Ben Bracken 27 Year Old 1990 Islay Single Malt

My first two experiences with Ben Bracken – the Speyside malts from 1989 and 1991 – were very good, to say the least. So you can imagine I am very eager to try this 27 years old Islay malt. Oh, yes, I’ve only just put my nose in the glass and the first thing that comes to mind is Caol Ila in the tropics. Kiwi, figs, agrums, but also sea salt, oyster sap and dried ham. Great herbal notes. Barbecue sauce, garden herbs, wine vinegar, broth. Now, I certainly have no certainty that this is in fact Caol Ila, but that is what my nose tells me. The body is a bit light, it’s true. But again wonderfully sweet on yellow fruit upholstered with notes of ashes, brackish water, woodspices and all kinds of maritime notes, while the smoke keeps getting bigger. Some mint too. Oh, so good! The finish is long, medicinal and salty. Salted caramel at the death. Fantastic Islay (and yes, I stand by my opinion of Caol Ila). How can it be that you can still find it on the shelves? Must be the Lidl effect, I suppose. No matter what distillery provided this juice: you can get it at Lidl for only 90 EUR. For a 27 years old Islay! No brainer. Thx, Gunther.