The popularity of the brand in Russia is natural: the Scottish Stag trademark was created specifically for the Russian consumer and appeared on the market in 2001. When creating a blend, the blenders of Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd. guided by the tastes of Russians and their ideas about Scotch whiskey. The drink has a slightly smoky aroma, a slightly higher strength than traditional and a mild taste. The label depicts the head of a deer with branched horns, and how else – Scottish Stag translated as “Scottish deer”.
Historical reference. It all started in 1936, when passionate experimenter and tireless taster Leonard Russell decided it was time to start his own business. Founder of the family company Ian Macleod & Company Ltd. was convinced that the main value of business is independence. Only an independent entrepreneur can devote himself to his business without a trace and remain critically objective to the product being created.
That is why Russell never thought about acquiring or building his own distillery. He simply bought distillates, focusing on his own preferences, and created blends. And if we take into account that after 80 years in the company’s case there are already 18 brands well-known in Europe and Asia, and annual sales have reached 15 million bottles, we can conclude that Russell’s strategy has fully justified itself.
Now, when the company is headed by the grandson of the founder, who died in 1956, also Leonard Russell, Ian McLeod Distillers supplies spirits to large European supermarkets, owns a modern laboratory and a bottling plant. In addition to the Scottish Stag blend created in 2000, liqueurs, tequila, gin and schnapps are bottled at the Broxburn Bottlers plant. One of the most popular brands is King Robert II, a line of spirits made from whiskey, tequila, gin, liquor, and vodka. Also in demand among lovers of strong drinks blended whiskey Isle of Skye and single malt Glengoyne Highland.
Scottish Stag, although it was created for Russia, since 2015 began to win fans in Asia, primarily in the Asian countries of the post-Soviet space – Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Leonard Russell Jr. believes that right now the company is in its prime, when demand for products is constantly growing. “We have a great history behind us, and an equally great future ahead of us,” CEO Ian Macleod & Company Ltd.
Tasting features of “Scottish deer”
Scottish Stag is a golden amber blend with 43% abv. Created from 18 malt spirits and six grains. All alcohols have been aged for at least three years in oak barrels, so Scottish Stag can rightfully be called scotch. The drink has a pleasant slightly smoky aroma with notes of almonds, dried cherries, raisins and honey. In a soft balanced taste, shades of cinnamon, vanilla, honey and heather peat are distinguishable. The aftertaste is of medium duration, warm and almond-chocolate. If you add a little ice water to whiskey, notes of peat smoke appear in the aftertaste. Blend is a good digestif, but it is also served as an aperitif. You can drink clean, with ice, with soda or in American style – with Coca-Cola.
Russian bartenders use this whiskey in cocktails, it goes well with lime, orange and apple juice, fruit liqueurs. One of the popular Bogatyr cocktails: 20 ml of whiskey, Captain Morgan rum, Drambuie liqueur and Spanish Cherry Brandy are mixed in a shaker, two ice cubes and a lime slice are added to the edge of the glass.