Bunnahabhain XOP 30 Year Old, Refill Hogshead Cask, Cask #DL13720, 1989, Douglas Laing, 42.8%

The refill hogshead makes oak worth considering, though the ginger and baking spices on the nose do not, by themselves, establish a strong oak character. What interests me more is the move from muscovado sugar and citrus to a smooth, silky palate with milk chocolate, mint and sea salt. That contrast keeps the sweeter notes from dominating. The finish is subtle, dry and warming, with ginger spice and toasted barley alongside sea salt and burnt leather. I like the way ginger appears at both ends without being the whole story. For someone chiefly seeking a pronounced oak character, this may be less compelling than it is for someone who enjoys the shift from sweetness to a drier finish. Its appeal rests more on that contrast than on force.