52,2°
Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay
Independent Bottling
By William Cadenhead Limited
Limited Edition
Single Cask
Bottled in 2022
Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength
Peated around 35 ppm
40-year-old Caol Ila's are hard to find. This one was produced in a very limited edition of 114 bottles, and sold exclusively at the Cadenhead shop in London, which also adorns the label on the bottle. It's impossible to know which cask was used, but I can guess that it was a Sherry cask. The Cadenhead shops in Vienna, Berlin, Odense and Milan, as well as all the others that aren't in the UK (in case I've forgotten any), are closing or have already closed because of the huge taxes imposed as a result of Brexit. That's why all recent releases from Cadenhead's Whisky Shop range replicate UK shops only.
Let's Taste It :
Spicy lacquered wood. Beeswax. Smoke, very vague, yet very present. Armenian paper, shoe polish. A drop of soot. Bewitching balance. Exotic fruits, guava, kumquat, maracuja. On the palate, it's on the same level. Silky, complex. But the spices are volcanic. Cumin, black pepper. Cloves. The finish is calm by comparison, but very long. It develops gradually. Coal, cola, dried fruits. Stuffed dates, banana, paprika. Nutmeg, truffles. Rich and damp earth.
In Short,
Superbly balanced, but not an explosion of flavours. It's very refined, very well done, the Caol Ila profile is clearly recognisable, with smoke, which is surprising at this age. It's wonderful, and yet I didn't really love it, although I was very impressed. As for the price, I imagine it's the market rate, when absurdity rules.
Score : 91
To Be Listened While Sipping :
NoSo - Panama
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