Slainte-Mhath
Secret Islay 1990 31 Year (Archives)
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
February 14, 2026 (edited February 16, 2026)
Undisclosed Laphroaig, 31 years in a refill hogshead - a moment of bliss taking me to the windswept shores of Islay. Briny, mineral and distinctly maritime, the peat smoke on this nose has settled, allowing lemon zest, tobacco and oysters to come through. On the palate, pineapple, mango and grapefruit compete with ginger, herbs and dry peatiness. Intense mouthfeel. Peppery, savory and slightly salty, the glowing embers of a long and satisfying finish slowly fade with the setting sun over Islay. A stunning dram that desperately begs for another sip.
RATING: 4.5/5.0 stars ≙ 92 pts → SUPERB
525.0
EUR
per
Bottle
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@Slainte-Mhath Some of Archive's releases are available internationally through Whiskybase but I could only find a 13 year old Glen Moray from the Fishes of Samoa range, and I shudder to think how much it would cost once landed in Australia - probably around 200 Euro.
Part 2 of my Archives tasting (The Fishes of Samoa): Reviews of independent bottlings are usually of no interest to the Distiller audience, as supply is very limited in the US. I wish I could share bottles like this with you.