Nose: very medicinal, with a lot of iodine, bandages and mercurochrome. Raw wool, beach sand and smoked kippers. Then grasses, wet ashes, subtle coal tar. A little vanilla and sweet lemons in the background.
Mouth: again surprisingly medicinal and austere for such a high age – this hasn’t transgressed towards waxy fruits yet. Lemon zest, grapefruit juice, with pine liqueur and mercurochrome. Drops of Chartreuse. Then herbal tea, chalk and plenty of earthy notes.
Finish: long, ashy and very medicinal again. Iodine and dried herbs.
This should be from the same distillery as the 1990 Secret Islays. It reminds me of the 1993 from Thompson Bros – if anything it confirms the fact that 1992/1993 is less fruity than 1989/1990. Overall it may be slightly narrow, but it’s also offering plenty of power and maritime character.
