Douglas Laing Caol Ila 1979 25 Years Old

Tasted in Whisky Magazine Issue 47 by Martine Nouet and Dave Broom.

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Tasting Notes

Martine Nouet Nose Phenols. Creosote. Briny. Burning dried seaweeds. Lemon essence. Restrained smoke. Like the vapour rising from hot bitumen after a storm. Palate Sweet and malty. Very oily. Crystallized violets. Liquorice losenges. Refreshing. Kippers. Finish Dry. Vanilla breaks through. The smoke disappears gradually. Comment An attractive character. Phenolic but with much more.

Dave Broom Nose Firm. Sun-baked bare rock, acetone, then medicinal. Water releases peat smoke, juniper and marine character. Palate Beach bbq, creosote. Becomes very medicinal. Clean with some softening vanilla creaminess in the centre of the palate. Finish Explosive. The phenolics appear. Fish oil. Comment Austere but with a restrained power.