Caol Ila 1982

27 year old Islay 57.6 % vol

1 of only 227 bottles from cask no. 688

We have always been strong advocates of young Caol Ila whiskies – vibrant, fresh, plenty of iodine and surprisingly sweet. This one, however, has spent 27 years in an American oak hogshead and has taken on a wholly different complexity.
Some mild smoke on the nose, sweet and salty with smoky bacon and cheese wafting through. There is a definite maritime influence here with dried seaweed and Lapsang Souchong (with a little sugar). As it opens, there is a hint of menthol giving way to perfumed roses and carnations (the pink ones), backed by vivid, acrid Bakerlite.
Very sweet to taste with nutmeg, some salt and bags of smoke in a rich, oily texture; now marmalade appears with pork crackling and blackcurrants, all rounded off with more salt and smoke. Old Caol Ila at its best.

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