On the sixth day of the Dramcalendar, we have the Caol Ila 1991, bottled by John McCrae & Co. as part of their McCrae’s bottling series.

Truth be told, I never heard anything about today’s bottler before. From what I could find on the internet (which wasn’t much), they are relatively new on the market and that their bottlings are limited to the Belgian market. If you have any more info about them, please let me know.

Have a good second Advent!

Facts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:	Caol Ila 1991
Bottler:	John McCrae & Co.
Bottling series:	McCrae’s
Bottled for:	Belgium
Vintage:	March 1991
Bottled:	February 2014
Age:	22 Years Old
Category:	Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery:	Caol Ila
Cask Type:	Refill Hogshead
Strength:	53.9% Vol.
No. of bottles:	279
Colored:	No
Chill Filtered:	No

Nose

Soft peat smoke, smoked ham and barbecued fish, along with more delicate, floral notes. Followed by pineapples and sea weed.

Taste

Smooth and sweet. The peat smoke is back again and a bit stronger now. Vanilla, dried fruits, honey and caramel are balanced by a slightly sour note. Ends with a salty touch.

Finish

Very long with a pleasant warmth. Some sweet smoke and salt. Gets a bit dryer towards the end.

Overall

What a very well selected cask! All the good stuff you can expect from a great refill hogshead joined by soft smoke. A very nice and highly enjoyable dram.

Score: 88 / 100