Secret Islay 8 Year Old is a rare and boldly characterful single malt, distilled on 30 January 2017 in South Islay and limited to just 160 bottles. Initially matured in refill bourbon casks, it was then reracked into an ex-rum, ex-cider cask gifted by Futtle Brewery—previously used by Little Pomona—before a final finishing in virgin oak. Bottled at 56.7% ABV, the nose bursts with smoky Islay bonfire, white pepper, stewed apples, vanilla pod and pine. The palate is surprisingly soft, offering salty seaweed, kippers, yellow toffee apples and rum cake, with a long, smoky finish. A truly distinctive and experimental Islay dram.