Traquair The Lairds Liquor

Brewed by Traquair
Style: Old Ale
Innerleithen, Borders, Scotland

Any first impressions?
-A big-bubbled ring of foam rests atop the filtered ruby.
-Toasted biscuits were baked with juicy berries.
-Potent, clean maltiness provides most of the flavors perceived.
-An athletic body is at play, well-fed yet drinkable.

What if you dig deeper?
-Some roastiness lingers with the licorice.
-Finishes shyly, but leaves enough malt for tooth-licking.
-Fruitiness is quite complex (berries, cherries, currants).
-Anorther decent scotch ale from Traquair.

Bottle best before March ’06.

Expiry March 2006. Lots of lace all the way down glass, very nice Belgian dark appearance. Very neutral overall taste, though richer in maltiness.. Some wood, biterness and astringency, a tad chocolate malt, licorice, molasses. Worth a try, it appears that those who like it like it a lot Thanks phyl21ca/Boutip.

Bottle (330ml). From Boutip. Poured deep hazy ruby with a smallish foamy off-white head. Buttery sweet roast brown sugar malt aroma, some mild sweet spice with milk chocolate undertones, faintly slightly fruity, woody and hoppy - but this is about malt. Tastes of prune, some woody alcohol, chocolate toffee - but mostly it’s malt. Mouthfeel is fairly still, a bit astringent, average body and nicely creamy. Really nice scotch ale - thanks Boutip!

clear ruby-brown colour with a little foam; aroma of prune and butterscotch with some alcohol notes in the background; medium malt body, late bitterness and a long malty and earthy finish with a nice fruity touch - complex

Bottle courtesy of Boutip. Woody, rich, sweet, maltboozy aroma, with black licorice note clearly present. A thin coating of bubbles atop a murky reddish brown brew, promising. Full, smooth, and full of pleasant flavors, licorice, malt, dark fruit, brown sugar. Tasty wood finish, something perfect to drink in a man cabin in the winter. I feel my scottish bones roiling.

Deep red-ish brown colour with a frothy head. Sweet, malty aroma with faint notes of liquorice. Sweet, malty flavour with the alcohol showing up in the finish. I’m dissapointed.

(Bottle) Thanks to Boutip for the generous offering. I cracked this bottle open, poured a large, frothy, white head and an deep brown obscuring body into the glass. The nose comes across as molasses, brown sugar and poached eggs. The flavour, however, was very impressive - especially considering I don’t generally like Scottish Ales. Its very warming, molasses malted with a smooth creamy sweet finish. All in all impressive!

Bottle. Transparent mahogany. Complex aroma, prominently yeast and brandy. Sweet and mellow. Smoky, complex, some slightly lactic characteristics. Almost like Westy-12’s baby brother. Some vague red apples in the finish. Overall, a complex and interesting brew.