Douglas Laing | King of Scots

In 1948 Fred Douglas Laing had just left the RAF and found himself owning a small Scotch Whisky Blend ‘King of Scots’, a list of customers and a handful of casks.

This was the humble beginning of Douglas Laing & Co, who would go on to become a giant within the independent Scotch Whisky bottler scene, and one who could allegedly claim infamous Ugandan Dictator Idi among their clientele. Supposedly, after declaring himself the uncrowned ‘King of Scotland’, Amin received a letter from Fred saying “well, in that case you should be drinking ‘King of Scots’”. His answer was an order for 200 cases.

In 1999 they launched their ‘Old Malt Cask’ series, the first real foray into the single cask market, and the company went from strength to strength. Later their portfolio was expanded to include premium ranges such as ‘Old & Rare’ and ‘XOP’. Still family owned, today their single cask brands are bolstered by their flagship ‘Remarkable Regional Malts’ series, comprising carefully blended malt whiskies that capture the essence of each of Scotland’s whisky regions.

This month’s whisky auction boasts an amazing selection of Douglas Laing releases, highlighting the depth and quality of the company’s enviable stocks. Standout examples include a 40 Year Old Ben Nevis distilled in 1964 (lot 183), a Rosebank 1975 27 Year Old (lot 116), and a whole host of single cask expressions form Port Ellen, Macallan, and many more.

McTear’s is the longest-established auctioneer of whisky in the world. Entries are invited for this international auction. For a complimentary, no-obligation valuation, visit our Glasgow Galleries or contact our specialist on 0141 810 2880 or whisky@mctears.co.uk.