Caol Ila 1996 Connoisseurs Choice Cask Strength 25 yo

 

 

 

59,2°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay 

1st Fill Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling 

By Gordon & MacPhail 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

Within the prestigious Connoisseurs Choice range, which brings together sometimes very old vintages, the Cask Strength are of course the most interesting. They represent only part of the collection, which is most often reduced. Here we have a 25 year old Caol Ila, which grew in a first fill Sherry cask, before being split into 555 bottles.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Fermented cherries, old library, then everything falls into place, varnished noble wood, polish, melted butter, very light smoke. Mistletoe, vegetable moss, wet bark, caramel drizzle. Warm liquorice, spongy earth. Soot drops. Ripe quinces. After a while the smoke becomes more significant, thick mist. Angelica, rhubarb. Lingonberries. Honeyed and silky on the palate, ripe banana and white plum, well-managed spices, nutmeg, cumin, cloves, fresh lemon. Very long and dynamic finish, softened by age but still vigorous, wood wax, apricots and raisins, damp earth, charcoal, hot chestnuts. Cola. Fig.

 

In Short, 

Superb Caol Ila, age only brings it qualities. The peat is light but the smoke is there. The very subtle nose offers wonderful nuances, and the finish is fantastic. You can still find it by looking carefully. Of course the price is high but it’s the market now.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Moses Concas - Human Revolution