We had the opportunity to try this dram at the beginning of our whisky careers, meaning when we actually had very little to zero appreciation for any type of whisky especially the peated casks. So we ordered it again last week just to see how our palates have changed, and I have to say this is truly a gem of a single malt. It was distilled in 1983 and matured in a mix of refill American and European oak casks.
Name: Caol Ila 30 year old Single Malt Scotch
Region: Islay, Scotland
Nose: Very peaty with a lot going on. First you get the smell of medicine, almost like penicillin. Then as the first notes subside you start to explore a variety of flavors including oak, bananas and cream, sea saltiness and dried citrus fruits.
Palate: Iodine and medicinal texture, tobacco and leather, apples and figs, sea salt that commingles with the smoke.
Finish: Pretty long, lasts for a good 1-2 minutes after the last sip, filled with wet oak, smoke and salt. The salt lingers for another minute or two after that.
