Caol Ila 31yo 1988/2020

Caol Ila 31yo 1988/2020

Connoisseur’s Choice, Gordon & Macphail 
Single malt - Islay
Golden, hints of silver
51.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sandalwood, fresh baked bread, leather, white pepper, dunnage, hints of orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, airy, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter salty. Smoke, sour cream, honey, white pepper, orange peel, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, orange peel, lemon juice, cinnamon, dunnage. 

Comments: 

An atypical Caol Ila, and not just for its age. It’s a little bit lactic, alongside the obligatory smoke and peat, but the lemon sweet and soy sauce notes are not there (or if they are, they’re quite faint). It’s quite salty though, and it made me realise that Caol Ila normally tastes of umami rather than just salt. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot.