Caol Ila 32 Years Old 1984 Old & Rare Magnum (Hunter Laing)

This Caol Ila was bottled by the independent Hunter Laing, a 32 year old, distilled in 1984, bottled at 50.9%, one of 20 bottles. Caol Ila is the smoky backbone of the Johnnie Walker blends. Diageo's Special Releases have featured both peated and unpeated Caol Ila.

This was run from peated malt through tall stills on Loch nam Ban water, for a smoky spirit with a citrus lift. Maturation in an Oloroso cask laid dried fruit over the make. At an ethereal, fragile age the spirit turns delicate, sotolon lending a maple and old oak depth as beeswax and a ghost of smoke linger. Cool, damp warehousing slows the loss of the angel's share over the years. The spirit's high notes of lemon and grass survive even long maturation. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke. A gentle vanillin sweetness from the oak balances the coastal phenols.

At a natural 50.9% it is full and oily. Peat, smoked fish and a citrus oil, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A maritime salt and a lemon lift run through it. A smoky, oily warmth lingers with lemon and salt. This is an elegant Islay single malt.