Caol Ila 26 Year Old 1983 The Perfect Dram

This Caol Ila 1983 from The Perfect Dram was bottled a decade ago. The release was 240 bottles strong, at cask strength. Great bronze color, by the way.

It must have been a very active cask, for the distillery character of Caol Ila is totally unrecognizable on the nose. While I deplore that a bit, I cannot deny that this nose is absolutely great. Lots of orangettes, sniffing tobacco, toffee apples, mokatine, espresso and cuberdones. The only trait that allows you to realize it’s an Ileach is a bit of smoke, wet rocks and a hint of iodine and some sweet peat.

On the palate, Caol Ila delivers, so to speak. Yes, the sherry with its oranges, honey and plums and all those other delicious sweet notes return, but are beautifully countered by mild medicinal peat, a hint of celp and ashes. Good spiciness too. Nutmeg, pepper, liquorice and saffron.

The finish just keeps going and offers a nice balance between the sweet notes and salty elements, with chewing tobacco and dry wood at the death.

I have often said that the combo of peat and sherry is not always easy. But if it works, it works. This is an absolute stunner!

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