Buy a bottle of whisky and back a worthy cause

A Scotch whisky firmed has unveiled a charitable bottling in aid of the RAF Benevolent Fund.

Douglas Laing and Co has announced Big Peat The RAF Edition in aid of the RAF Benevolent Fund.

Founded in 1919, this year the Fund celebrates 100 years of providing financial, practical and emotional support to serving and former members of the RAF and their families.

Big Peat, also celebrating an anniversary this year (‘his’ 10th ), is a marriage of Single Malts only from Islay. Since his launch in 2009, he has collected a number of awards from the whisky industry, including the ‘Master’ ultimate accolade from the Asian Spirits Masters in 2018.

The family firm believe he owes his success to his distinctively smoked and phenolic flavour profile, allied to his unconventional packaging. The brand is said to offer whisky drinkers the ‘ultimate taste of Islay’, with Caol Ila bringing sweetness, Bowmore the perfect balance, Ardbeg a medicinal, earthy quality and Port Ellen, a degree of elegance; representing all that is Islay in a bottle.

This unique release shows Big Peat in the original RAF attire, wearing his leather flying helmet, shearling jacket with commemorative pin badge, and a flowing white silk scarf. A Sopwith Camel carries a banner denoting 1919-2019, the commemorative years of the charity.

The RAF Benevolent Fund has long been a cause close to the hearts of the Douglas Laing family, as the founder of the independently-run firm, Fred Douglas Laing, flew with the RAF throughout World War Two.

The business is today spearheaded by second and third-generation duo, Fred Jr and Cara Laing, who have committed to donating £5 per bottle to the charity.

Fred Laing, chairman at his family firm, said: ‘My father’s service in the RAF will long be a source of great pride for our family, and our unwavering desire is to honour his legacy, both in our charitable efforts and our commitment to building the Scotch whisky business he founded.

‘This latest initiative follows our Clan Denny Braeval Spitfire bottling of 2013 and more recently, our donation of a rare bottle of XOP Port Ellen Single Malt, collectively raising several thousand pounds for the cause.

‘With £5 per bottle of this new release being channelled directly to the charity, we look forward to presenting our friends at the RAF with a cheque in the near future.’

The Big Peat RAF Edition is individually numbered, bottled at 46% alcohol strength and offered without colouring or chill filtration. 1919 bottles are available across the UK and selected European and Asian markets with an expected retail price of £48.99.

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