Caol Ila 18 Year Old 1995 Chester

I have tried quite a few offerings from the British bottler Chester and bar one exception (a 16 Year Old Bunna on sherry) they were all good to excellent. So in combination with my love for Caol Ila, I think we are up to another great tasting.

The nose is bittersweet with loads of grapefruit and lime. Reminds me a bit of Limoncello, actually. The ash and salt are rather limited, just like the peat. Mercurochrome. A nice mineral side with something that reminds me of chalk. Then turns sweeter on honey and vanilla and even some candied sugar. Nice development. Water brings more citrus and sugar.

It is quite creamy on the palate, but immediately I get a bit of a weird taste. Butter milk. That is a bit off putting, I am afraid. More ashes than on the nose, as well as more citrus. The peat is more outspoken too. Adding water does not get rid of the weird taste, though.

Long and salty finish.

This would score four extra points on the nose alone, but on the palate and in the finish, I am a bit put off. Sorry, that is just the way it is. Around 80 EUR.

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