Secret Islay 11 Years Old 2009 PX Finish

By Barry Bradford on February 13, 2020 • ( 1 Comment )

Secret Islay PX finish (57.8%, LOTG, Bourbon HH #7c, 66 Bottles, 2020)

ABV: 57.8%
Age: 11 Years Old
Bottling: Lady of the Glen, Bourbon Hogshead #7c, PX octave finish
Category: Islay single malt scotch whisky
Cost: £112 available from Lady of the Glen
Origin: Undisclosed Islay distillery
Vintage: 2009

What they say

Age of Whisky: 10 years old
Alcohol by Volume: 57.8
Size of Bottle: 70cl
Cask Yield: 66
Cask: #7c Bourbon Hogshead with Pedro Ximenez Sherry finish

Distilled on Islay and matured in a Bourbon cask for ten years, fifty litres were then taken and finished in a small Ex Pedro Ximenez Octave from Josafer Tanoaria.

Original distilled on the 16th of August 2009 in a bourbon hogshead for ten years and bottled after finishing on the 7th of January 2020. We are not allowed to reveal the name of the distillery as part of the agreement for the purchase of the stock.

Our PX octaves are sourced from a family-owned bodega near Porto in Portugal. PX casks on the nose are extremely rich with predominantly sweet notes of dried fruits such as raisins, figs and dates, accompanied by the aromas of honey, grape syrup, jam and candied fruit, at the same time reminiscent of toasted coffee, dark chocolate, cocoa and liquorice. Velvety and syrupy in the mouth and yet with enough acidity to mitigate the extreme sweetness and warmth of the alcohol leading to a lingering, tasty finish.

As an octave, this cask only yielded 66 bottles which were bottled at cask strength 57.9%

The tasting revealed Salted caramel, sea shells and turf

What I say

Sampled during the Lady of the Glen 1st Outurn tasting 2020 held at Young Spirits, Edinburgh with Gregor Hannah.

My tasting notes:

Appearance: Mid gold (9/20),
Nose: Peat-smoke, earthy peaty turf, seashore, briny, coastal and sweat malt.
Taste: Medium-full bodied, peaty, almond, marzipan, fudge, nut brittle, soft sugary flavours complement the peat influence, almost creosote-like (reminds me of Laphroaig with all this nutty peat nature).
Finish: Long, sugary sweet, nutty, peat.