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One of the most accessible and well-known types of blended scotch is produced in the north of Scotland, in the Highland region.
The William Lawson’s brand is one of the top ten best-selling whiskeys and regularly receives awards at international competitions. The drink does not belong to elite products, but due to the optimal combination of price and quality, it is invariably popular, especially among young people.
However, before the Scottish brand won a place in the sun, he had to overcome many difficulties.
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Company History
Admirers of the famous scotch hardly suspect that William Lawson’s products were not originally produced in Scotland at all. The company was founded in the middle of the 1967th century in Irish Dublin, after the production moved to British Liverpool and only in XNUMX settled at its current address.
It is curious that William Lawson was not actually the founder of the enterprise, although he took an active part in its development and promotion of products. The hard work and devotion of the Irishman was appreciated and one of the varieties of whiskey was named after him. For some time, William Lawson was the director of the company, but for unknown reasons he left it. The company itself was renamed “William Lawson Distillers Ltd” only in 1963.
Over the years of its existence, the company has experienced recessions and falls. The most difficult was the period of the Great Depression and Prohibition in the United States, when the production of whiskey was practically stopped.
The times of the Second World War were also difficult: it was possible to restore the previous production volumes only a few years after its completion. Significant for the manufacturer was the purchase of the Macduff Distillery distillery, located near the Deveron River.
The distillery produces Glen Deveron single malt whiskey, which forms the basis of all blends from William Lawson.
In 1980, the company became part of the General Beverage Corporation, which was subsequently acquired by the Bacardi family.
The merger of two large corporations led to the creation of the alcohol giant “Bacardi-Martini”: he now owns the Scotch brand of whiskey.
For many years, the famous specialist Tom Atken worked on the creation of William Lawson’s blends. The successor of the great master was his student Stephanie McLeod, one of the few women working in this field.
The specifics of production William Lawson
A special bouquet of “William Lawson’s” scotch without the peat flavor and coarse character inherent in most Scottish drinks is determined by the unique manufacturing technology. She suggests:
The use of predominantly non-smoked barley as a raw material, which eliminates the smoky tint in the aroma.
The inclusion of 40 grain and malt components in the blends, the “soloist” among which is a single malt from Macduff. The alcohols of Royal Brackla and Aultmore distilleries also account for a high proportion.
Glen Deveron single malt whiskey (the heart of the blend) is distilled for 72 hours instead of the traditional 48 hours. Longer contact with copper softens the taste of the drink.
The design of distillation columns at the main distillery is arranged in such a way that only the purest and lightest spirits are condensed in the process.
Whiskey is aged in bourbon and sherry casks.
In addition to the original production technology, the brand is distinguished by provocative advertising, in which celebrities and harsh Scottish landscapes often flash. The main slogan of the marketing campaign: “No rules. Great scotch” (“No rules. Great scotch”).
Overview of types and tastes William Lawson
Bacardi-Martini has retained the best William Lawson’s blends and continues to produce products under the legendary brand. It combines 4 types of whiskey:
William Lawson’s Finest Blend, 40%
The product is a classic blend of medium strength. The blend is dominated by Glen Deveron malt spirits, and the drink itself is closest to the original whiskey, released in 1849. The main notes in the aroma are dried fruits, sweet spices, cream, chocolate and oak. The taste is sweet, slightly spicy, with hints of honey and nut. The aftertaste is smooth and warming.
William Lawson’s Scottish Gold, 40%
The 12-year-old blend has a pronounced sweetness and a pleasant honey color. The aroma of the drink is fresh, with tones of apples and malt. On the palate there are notes of roasted nuts, raisins, cherries, allspice and butter.
William Lawson’s 13 Year Old, 40%
Based on 12-year-old scotch, refined with an additional year of aging in bourbon barrels charred from the inside. Thanks to this treatment, chocolate accents appeared in the bouquet of the drink, and the color approached the color of old gold. The aroma of whiskey guesses notes of nuts, flowers, caramel and green apples. The taste is predominantly fruity and creamy with a coffee and biscuit trail.
William Lawson’s Super Spiced, 35%
One of the successful developments of Stephanie McLeod, who risked blending with a mixture of spices, including cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, and adding maple syrup and apple concentrate to the whiskey. The unusual drink is aged in sherry barrels, which gives it a rich caramel hue and aroma of spices. The palate is dominated by sweet creamy notes with accents of figs, candied fruits and citrus fruits. The drink is good in any form: solo, with ice or in cocktails.
How to distinguish a fake William Lawson
To buy genuine William Lawson’s scotch, you should know the features of its design:
The bottle must have relief drawings and inscriptions: the coat of arms under the neck, the engraving “ESTP 1849” at the bottom and “William Lawson’s” on the back of the vessel. The embossed image of the coat of arms is also present on the product label.
The lid of real Scotch whiskey is made of metal. It has a two-tone color: black on the rim and silver on top. The flat surface of the lid bears the coat of arms of the company.
The original drink may or may not have a dispenser.
The label must be pasted evenly, without adhesive streaks and errors in the names.
The contents of the bottle do not allow the presence of sediment or turbidity.
To exclude the possibility of acquiring counterfeit goods, it is better to make a purchase in specialized stores, and not in a retail network.
Relevance: 29.01.2019
Tags: Whiskey and bourbon, Whiskey brands