Caol Ila 30 Year (2014 Special Release)

Wow. On our spirit exploration, there eventually comes a time when we instantly recognize: this is it. The one single malt we have always been searching for. Caol Ila 30 is the peak of the distillery's official bottlings. Smoldering bonfire smoke, sharp citrus fruits, and hints of an old, earthy salt container delight the senses. On the palate, the sweet and sour initial impression moves towards vegetal peatiness with well-balanced, mildly harsh wood spices. And the finish? Outstanding. Potent, fragrant, and slowly fading. Dare I say flawless? Cheers!

I wish I had more opportunity to explore this one. This was outstanding. Immediate sweetness that vanished quickly and became smoky brine and on the nose smelled like crushed seashells. I realize that sounds odd, but I spent significant time in Central America, and my wife would gather seashells, place them in a container, and they emitted the same aroma as the caol ila 30. It has a sour element and a citrus element. More time is needed. Fantastic.