Kinship Caol Ila 1983 52.6%

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Distilled in 1983 and bottled after 33 years at 52.6% after maturing in a Refill Sherry Butt. This was never supposed to leave Islay, but we managed to score a dozen bottles. Only 3 left at the time of writing and it is spectacular. A lovely older Ileach, but also a beautifully sherried malt. 91pts Serge.

91pts Serge @WhiskyFun: "Not too sure this one’s got a vintage statement, I couldn’t find any. What’s sure is that if it’s only a little close to the stupendous Port Ellen Kinship, we’re in for a treat. Colour: gold-amber. Nose: to tell you the truth I think not all peaters, whether young or old, tango well with sherry, but in this case, some obvious balance has been found. We’re navigating around lit cigars and cedar wood, leather oil, fried bacon (I know, I know, cholesterol), dried kelp on a beach, plasticine, and the tiniest amount of new leatherette. Some camphor too. Love camphor. With water: always love it when metal polish comes out. More cigars. Mouth (neat): an oily texture, and first some kind of smoked Seville oranges with cloves and caraway, then walnut wine, roasted pecans, some very salty bacon, then rather lapsang souchong and wee bits of black tobacco, untipped Gauloise style. Bitter chocolate. Feels ‘darker’ than it is. With water: careful, water can make it really very dry, but at around 45%, it sings loud and clear, with rather more walnuts, grass, and spices. Nutmeg, for example. Finish: long, greatly bitter and dry, with more tobacco mingled with liquorice wood. A feeling of walnut stain, perhaps. Comments: very dry-oloroso-y. Nothing against that. Now you can’t quite compare it with the Cadenhead, as styles are almost opposite. Although quality would be equivalent in my book."

 

700 ml