1984 Caol Ila "Old Particular" K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength 33 Year Old Islay Single Malt Whisky (750ml)

Staff Reviews

RW

Ryan Woodhouse

Ryan Woodhouse

Wow - I've never been disappointed by an old Caol Ila and this one certainly continues that trend. There is (was) something truly magical about this distillery. The whisky seems to have a haunting elegance on the palate and yet so much intensity of flavor. Here the smoke is intertwined with sea foam, wood shavings and a very subtle iodine hint. The malt fills the palate with intense flavor and aroma and yet it's almost ethereal in texture. If some of the big, heavily sherry-influenced whiskys of the world can be compared to rich, ripe, highly extracted Napa Cabs; then this Caol Ila should be likened to a finely structured Burgundy; it possesses no less intensity or power but expresses it in a very different way.

Notes

What's left in this post-Pappy world of whiskey that's actually worth your hard-earned money and not simply priced according to market scarcity, pop culture desire, and a point-driven collector hysteria? When it comes to purchasing casks of costly, three-figure bottles of booze for our K&L customers, we've very, very picky because there are few occasions where we feel that an entire barrel of expensive malt whisky is worth shelling out for. This is one of those occasions. The magic of Islay's Caol Ila distillery has been shaped, forged, and concentrated for 33 long years inside this very special cask of Old Particular, bringing forth one of the most decadent whisky experiences we'll have the pleasure of offering you this year. The nose carries with it the very essence of Islay: brine, bogs, wet earth, peat, salt and the sea, all mingling slowly and methodically through the glass. The palate is instantly soft and supple, but at 51.9% it kicks into gear mid-way through and unleashes a wave of ocean spray, sweet barley, smoke, tar, soot and freshly cut peat that still shines through despite more than three decades in wood. While we might normally reserve this type of offering for the holidays, we had to grab this rare edition while we had the chance. Gone are the days of legendary casks like this, which is why costs for 30+ year old Caol Ila generally hover in the $400-$700 range. Hence, don't miss out on this one; it's worth every penny of the price.