Product description
The XOP range was introduced in 2014 by Fred Laing, who parted ways with his brother and business partner Stewart the year before, splitting portfolio of Douglas Laing & Co.
The abbreviation stands for Xtra Old Particular and indeed, the range consists the best of the best single malt and single grain whiskies from the family vaults. Ardbeg 25 years old certainly falls in that category. The whisky distilled in March 1991 spent over a quarter of a century in refill hogshead no. DL 11179 and was bottled at natural strength of 48.2% abv in June 2016. The cask produced only 207 bottles. (Producer’s tasting note).
Nose: sweet barley and coal dust interwined with chocolatey and pelagic style.
Palate: now subtle and complex till later creosote, wood embers and ash kick in.
Finish: rather tarry, with lightly peated malt, licorice and good length.