Caol Ila 27 Years Old 1983 Cask 1118 (46%, Carn Mor, HH #1118, 1077 Bottles, 2010)

• Islay single malt scotch whisky
• 46% ABV, £19.50 for 20cl
• Score: 92/100

What they say:

The Carn Mor Vintage Collection is a truly unique Single Malt Whisky anthology. 24 single malt scotch whiskies, from 24 individual casks, from 24 selected distilleries, from 24 different vintages all bottled at 46%abv in a 20cl bottle.

This example was distilled at Caol Ila distillery in 1983 and matured in hogshead cask 1118 for 27 years before bottling in 2010 at 46% ABV, producing 1077 bottles at 20cl. Non chill filtered, no added colour.

What I say:

Purchased from Lockett Bros in North Berwick, sub-£20 for a 27 year old Caol Ila malt distilled in 1983 sounded like a bargain. Bottled by Carn Mor as part of their vintage collection.

Colour:

Dark amber gold (10/20), thick/heavy tears

Nose:

Icing sugar sweetness, vanilla, coconut, musty oak, dunnage warehouse, caramel, earthy, chalky fruit sweeties (Pez), perfumed, rose lilac and lavender

Taste:

Smooth and sweet peat ash, charcoal biscuits, dusty, chalky, icing sugar, vanilla, vanilla frosting, coconut, milk bottle sweeties

Finish:

Long, icing sugar, vanilla frosting, subtle earthy ashy peat

Overall:

My overall impression was Awesome! I really loved this Caol Ila – that time in the cask has paid off and brought the slightly acrid CI cigarette smoke down to a real delicate chalky ash. At the same time, this has been imbued with pure vanilla essence from the cask and has a real icing sugar sweetness. A shame that it only comes in 20cl bottles.