution should be on your terms, not the freezer's.
