Secret Islay Distillery 1990/2022 - 31 y.o. - Oloroso Sherry Octaves - Master of Malt

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 47.4% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

This 31-year-old Islay single malt is part of Master of Malt’s Masterpiece collection. Distilled in November 1990, it matured for 31 years. Master of Malt drew the whisky from a single small Oloroso sherry octave in 2022 and bottled it at 47.4%, yielding 186 bottles. It is not chill-filtered and contains no added colouring.

Its bold profile brings together earthy smoke and peat with dark sweetness. Toffee, roasted coffee and stewed plums contrast with assertive oak and peppery spice; toasted nuts, tobacco and ash shape the finish.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose opens with earthy smoke and campfire ash, baked fruit, smoked peanuts and spiced ginger cake. Dark toffee, scorched pastry, a warmly spiced blackcurrant note and roasted coffee grounds follow, before a touch of tar emerges.
• Palate: Dense peat smoke and chewy toffee lead on the palate, countered by assertive oak and balanced spice. Dark caramel, stewed plums and a hint of blackcurrant give way to warming black pepper.
• Finish: On the finish, black coffee, toasted walnuts, smoky caramel, grilled peach and smoked almonds mingle with dry spice, tobacco and ashy charcoal. It remains bold and balanced to the end.

Distillery/Bottler:

The distillery behind this single malt is undisclosed, though its origin is known to be Islay. Master of Malt began in 1985 as an independent bottler and mail-order retailer of single malts. The company released this whisky in 2022 as part of its Masterpiece collection.

Facts: