Caol Ila 1982 Rum finish (Whisky Agency)

We’ve tried other releases from the Fossils series by The Whisky Agency before (e.g. Coleburn 1983 and Strathisla 1967). This Coal Ila 1982 was bottled at the same moment. It was finished in a rum cask – not very common but sometimes it works out well.

Caol Ila 27 yo 1982 (50%, The Whisky Agency 2009, rum finish, 115 btl.)

Nose: strange nose, with harsh, sour notes alongside a syrupy sweetness. Some gouache paint and thinner. Not much smoke. Water highlights the sweetness and brings out farmy notes and wet limestone.

Mouth: again slightly harsh with a peppery burn. Then it goes into the coastal notes (salted fish, brine) with light smoke. Finally a few associations from the rum emerge: brown sugar and green banana.

Finish: long, pungent. Water eases it a little.

One of the very few releases by Whisky Agency that didn’t really appeal to me. Let’s just blame the rum and forget about it. Around € 120 at the time.

Score: 79/100