Aged in a combination of American and Spanish sherry casks, the nose here is more mellow than the 12, with a subtle interplay of citrus, cinnamon spice, honeyed floral and fine malty notes. Richly powerful expression in the mouth conveys sweet dried fruit with a trace of vanilla. Very complex finish shows lightly smoky dry oak with a lingering spicy/floral counterpoint.
Sometimes older is better, as is the case with this impressive 25 Year Old from Bowmore. Complex aromatics of sea spray, balanced peatiness, a hint of malted barley, honey and a whiff of that right-before-a-thunderstorm ozone. Rich and luxurious on the palate with toasted nuts, a hint of smoke and some toffee notes. The finish seems to go on forever (seriously, after 15 minutes it was still there).