Caol Ila 35 yo 1982 Special Release 2018 58.1%

The peat really does belie its age. There’s no mistaking a huge dose of powerfully mentholated ointments and a hot peat fire. Still, as with any well aged Caol Ila, there is a rounding down of the phenolic elements and what was a flaming peat fire has entered that stage of long warm heat on a bed of embers and ash and curtained in white wisps of dry smoke. Rooty heathery and dry  nuances remain, as does salted seaweed and tide pools of drying mud and salty rocks. Some warm butter and baked pastry,  baked apples maybe with an accidentally large dose of lemon juice and zest. And puffing cigars. The maritime aspects remain pronounced. The whole is very evocative of bonfire evenings watching from piers in the twilight quiet. 92 pts