Port Ellen 35-year-old, XOP Douglas Laing (D.1983, B.2019)/ 54.3%/ 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 finest single malt and single grain casks from the family’s stock. Port Ellen 35 years old presented here was distilled in March 1983 and aged for three and a half decades in a sherry hogshead cask no. DL 13101. Bottled in March 2019 at cask strength (54.3% abv) and without chill filtration in an edition limited to 128 bottles. Port Ellen Distillery, which closed in 1983, is set to reopen in 2021. (Producer’s tasting note.)
Aroma: A wonderful combination of peat smoke, burnt brown sugar and smoked meats.
Palate: Rich notes of cocoa and mocha combined with grilled smoke and stewed dark fruits.
Finish: infinitely long, with notes of spices, peat and toffee syrup.