An independent bottling of 1966 Caol Ila from Gordon & Macphail released as part of the Centenary celebrations. Distilled in 1966 and matured for 29 years in a sherry cask.
Colour: amber with orange hues. Nose: delicate like a very old Sauternes. Only hints but superb hints of anthracite, wet earth, fir honeydew and trappist beer. Then it gets more on apricot juice, light honey, mullein flowers. Hints of overripe apples, toffee, caramel crème, cappuccino… And the peat? It’s well here, subtle, delicate… Marvellous old Caol Ila, if only they had bottled it at a slightly higher strength… Mouth: excellent attack on baked apples, mead and soft pepper. Not weak at all I must say. Apricot pie, crystallised oranges, toasted brioche, white pepper. Very nice notes of smoked salmon. Finish: quite long! Toasted, peaty, with quite some dried figs… A tad drying, ‘of course’. A poem, quite moving. 91 points.
Distillery | Caol Ila |
Classification | Single Malt Whisky |
Bottle No./Released | -/- |
Vintage | 1966 |
Age | 29 |
Bottler | Gordon & MacPhail |
Bottling Date | 1995 |
ABV/ Volume | 40.0%/ 70cl |
Rating/SGP | 91/- |
Cask Number | - |
Type: Islay - Diageo