Caol Ila (Signatory) - Vintage 1981 (Signatory) - 22 y.o. - 58,3%5
5
5 
- Bottler:
- Scotch Malt Whisky Society
- Age:
- 22 years
- Alcohol:
- 58,3%
- Collection:
- Vintage
- Bottle details:
- distillation: 1980
- non chill filtered cask strength
- average
-
- (84,63)
- price class:
5 notes disponibles en français
A very nice nose with a kind of tyre smell and some leather hints hiding more discrete fruit flavours.
In the mouth, after the first alcohol impression, a very nice complexity where fruits (dried appels) take an important role and some smokey and peaty touches. Some hints of liquorice and spices too.
A nice finish, contrasting with mouth and nose and the memory of nice malted barley remains for a while.
2006The nose is rather impressive, and has lost all aggressivity it had during the first tastings. Very pleasant, at the time smokey and slightly acid, peated and fruity.
In the mouth, the first impression is quite dry, peaty, but the taste developes on coffee notes and finally on milk chocolate hints.
The finish is pleasant and the memory of malted barley and peat remains in the palate for a while.
2006The nose reveals both malted barley and clear yeast smells trying to hide some citrus hints. In fact, the first nose is not really pleasant... before opening on some rather heady floral notes. Peat notes complete the overview.
In the palate, a mix of honey and bitter oranges with an evolution on more pleasant notes of smooth malt and a touch of slightly bitter nuts.
The finish is long and in reality nice than the nose anTd mouth were. Hazelnut and malt. Light peaty hints. In the light of the differences with previous notations, it seems this bottle has suffered from the time and lost part of its qualities. The bottle has been opened for a few years.
2007At the second tasting, the contrast between the nose and the palate was really obvious....
A rather aggressive nose, probably due to the alcohol degree. A great smoothness in the palate, despite the high degree of alcohol. Peated and slightly smoky, the whisky presents also some discrete liquorice hints. The whole in a wonderfully complex context.
A pleasant and rather long finish.
2004The first contact is rather pleasant, but the alcohol is predominant. After having added some water, the fragrances develop, and the exceptional complexity is revealed. A great taste richness in the exceptional malt. The finish is shorter than I had hoped. But its price makes that this bottle is not a must in a good whisky collection. But the happy few who own it must have no regret...
2003
