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Caol Ila 22 Year Old 1991 McCrae's

Vanilla

0 087

@markjedi1Review by @markjedi1

9th Jan 2016

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  • Nose
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  • Taste
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  • Finish
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  • Overall
    87

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I have to admit that until recently I had not even heard of this bottler: John McCrae & Co from Glasgow. They only have two casks on their resumé so far, both bottled in 2014 and both exclusively for the Belgian market. Next to a Littlemill 21 Year Old, they also bottled this Caol Ila 22 Year Old.

Classic Caol Ila nose, but with an extra dose of vanilla. Citrus fruit and some maritime elements follow suit, but the sweet vanilla usurps all the attention. Caramel and a drop of honey add to that sensation, making it a surprising sweet nose.

Great body. Mouth coating. Piquant. Pepper and nutmeg, a bit of candied ginger and some liquorice caress the taste buds. The citrus is not more outspoken, together with some apples. Grapefruit, if you ask me. Midpalate it turns salty for a second, but it certainly does not last. Again the caramel and vanilla dominate, turning it very sweet (for a Caol Ila) again.

The long, spicy finish is bittersweet with a touch of smoke. At the death, a slice of pineapple takes me by surprise. Lovely!

If there is such a thing as a dessert whisky from Islay, this would be the textbook example. Very good and available for around 120 EUR.

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