A Secret Islay Distillery 31 years 1990 - 2022

Tasting notes Ruben Luyten - WhiskyNotes: Score 90/100

Nose: wet wool, mineral notes and leather, as well as some waxy / fatty notes (sunflower oil) and faded ashes. Lime and a hint of pineapple. Fresh oil paint. Bright mint comes out as well. Whiffs of sea breeze in the background.

Mouth: more medicinal now. The antiseptics, embrocations and saline pungency quickly take the lead. Then mid-palate this makes place for fruity notes, like grapefruit, passion fruit and wee hints of guava. A few olives in brine and bitter almonds, leading to herbal tea in the end.

Finish: long, with citrusy notes, verbena and hints of iodine. Still this coastal salinity in the very end.

Not entirely unexpected, this is a great whisky. It starts gentle and refined on the nose, but becomes more intensely coastal and powerful on the palate. In short, an almost theatrical development.

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The Whisky Agency is a renowned independent bottler from Germany, founded in 2008 by Carsten Ehrlich. The company is known for its selection of exceptional whiskies, cognac and rums, sourced from various distilleries around the world. The Whisky Agency has built a strong reputation among whisky connoisseurs and collectors for their focus on quality, rarity and the unique characteristics of the whiskies they bottle.