One for the long evenings. A well-balanced, contemplative old Caol Ila; the bonfire still burns, its intensity dimmed by age.
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Unreduced, sweet-spicy, fresh sea-air notes. Hints of preserved fruit, perhaps. Adding a little water brings up subtle, fragrant polished wood.
Body: Medium viscosity.
Nose: Unreduced, sweet-spicy, fresh sea-air notes. Hints of preserved fruit, perhaps. Adding a little water brings up subtle, fragrant polished wood.
Palate: Unreduced, immediately sweet and fruity with a balancing bitterness. As befits its age, Caol Ila’s trademark smoky-medicinal character is controlled rather than exuberant. Good mouthfeel. Complex flavour. The fine balance of primary tastes persists: warming, smoky and long-lasting, it drinks very well straight. Adding water gives a sweeter start, then a light smokiness elegantly envelops the palate. Sweetly drying overall. Medium-bodied, elegant and smooth.
Finish: Quite long, sweetly drying, with more smoke coming through. Pleasant aftertaste.
Serving Suggestion
To fully appreciate this 25 Year Old Caol Ila, serve it neat in a nosing glass and revel in its depth.
