Swell De Spirits Secret Islay 1990 32 Year Old
Key Facts About This Single Malt Scotch
Bottler: Swell De Spirits
Founder: Michael Barbaria
Range: Field Trip Series #2
Distillery: Secret
Age: 32 years old
Distilled: 1990
Bottled: 2022
Region: Islay, Scotland
Spirit: Single malt scotch
Cask Type: Refill bourbon barrel
Cask Ref: 4367
Alcohol by Volume: Cask strength at 50.7%
Bottled: Natural colour and without chill filtration
Outturn: 335 bottles
Bottle Size: 500ml
Secret Islay 32 Year Old Tasting Notes
Without water
Colour: Apple juice
Nose: Ashy bonfire in thick fog, polished leather boots and Scotch broth cooking on the Aga. Iodine and fresh plasters over scabbed knees. Scuffed leather handguard hooked over a leather quiver of feathered arrows on the back of the heavy oak door. Plus silver polish, Parma violets and mint tea.
Palate: Smooth and warming. Meaty Scotch broth with sage and potatoes in a copper pan over a smoky coal fire. Milk chocolate ginger thins, ginger biscuits, buttery shortbread, strawberry milkshake.
Finish: Sweet peat, sweet potato fritters, antiseptic lotion and plasters. Kippers, sea spray and crystallised ginger with a hint of distant bonfires.
With water
Nose: Water brings out the dirty smoke. There's theatrical face powder and oily make-up. Antiseptic cream, bandages soaked in iodine. Mackerel cooking over a bonfire on a windswept beach littered with bird feathers and there's a thick fog hovering over it all.
Palate: A generous serving of kedgeree seasoned with ginger, cloves, cayenne pepper and white pepper. Followed by a chocolate fondue next to a smoky fire in a flint cottage with thick oak doors covered outside with sea spray.
Finish: Paprika, chilli chocolates, herby Scotch broth in an oak bowl. Tarnished silver cutlery, plus feathers, leather and gentle wafts of smoke at the end.
Where can you ship?
We're based in the UK, but we can ship to many countries.
We deliver to Australia, Canada (Alberta), China, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Luxembourg, Macao, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, UK, US (certain states*), and Vietnam.
*We can ship to the following US states duty-paid (so no further taxes for you): Alaska, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana,Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wyoming.
How much is shipping?
Shipping charges are calculated during checkout, depending on where you live and how many bottles you’re buying.
What about taxes?
All alcoholic products sold by TopWhiskies are sold subject to UK alcohol tax, which is already included in the price.
UK sales are subject to VAT (currently 20%), which is included in the price. Sales outside of the UK are not subject to this tax, and international prices do not include it.
We use a specialist US shipper who sorts out US taxes. These costs are factored into the US shipping charges. So shipping may look pricey, but remember it covers your taxes as well, so there'll be no further bills.
For all other territories, including those in Europe, please note: your order could be subject to local sales taxes and duties upon arrival in the destination country. All additional charges are the responsibility of the recipient. As customs policies vary widely from country to country, TopWhiskies has no control over these charges, so you should contact your local customs office for further information. If you refuse to pay any import duties and taxes, this could result in the goods being destroyed by customs or being returned back to us - any refund offered would include a deduction of our costs.
Which couriers do you use?
In the UK we use Royal Mail, Parcelforce and APC. US orders are sent via UPS. International orders use FedEx and DHL. Orders are despatched from our UK warehouse Mondays to Fridays, excluding public holidays.
Need help?
For help, or custom orders, please contact Ed on email ed@topwhiskies.com
Quality products, independent brands
All the brands I work with are independent. Many of them are small brands, run by one or two people with a whole load of passion. As a result, these unique products are top quality.
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Need help? Write to me at ed@topwhiskies.com. It's always me at the end of the email, and I'm always glad to help.
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We use carbon credits from nature-based removal solutions, such as reforestation and soil carbon sequestration, to ship carbon-neutral. We support Grassroots Carbon and Pachama.
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Meet The Founder
Michael Barbaria