Because Caol Ila is one of my favourite distilleries on Islay, it is always high on my list to taste. (One can never try enough Caol Ilas). So I was pretty happy that I could arrange a sample of this Caol Ila 1979. Lets see what this dram will bring me.
This Caol Ila has matured in a refill hogshead for 33 years and is bottled at 53,7 % ABV. It was a joint bottling from The Whisky Agency and The Nectar.
Caol Ila 1979 The Whisky Agency tasting notes
Nose: I get some smoke and peat, vanilla, some plasticine but that would be a very small amount. Furthermore some brine and maybe a touch of sweetness. Ashy en lime with a very small edge of honey. All very well integrated. Nice!
Taste: Razor sharp and precise… Not sure how to describe this in another way. All very well defined. Lime, grapefruit and some honey sweetness. Salty and ashy. With water it becomes more friendly, less sharp.
Finish: The finish is mid-long. There is some lime, ash and a sweetness that I think comes from the honey.
Overal: A very, very good Caol Ila if you ask me. It stood time well and the spirit of Caol ila can handle 33 years(!) in a bourbon cask without getting to much influence of the cask. This might be to an inactive cask but I would give the credits to the spirit.
