Caol Ila 1984 18 Year Old First Cask Single Cask #5755 (2000) 70cl

Caol Ila 1984 18 Year Old First Cask Single Cask #5755 (2000) 70cl

Caol Ila has recently received more and more praise as the all round Islay peated dram that seems to go down well with maturation.

When Islay spirits are young after being distilled, they retain a very aggressive smoky character. A lot of us like that. Ardbegs are great at distilling and we buy very young ones and get that hit we are looking for. Caol Ila does better and better the older it is when the wood starts to win over against the peat. In the instance of First Cask, we have a VERY highly rated expression that at 46% in the single cask it was in, brings a musky, older tasting wooden peated whisky. A winner in the eyes of many!

TASTING NOTES

Nose: Elegant peat! Sweet, fruity and light, all at the same time. Hints of mango, apricot and aromatic peat. There is a warm, pleasant spice wafting in the background. A musky wood note is also present in the nose.

Palate: The first sip registered fruity sweetness and warm, mellow spice. A second sip reveals sweet mango, apricots, nutmeg, some cinnamon and beautiful peat. Warm spice coats the mouth but does not burn the throat.

Finish: The finish is long with sweet peat and mango. The mouthfeel gets drier towards the end, but it is pleasant, almost wine-like. An old wet wood taste lingers after the peat has subsided.

Body: This dram is excellently balanced. The peat co-exists beautifully with the sweet fruitiness and the gentle spice. I would say that the peat enhances the sweetness of the whisky and makes it even better!

46% ABV

70cl