Secret Islay 2011

Secret Islay 2011 

Colour: tawny amber.

Nose:

a very citrussy accented peat smoke that’s sharp and with restrained earthy and hessian tones in the background. Some dried cranberry and umami seasonings as well – increasingly showing a savoury, sharp and herbal-infused smoky profile. In time the citrus fruit notes give a more ‘jellied’ and textural impression. Water adds a rather sooty and charcoal like dimension. Things like tarry rope and smoked mussels.

Palate:

citrus curds, smoked olive oil, kippers drizzled with lemon juice and a nicely sharp and chiselled peat smoke. Also aniseed, hessian, salted Dutch liquorice and mustard powder. It’s powerful but cohesive and controlled, lots to enjoy here. With water: hints of marsala wine, camphor, iodine drops and dried orange peels. The port never dominates, the peat is always clearly in charge, which is great.

Finish:

long, very salty, back on Dutch liquorice, smoked black teas, iodine, natural tar and even some seawater and beach pebbles now. Excellent!