Richard-ModernDrinking
Caol Ila 31 Year Small Batch (Cadenhead's)
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
May 6, 2019 (edited August 13, 2020)
This is the mattar paneer curry of whiskies: peas, cheese and a mortar full of spices. The peas and cheese are among the many notes in the complex nose, along with a delicate sweet peat and wood polish. The taste starts sweet but quickly gets overwhelmed by Tellicherry peppercorns. There’s a hint of dark chocolate and cream, followed by a sweet and minty finish. Water only accentuates the pepper. Like many an old whisky, the nose is more intriguing than the taste, and ultimately the pepper is out of balance with the rest of the flavors. But that’s the fun of single casks and small batch blends - you’d never find a nose like this on an official release.
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@Anthology That would be great, thank you
@Richard-ModernDrinking Ah I see. Will do. Also once I figure out how this whole sample exchange thing works, happy to get you another taste whenever I open my bottle.
@Anthology lucky you, I only had 2oz! Look forward to reading your opinion
"Nice review...short & sweet! I recently picked up this bottle (over the 34yr old...for $50 less). As a huge fan of Indian and Caribbean curry + spice dishes, I’m looking forward to cracking and tasting mine. Hopefully, there’s not a crazy amount of barrel or batch variation. @Richard-ModernDrinking did airtime (over time), or h20, open up the palate, relative to the nose?"
@Richard-ModernDrinking haha, but indeed!
@KRB80 You mean Mrs Wolverine’s cooking, of course.
Yeah, that sounds absolutely phenomenal tbh
You had me at maatar paneer. Speaking of...that’s what the wife has home this evening for dinner