[January, 2021] I had the pleasure to try a cask sample of this stuff and guess what - I ordered a bottle on the spot...

...because this is another old-school (most probably) 'farclas in the best tradition of this fine distillery. Obviously, they invest more money in high-quality sherry casks than most other distilleries so (some of) their casks are seasoned with long-matured sherry instead of the usual unmatured (pre-sherry) wine. This addiction to quality is the clear advantage of a family-run business over controller-operated big conglomerates or investor-driven groups (like Edrington who owns Macallan).

The quality uplift of this investment is flabbergasting: This dram is on eye-level with old-school sherry maturations of the past, and it is dangerously quaffable. Absolutely on par with flawless Family Cask editions, no doubts.

[February, 2021] Finally, the bottle arrived and I have the chance to verify my old (small) cask sample notes with a larger measure of this exquisite stuff. And guess what?
I like it the same! Please see detailed notes below, scores remain unchanged.

[January, 2022] Thanx to my sample library I re-tasted this dram tonight and still I find this is one of the best modern sherry maturations I came across during the last years. It is flavoursome, impressive and flawless - and very quaffable. Given its initial price of way below 200 Eurobucks this was a good buy, no doubt.

I was lucky enough to be able to taste a sample in advance! I like the Speysider better than the two predecessors. Beautiful ripe dark fruits paired with perfectly integrated (older) sherry notes. Since we are talking about the sister barrel of the whisky Doris. Find this bottling comparatively softer, with less flavor but more intense or more complex sherry. The finish is medium long.

The barrel tasting has been waiting for a long time, today the 1993 Speysider finally comes into the glass. Ok, again a mysterious Speysider from Dino Mancarella, this time a joint bottling with DeinWhisky ... As usual, the bar and expectations for a Mancarella bottling are very high, and this time they were fully met! The nose is dominated by sweet and fruity dried fruits, bit by bit tart and sour nuances are added. In my opinion, the taste is more dominated by the spicy wood and barrel influences, the fruity impressions on the nose are unfortunately easily lost. Also with this Secret Speyside (as is so often the case with older bottlings from my favorite distillery) I perceive a slightly subdued smoky note, but I don't know whether it's really a piglet and I can't say ... and characterful malt! For today well-deserved 90 points with an upward tendency ...

23/23/22/22 (90P)

This Whisky reminded me, why I love Sherry Casks so much but also why i should avoid all those Coca Cola Coulored Malts of today.

Beautiful, ripe and elegant bottling. In the mouth it is more on the tart and spicy side - the sweet and fruity notes are more in the background. Very tasty, but at a price of 175 euros, the sample is enough for me.

nose
I don't know that much about piglets, but what I've drunk so far smells exactly like this - forest honey! Sweet but also spicy, with caramel, cinnamon, leather and even more dark honey. Roasted walnuts, light mint, maple syrup and some leather polish. Round, strong but with very well integrated alcohol, sniffing is fun! Nice age, many aromas that mix but also alternate. Raisins and the dried plums, which are always welcome, are added. The whole thing remains spicy, the sweetness that alternates with a bitter spice and also mixed is delicious. A touch of perfume?

taste
Creamy, mouth-filling, strong, but still with perfectly integrated alcohol. Then sticky, like a spoon of forest honey straight out of the jar. Furthermore, the great sherry aromas, but clearly dominated by dripping dark forest honey. Burnt sugar, but here again the tangy, tangy spices, again some mint and also light oak and with a slightly bitter note towards the finish. Roasted nuts and a shot of espresso. 90% cocoa chocolate. But still the spicy honey that lets the dominance play again and again. There is a lot to discover here, the age is right and has brought in complexity without beating the barrel. Top!

Exit
Here, too, I like to repeat myself, the spicy-sweet forest honey that sticks to the whole mouth for a long to very long time. A little pepper tingles on the tongue. It is now tart and spicy, with the sweetness fading into the background. Slightly bitter, the espresso is more evident here. A little more wood and some tree resin.
In the end, there is forest honey, and that's a good thing!

Conclusion
Wonderful sherry barrel maturation. The flavors play - enjoyment is in its element. Perfect bottling, which reminds me extremely of the family piglets - it doesn't matter whether it is or not, the dram is great!
N-93, T-92, F-92 for excellent 92 points