Today is Bowmore open day at Feis Ile Festival and the old tradition was kept when people were standing in queues since early morning to grab the golden card that will allow them to purchase the Bowmore 25 year old that was finished in wine casks for 12 years.

But if we’re already discussing 25 year old Bowmore, I have prepared a review on another 25 year old, one that was distilled on November 1989 and bottled in December 2014 as part of Douglas Laing Xtra Old Particular line up.

Bowmore 25 Year Old 1989 (Xtra Old Particular) (55.1%, £295/€519,95)

Nose: That’s a classic nose with gentle smoke, light and round peat note, salty, floral and honey vanilla notes. Real mature and even relatively delicate. With water it becomes more bowmore-y yet still retains some of the floral perfume notes but it becomes oh so more mainstream and less unique.

Palate: Peat and spice, still having the floral perfume profile, smoke, honey and vanilla with oak wood spices. With water: peatier, less intense and flatter.

Finish: Medium finish, honey sweetness and floral at first and lingering peat smoke with warm spices at the throat. With water: flatter, more peat with floral sweetness.

Thoughts: It’s a complex and balanced dram. Maritime, peat and a dash of perfume – It’s a beauty of Bowmore! Excellent whisky (just don’t add water!) and it’s cheaper than the Feis 2016 bottling ;-). Slainte!