Some really intruiging labels on this batch of Whisky Agency releases. A man in a suit with a small mirror and a small potion in his hand, against a background of surreal 3D shapes, I wonder whose mind came up with this.
In our glass we have a single malt Scotch from a Secret Highlands distillery. It was distilled in 1985. Apparently people are whispering Glenmorangie, although there are very little references from this era, so who could possibly tell?
Secret Highland Distillery 34 yo 1985 (47,0%, The Whisky Agency 2029, hogshead, 256 btl.)
Nose: an old style laden with herbal honey, leather and sweet berries. Spearmint and caraway seeds. Whiffs of book dust and cigar boxes. Oily notes and subtle polished brass. After a while a light hint of roasted pineapple.
Mouth: the herbal side comes first, mixed with mint and old oak. Thyme. Verbena. Honeyed notes and biscuits, as well as a fragrant marihuana touch (not the first time I’m getting that). It’s sweet but not fruity per se, at least nothing that comes to the fore. Leathery notes. High-end teas and herbal liqueurs. Some moist tobacco leaves as well.
Finish: long, still herbal and leafy, with even less sweetness now. Orange peel. Always this aromatic woody touch.
The typical herbal sweetness makes it round and vibrant, even when fruits are absent or at least hard to point down. I would say it feels even older: those of you who have never experienced something from the 1970s or 1980s should definitely try something like this. Available from The Whisky Exchange.