1996 Bowmore 25 Year-Old Single Malt Scotch, 54.3% 700 ML

Distilled at Bowmore Distillery on the Isle of Islay (Inner Hebrides) in 1996 and aged more than 25 years in a single hogshead, yielding a total of only 162 bottles. Bottled at 54.3% alc. A truly extraordinary treat, with abundant sweet smoke, saline intensity, and a pleasant freshness. Nose: Scents recalling a smoky barbecue on a windy beach with salt in the air introduce aromas of smoked thyme and slightly grilled nectarine. Palate: Plumes of sweet smoke, a crunchy, indulgent candy apple, and drizzled blossom honey; some heat arises, with smoked chipotle chili paste balanced by the freshness of a vase of just-cut flowers. Finish: A touch of the tanginess of grape peel marries with a slightly burnt pear pie, evolving into a whisper of white pepper.