Bowmore 1989 (Bottled 2019) Douglas Laing's XOP The Black Series / 47.7%/ 0.7l
- 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.
Product description
Fred Laing's XOP series debuted in 2014, a dozen or so months after the division of Douglas Laing & Co.'s assets between the two Laing brothers.
XOP stands for Xtra Old Particular and refers to the best single malt and single grain casks from the family stock. In the summer of 2019, the XOP Black Series debuted, intended for the most unique. Such is undoubtedly the Bowmore 1989 Vintage presented here, a whisky aged in a refill hogshead cask for 30 years and bottled at cask strength (47.4% abv) and without chill filtration in an edition of 276 bottles. Each of them bears the signature of Fred and Cary Laing, son and granddaughter of the founder of Douglas Laing & Co., the current owners of the company. (Producer's tasting note.)
Aroma: when opened, the bottle releases a breath of sea breeze, sand and stones washed by salt water and the scent of the fishing port.
Taste : initially shy, slightly subdued, sea salt, ash from a dying fire, sun-melted tar and a trace of peat.
Finish: long, initial sweetness soon replaced by mildly spicy spices, peat smoke, soot and a salty breeze.