TBWC Islay #3 29YO 500mL

Mature, mysterious, and magnificently peated, the Islay #3 – 29 Year Old from That Boutique-y Whisky Company is a rare gem from an undisclosed Islay distillery. Aged for nearly three decades, this is a whisky where smoke softens into elegance, and coastal power gives way to refined complexity — a true Islay classic wearing the wisdom of time. The nose opens with gentle maritime smoke, driftwood ash, and sea breeze, quickly followed by dried citrus peel, eucalyptus, and beeswax. There are rich undertones of antique leather, iodine, and a touch of barbecued pineapple, all wrapped in a deeply mature, coastal character. On the palate, it’s silky and contemplative — notes of charred oak, salted toffee, and smoked orchard fruit mingle with flavours of briny olive brine, old boat rope, and a faint touch of lapacho tea. The peat is no longer aggressive but beautifully integrated — smouldering, mineral, and elegantly earthy. The finish is long, layered, and haunting — a tapering trail of fading smoke, lemon oil, and damp cellar oak, with a final kiss of sweet medicinal malt. It’s not just a whisky; it’s an Islay time capsule — enigmatic, soulful, and profoundly rewarding.