Caol Ila 24 Year Old 1976 Signatory Vintage

For the 25th anniversary of the German company Dieter Kirsch Import, Signatory bottled this Caol Ila from 1976. Put to sleep on 29 September 1976 and bottled on 23rd January 2001, it is a 24 Year Old.

Ho, this is mighty fruity! The typical maritime elements are there, with even a hint of tar, but remain way in the back to allow the fruit to grab all the attention. Green apples, pears, oranges, gooseberries and honey. It even turns a bit tropical after a while Mango and pineapple. Almonds and cashew nuts. This is great!

It is still very sweet and fruity on the palate, but a lot less tropical than on the nose. Shame. However, it is very good and the smokiness warms the palate gently. Soft spices, mostly ginger and pepper, do give him some punch, despite the low ABV. Mostly white fruit, now. And a soft bitterness from liquorice and walnuts.

The finish is fairly long on garden herbs.

A slightly atypical Caol Ila. Well, maybe I should say that this Caol Ila is just very different from the newer batches that are a lot more coastal, while these older versions clearly emphasize the fruit, driving the peat to the back. Very nice!

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