Arran – 26 Year Old 1997 XOP Old Particular Douglas Laing (70cl, 51.9%)

This is a 26 year old Arran single malt, bottled by Douglas Laing for its Xtra Old Particular range. It was distilled in February 1997 and matured in a refill sherry butt until it was bottled in October 2023 at 51.9% in a 70cl bottle. The butt yielded 306 bottles, each sold in a box. In the glass, the nose is caramel and vanilla-scented oak. The palate brings malt, apples and grilled pineapple, and the finish runs to lemon cake, barley and a sea breeze.