Finally, I had time to sit down with this great sample from The Whisky Jury, a Caol Ila 1983. It’s not often I taste a 35-year-old whisky and keep these kinds of special samples until I really have the time to enjoy it to the fullest. And now that I’m not super busy because it’s the holiday period and the weather also allows it (no, it’s not that warm summer I had hoped for) that time had finally come!
This 35-year-old Caol Ila, which was bottled in 2019, was only The Whiskey Jury’s second bottling. Not bad, right? His first release, a Ben Nevis 1996, I will be reviewing very soon. But let’s focus on this beautiful Islay single malt first.
This Caol Ila has matured in a refill hogshead and is bottled at a strength of 50.3 % ABV.
Caol Ila 1983 tasting notes:
Nose: well-integrated peat and some ashes. Oranges. A touch of mint. Seaweed. It’s getting even better over time. Then caramel. A lovely sea breeze. Melons and mango. Almonds too.
Taste: Oh my, this is really good. Subtle peat again. Ashes too. Mint in the very back. Oranges. Burnt caramel, and then earl grey tea. Walnuts. A touch of seaweed, but also seawater. A subtle hint of tropical fruits. Crushed black peppercorns.
Finish: mid-long with caramel fudge. Cigar leaves. Oranges and black pepper.
Really good and very well balanced. What a dram! Simply delicious stuff, what more can I say. I can imagine why this sold out so quickly back then! If you want to know more about this bottler, you can read it all in my interview with Joeri.
Many thanks to Joeri for this sample!
