Caol Ila 19 Year Old 1995 The Nectar of the Daily Drams

The Nectar of the Daily Drams is a well-known Belgian importer and bottler. Last year they launched this Caol Ila 1995 at cask strength. It is quite a pale animal.

The classic traits of Caol Ila emerge immediately: ashes, sea weeds, salty breeze and stockfish. The second whiff offers a lot of sweet fruit: apple (skin included), pear, apricots and some lemon. Almonds, vanilla and a surprising touch of beeswax. Dried grass. Flints. This is a wonderful and complex nose.

Nicely oily on the palate. Immediately honeysweet, which comes as a bit of a surprise. Loads of white and yellow fruit, even with a tropical edge. Could this have been a sherry cask? I do believe so. Citrus is joinied by banana and apricots. Nice continuation of the nose. Despite the high ABV, it is very quaffable. The spices on duty are pepper, ginger, liquorice and a smidge of cinnamon. Boy, oh boy, is this the good stuff!

The finish is not only wonderfully long, but also very smoky and spicy. And yet this Caol Ila still dies a bittersweet death.

Grand whisky from my favorite Islay distillery. This is the kind of Caol Ila for which you can wake me in the middle of the night.

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