Caol Ila 26 Year Old 1982 Duncan Taylor Rare Auld

The Nectar, the well-known Belgian importer cum bottler, bottled two Caol Ila casks through Duncan Taylor in 2008; cask 2738 and 2746.

The nose is very cleany and exceptionally fruity. Oh, sweet! Lime, lychee, banana. Caramel candy. Honey. Oh, the peat is there, but thanks to the long maturation, it has all but faded. Slowly but surely some freshly cut grass, wet stones, flints and liquorice appear. But it is not over yet. Wet wool, camphor, pine cones. It keeps developing. Take your time with this one. After a few minutes some ashes and a slightly medicinal quality emerges. The true nature of Caol Ila shines through. Complex and very aromatic nose that makes me salivate.

Ka-Boom! Immediately grand on the palate. Big peat with loads of liquorice and salt. I want to say citrus, but it is hard to pinpoint. Limoncello, but very concentrated. Fruit tea. A little bit drying. But it remains surprisingly fruity and I really, really like it.

The finish is sweet, smoky and wonderfully long.

Wonderful nectar for The Nectar and one of the best Caol Ila I had had to pleasure to taste. Thanks, Jeroen!

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