[Review] Vintage Bottlers - Islay Single Malt Secret Series NO.3 52.1%
A new Vintage Bottlers release today with the 3rd instalment of their Secret Series! This is a 32 year-old single cask from an undisclosed Islay distillery (the one beginning with Laphr…) distilled in 1990 and bottled at 52.1% Despite not being an expert in old Laphroaig, I cannot wait to try this one! My tasting notes: Nose: Fruity & gently peated, tropical fruit, pineapple, dried papaya, yellow fruit, peach, apricot, spicy pear, lemon, slight bacon and iodine, quite oily (linseed oil) hints of orange & slightly mineral too. What a start!!! Palate: Sweet & tropical, mango, dried pineapple, orange, slight toffee, honey and vanilla, salty notes too, faint peat smoke and a little black tea. Well balanced and absolutely delicious! Finish: Gentle & warming, salty peat smoke with vanilla & honey sweetness, dried oak, mossy, seaweed and fudge. With water: Sweeter nose with more toffee and more yellow fruit. The palate is slightly smokier and loses some citrus notes.