Secret Speyside 17 Year (2006) Thompson Brothers

Review by: Raygun

Not a whole lot to say about this one, because it’s a secret. A genuine secret, as far as I’m concerned; haven’t tried to look up whether there are any hints about what it is. Ends up a semi-blind. Reviewed from a sample from Ricebowl. Rested about 15 minutes.

Distillery: Unknown 

Bottler: Thompson Brothers    

Region/style: Speyside single malt Scotch

ABV: 54.4%. Cask strength.  

Age: 17 years. Distilled in April 2006, bottled in July 2023. 

Cask type: Sherry hogshead   

Color: 1.0 deep copper. Natural color. Non-chill-filtered.

Nose: Apples, biscuits, a good dose of oak, and a sprinkling of anise. Some old furniture. Probably a refill cask, as the sherry is fairly muted. There is a touch of mustiness. 

Palate: Comes across as older than 17 years. A definite waxiness joins with the fruit flavors, chiefly apple, plum, and peach. Jam more than fresh fruit, spread on biscuits. Fruity, but dry. The herbal character is more like tarragon and lavender. Noticeable oak presence as well.   

Finish: Waxy again, and oaky. There may be some figs in this jam, maybe currants. Lightly herbal, and a dusting of spices. Like an herbal tea sipped on an old chair. Bone dry.

Conclusion: Can’t help speculating about what it could be. Dailuaine? Tormore? Too many possibilities to know. Would have guessed older than 17 years blind. Even with a refill cask, there’s a lot of wood influence and it just has that old flavor. 

Buy a bottle? Pleasant, but not something I’d chase.   

Score: 81

Scoring Legend:

  • 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky. (Convalmore 36)
  • 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category. (Bruichladdich Black Art 4.1)
  • 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram. (Ledaig 13 Amontillado)
  • 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff. (Tomatin 18)
  • 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting. (Glen Scotia 15)
  • 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better. (Aultmore 12)
  • 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink. (Glenmorangie 10)
  • 50-59: Save it for mixing. (Old Pulteney 12)
  • 0-49: Blech. (Muirhead’s Silver Seal 16)

Published by Raygun

I drank Scotch occasionally (mostly at family gatherings) for years, but started getting more interested after an introduction and tasting from a Scottish acquaintance. That led to buying my first bottle (Highland Park 12). Now 600+ spirits later, Scotch is still my first love, but I drink other whisky and dabble in brandy as well.

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