The Whisky Jury, Secret Speyside 30yo, 1990 vintage, 53.2%abv

Another excellent aged release from "The Whisky Jury." This "Secret Speyside 30yo" is bottled at a higher proof of 53.2% ABV. While I typically favor sherry bombs or heavily peated malts and am not usually drawn to Speyside whiskies, this may be one of the finest fruity drams I've tasted in years. Nose: A blend of citrus, acidity, and forest fruits like gooseberries and lemon peel, with lovely honey and apricot notes. A perfumed chocolate aroma is also present, along with hints of various fruit peels, primarily citrus and juicy. It has a floral character, with red fruits appearing after a few minutes, followed by notes of milk formula and tiramisu, peaches, and hay. After the first sip, the fruitiness mellows, allowing lemon, peach, and milk powder aromas to coexist simultaneously. The lemon peel note is remarkably accurate – a big, green, fresh lemon. With further sips, it transforms into a Cap'n Crunch cereal with milk and sugar aroma, making it exceptionally complex, fun, and enjoyable. Palate: It made a strong effort to impress. Flavors of lemon, lime, and gooseberries are present, along with a spicy, potent chili note. It's very fresh. The second sip begins with sugar syrup, followed by a fruity acidity kicking in after three seconds. The spiciness subsides, and a sugar syrup note, reminiscent of Cap'n Crunch cereal, emerges. It's distinctly sweet, with increasing acidity on subsequent sips, delivering a full flavor experience akin to sour lollipops. Finish: Oaky and sawdust-like, in a fantastic way. While I generally avoid describing whiskies as "woody" or "oaky," it perfectly fits here. It dries out the mouth, feeling like licking paper. The second sip yields a grassy, hay-like finish that is very satisfying. It's so dry it feels like all moisture has left your tongue. The oakiness evolves into a sweet, woody chocolate after a few sips, with hints of tobacco. Overall, after sampling four independent bottlings from this producer, I can confidently recommend anything from them without hesitation. Even without tasting specific expressions, my impression of "The Whisky Jury" is overwhelmingly positive. I hope they release more whiskies, and I look forward to trying them. My score for this remarkable dram is 92 out of 100.