Caol Ila 1978-1989 Samaroli

A bottle brimming with the charm of Old Pulteney. Caol Ila CAOL ILA 1978-1989 SAMAROLI 55% The aroma features mellowed orange, chlorine and tar, a cool metallic sensation, sharp old peat, smoky straw, earthiness, fur-like textures, and a rich barley sweetness with honey. Upon tasting, it delivers an intense barley umami that lingers on the tongue, a strong peat with clear tar notes, chlorine, orange, and a pleasant honeyed sweetness. The flavor profile is crisp and well-defined with a solid body and long finish. 【Very Good】 This is Samaroli's 1989 bottling of Caol Ila 1978, aged for approximately 11 years. The aroma exudes a comforting old-world character, with cool nuances reminiscent of Ardbeg such as chlorine and metal. The earthy, furred animal-like notes, along with the rich barley depth typical of short-matured old whiskies, left a strong impression. Upon tasting, the intense barley umami lingers on the tongue, and as with the aroma, the cold nuances of chlorine and peat are clearly present. The flavor profile is sharply defined with good clarity, yet the long finish adds to its appeal. True to Samaroli's 1980s cask strength bottlings, this is a compelling short-matured bottle that retains its body. While 1970s Caol Ila bottles with minimal aging post-bottling were often available recently, none have exhibited the dried peat, animal-like textures, earthiness, or the penetrating texture felt in this bottle. I believe these characteristics largely emerged from aging post-bottling. Despite its age, it still offers a very good old-world character and is delicious. However, since the body remains intact, it seems there's still potential for further aging evolution. This is a bottle that makes age judgment difficult.