Caol Ila 1976 / 1996 Scotts Selection 57.6%

Caol Ila 1976 / 1996 Scotts Selection 57.6%

Mature Caol Ila where, to paraphrase Lagavulin, fire has been fined into warmth. Subtle tones from the wood and spirit have married well. Dying peat fires with puffs of intermittent smoke, dry and ashy, and warm earth. Burnt pastry speaks of fish pie, hot butter, cooking cream, and lots of salt. Dried seaweed impart crisp iodine flecks. In fact it is still entirely maritime, gentian and lemon cough pastilles, seawater, engine oil and dirty sand on old cracking decks. A dry hay aspect with plenty of dried mint and camphor. Rounded down but polished, precise but elegantly so. 91 pts