探索未知的泥煤風味：Scarabus,  Islay的神秘美學

Scarabus ，是由Hunter Laing裝瓶的Islay Single Malt。到底是哪一家Islay酒廠呢？ 答案是無人知曉。 

而在The Whisky Library ，每位Librarian 都視Scarabus 為居家必備的“Home Bottle”。 
因為其性價比，以及圓潤的泥媒風味都相當出色。

對於那些心思細膩且充滿好奇心的威士忌愛好者而言，Scarabus 絕對是一款不容錯過的艾雷島單一麥芽威士忌。它不僅大膽且誠實地展現了其源自艾雷島的核心風味，同時在其他細節上，又刻意保留了一絲令人著迷的神秘色彩。

"Only those who seek shall find"「 唯有尋覓者，方能有所獲。」

Scarabus 透過這句極具啟發性的標語，以及酒標上蓄意設計的含糊符號，成功營造出一種充滿未知與探索的品牌氛圍。

靈感源起：陽光記錄器與凱爾特神話

Scarabus 的視覺視覺與品牌風格，深受艾雷島在地傳奇人物 John Francis Campbell 的啟發。這位才華橫溢的學者不僅發明了用來計算每日日照時數的「陽光記錄器」，更致力於收集並編纂了龐大的凱爾特民間神話故事集。這種結合了「科學探索」與「神話敘事」的浪漫精神，被完美地注入在 Scarabus 的品牌靈魂之中。

品牌三大核心歷史底蘊

• 名字的起源： 「Scarabus」是艾雷島上一處充滿神秘色彩的區域。

• 歷史的見證： 這個名字最早可追溯至 13 世紀。

• 古諾斯語意： 在古諾斯語（Old Norse）中，這個詞彙代表著「多岩石之地」，象徵著艾雷島粗獷且堅毅的自然景觀。

堅持純粹：對風味的無妥協追求

除了令人神往的神秘背景，Scarabus 在製酒工藝上則展現了無比的誠實與專業。為了保留最原始、最純粹的威士忌風貌，Scarabus 的每一款作品皆堅持：

• 無添加焦糖著色（Non-Chil-Colored）

• 非冷凝過濾（Non-Chill-Filtered）

這項堅持確保了裝瓶時的酒液能完整保留艾雷島獨特的風味層次與油脂感，讓品飲者在每一口啜吸中，都能踏上一場揭開神秘面紗的風味探索之旅。

Hunter Laing 堅持以 46% ABV 的經典強度裝瓶，並且拒絕冷凝過濾與人工調色。這意味著酒體保留了最原始的油脂與芳香物質，在杯中能展現出更飽滿的格局與更綿長的尾韻，對於追求純粹風味的威士忌老饕來說，這是極具誠意的規格。

Tasting Notes

儘管原產蒸餾廠的名字被刻意隱藏，但當酒液與空氣接觸的那一刻，那股純正、豪邁的艾雷島血統便已表露無遺。

Appearance

呈現明亮的Bright Gold，在杯壁上留下的酒腿細密且緩慢，顯示出優異的酒體厚實度。

Nose

初聞是強烈卻不刺鼻的經典艾雷島泥煤煙燻香氣，隨後漸漸化開，釋放出海風的鹹感與潮濕海苔的氣息。令人驚喜的是，在厚重的煙燻背景下，隱藏著成熟紅蘋果與西洋梨的清甜，並夾雜著細緻的香草與白胡椒的辛香料感，層次分明。

Palate

入口後，46% 的酒精度帶來了恰到好處的油脂包裹感。篝火煙燻與泥煤味率先在舌尖炸開，但隨之而來的是溫暖的炙烤橡木與甘草的甜美。中段展現出豐富的皮革、些許乾果與海鹽焦糖的複合風味，結構平衡，毫無新酒的浮躁。

Finish

尾韻悠長且溫暖。強烈的煙燻感逐漸轉化為清涼的薄荷與灰燼感，伴隨著淡淡的香草甜意在喉間縈繞，久久不散。

你覺得Scarabs 是哪一家Islay Single Malt? 來The Whisky Library 和 Librarian們討論一下吧!

Discovering the Untamed Peat: The Mystique of Scarabus Islay Single Malt

Scarabus is an Islay Single Malt bottled by the renowned independent bottler, Hunter Laing. But which Islay distillery does it actually come from? The answer remains an absolute secret.

At The Whisky Library, every Librarian considers Scarabus an indispensable "Home Bottle." This is due to its exceptional value and remarkably well-rounded peat profile.

For discerning and curious whisky enthusiasts, Scarabus is an absolute must-try Islay single malt. It boldly and honestly showcases the core character of its Islay heritage, while deliberately leaving a trail of captivating mystery in its details.

"Only those who seek shall find."

Through this evocative motto and the intentionally ambiguous symbols on its label, Scarabus masterfully creates a brand atmosphere steeped in discovery and the allure of the unknown.

The Inspiration: Sunshine Recorders and Celtic Mythology

The visual identity and brand philosophy of Scarabus are deeply inspired by John Francis Campbell, a legendary figure from Islay. A man of immense intellect, this brilliant scholar not only invented the sunshine recorder (used to measure daily daylight hours) but also dedicated his life to collecting and compiling a vast anthology of Celtic folklore. This romantic intersection of scientific exploration and mythical storytelling is perfectly infused into the very soul of the Scarabus brand.

Three Pillars of Historical Heritage

• The Origin of the Name: "Scarabus" refers to a mystique-laden area on the Isle of Islay.

• A Witness to History: The name dates back as far as the 13th century.

• Old Norse Meaning: In Old Norse, the term translates to "a rocky place," symbolizing Islay’s rugged, resilient, and untamed natural landscape.

Uncompromising Purity: The Pursuit of Flavor

Beyond its enchanting and mysterious background, Scarabus demonstrates utmost honesty and craftsmanship in its whisky-making process. To preserve the most authentic and pristine character of the spirit, every expression of Scarabus adheres strictly to being:

• Naturally Colored (No added caramel coloring)

• Non-Chill-Filtered

This unwavering commitment ensures that the liquid retains its full structural complexity and natural oils upon bottling. It invites drinkers to embark on a sensory journey that unveils the mysteries of Islay with every sip.

Hunter Laing insists on bottling Scarabus at a classic strength of 46% ABV, eschewing chill-filtration and artificial coloring. By retaining the essential oils and aromatic compounds, the whisky presents a richer body and a more lingering finish on the palate—a specification that shows profound respect for connoisseurs seeking unadulterated flavor.

Tasting Notes

Although the name of the originating distillery is deliberately concealed, the moment the liquid breathes, its authentic and majestic Islay pedigree becomes unmistakably clear.

• Appearance: A brilliant bright gold. The legs move densely and slowly down the glass, indicating an impressive viscosity and body.

• Nose: The initial aroma delivers a powerful yet non-pungent wave of classic Islay peat smoke, which gradually unfurls into coastal salinity and damp seaweed. Delightfully hidden beneath the heavy smoke are the crisp, sweet notes of ripe red apples and pears, intertwined with delicate vanilla and the subtle spice of white pepper, offering beautifully defined layers.

• Palate: Upon entry, the 46% ABV provides a perfectly coated, oily mouthfeel. Bonfire smoke and peat explode on the tip of the tongue, followed swiftly by the warmth of toasted oak and the sweetness of licorice. The mid-palate reveals a complex harmony of rich leather, hints of dried fruit, and sea-salt caramel. The structure is impeccably balanced, completely devoid of any youthful harshness.

• Finish: Long, lingering, and warming. The intense smoke gracefully transitions into a cooling sensation of fresh mint and ash, accompanied by a faint vanilla sweetness that echoes beautifully in the throat.

Which Islay distillery do you think Scarabus truly is? Come visit The Whisky Library and spark a conversation with our Librarians!