Caol Ila 30 Year Old 1981 Thosop Handwritten Label by TWM

Under the motto ‘one more for the road’, we’ll conclude our Peaty Party with an old Caol Ila. Not just any old Caol Ila, no, this is a 30 Year Old, bottled by Thosop, the Belgian indie led by Dominiek Bouckaert – aka The Whiskyman. I’ve tasted some nice old Caol Ila before (like the 25 Year Old from First Cask or the 27 Year Old for QV.ID, to name only two that I remember vividly), so the expectations are high.

The nose is spot on. A bit medicinal, nicely coastal (think sea salt and iodine), soft but perfectly peated. Somewhat buttery. Fresh butter from the farm, of course. And wonderfully fruity. Pineapple first, followed closely by banana and lime. Almonds in diesel oil (I had this in the 1981 Malts of Scotland bottling as well).

On the palate, the butter has already melted. What’s more, this is pure olive oil. Very spicy, too. And the peat, that whispered on the nose, is raising its voice now. Sea salt that slowly makes room for banana with brown sugar. Feisty and zesty. Boy, this is good.

The finish is long and salty. Grapefruit with pepper at the death.

See… ? Always keep the best for last. Thank you, Thosop, for a brilliant Caol Ila. About 125 EUR. No hesitations.

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