CAOL ILA 14 ans 1974 Connoisseurs Choice Old Map Label

Nose : ample, rich. The very camphoric initial nose is also fruity (apple, pear), peaty, herbaceous (cut hay, straw), smoky and spicy (ginger, clove). Allowed to breathe, acacia honey and precious wood (beeswax, polish) liven up the palette of aromas. Little by little, its medicinal character (ointment, benzoin) begins to stand out. In a grand finale, verbena, dried twigs and rice grains bring lots of breadth.

Palate : fine, fairly lively. Following in the nose's footsteps, the attack is fruity but more exotic (pineapple, banana). Suddenly intense smoke and gentian root bring out this Caol Ila's island character. On the mid-palate, a dry peat is coated in seaweed, sea spray and liquorice. At the end of the palate, accompanied by citrus fruit (lemon, grapefruit), smoke makes a comeback in the form of smoke rings. Meanwhile, coconut and vanilla have slipped into every crack of the flavour palette.

Overall : long, silky. Velvety and mineral, the finish is characterized by notes of white peach, agave and slate. It uses this schisty foundation to develop even further. In this way ethereal, it is also rich (vanilla flan, rice pudding). The retronasal olfaction is tarry, spicy (pepper) and fruity. The empty glass reveals lots of dried fruit and nuts (walnut, date, almond), as well as the acridity of the smoke and the peat's rooty side.