Whisky: Caol Ila 33 Year (1984), Cadenhead’s

Country/Region: Scotland/Islay

ABV: 54.5%

Cask: Bourbon Hogshead

Age: 33 Years (Distilled 1984, Bottled 2017)

Nose: Coastal and herbal with tar, camphor, and medicinal herbs; hints of melon and pineapple, salty cured meat, white chocolate.

Palate: Medium-bodied earthy and woody, toffee and fruit, old hay and burnt grass, earth, a touch of farmyard funk, charcoal, white chocolate, more medicinal herbs toward the end with a kiss of salt.

Finish: Medium-length coastal and sweetly phenolic.

Score: 8 (86)

Mental Image: Pineapple Pizza Muscle Rub

Narrative & Notes: Coastal and herbal at first, the aroma featured windswept beaches touched by tar, then camphor and muscle rub after hiking over dunes.  Sweeter notes crescendoed with time as a subtle melon parted to reveal pineapple topped pizza, salty cured ham, and hints of white chocolate.  Medium-bodied the flavor profile drifted from earth and charred driftwood to toffee and fruit.  Old hay and burnt grass mingled with dry earth and a gentle hint of farmyard funk.  Charcoal, white chocolate, and subdued fruits lingered with a kiss of salt as more camphor and wax coated the palate at the end.  Medium-length the finish was coastal and sweetly phenolic with a touch of charcoal and charred pineapple.

Mature Caol Ila is not to be underestimated— even when the shelves of a whisky bar are chock full of other fascinating bottles.  The Swan Song had no shortage of temptations, but even though I just reviewed a heap of malts from the distillery, I did not want to miss a chance to explore more early 1980s Caol Ila.

This was lovely with a good contrast between earth, coast, and sugary sweetness, even if it was less complex and rich than some of my favorites from the era.  The various layers of flavors were a touch muddled and without clear distinctions at times— a minor quip for an otherwise delicious whisky.

Overall, a delightful Caol Ila— a touch sweeter than most with good balance and hints of pineapple-ham pizza, surely less divisive in this context than on actual pizza.