Caol Ila 1984 25yo (Kintra)

This Caol Ila is from an ex-bourbon hogshead filled in November 1984. A nearby cask #5382 was bottled by Berry Bros & Rudd for La Maison du Whisky earlier this year.

Caol Ila 25 yo 1984 (51%, Kintra 2010, bourbon hogshead, cask #5395, 60 btl.)

Nose: quite pungent and very smokey. Wet earth, ashes, seaweed and peat… full of power. Some mint. Slightly more medicinal than an average Caol Ila (iodine). What’s great is the faint, sweet background of blackcurrant although it’s difficult to pin down. Nice balance.

Mouth: oily, very earthy and smokey (bacon). Starts half-sweet with roasted coffee beans. Then growing medicinal and peppery with the sweetness fading to slightly bitter notes of tonic water and grapefruit zest. Liquorice as well.

Finish: long and salted, with medicinal notes and peat again.

Very punchy and smokey, with a balanced amount
of citrus zest and a tiny drop of sweetness. Exactly what we hope for when trying a mature Caol Ila. Recommended and well priced: around € 110.

Score: 88/100