CAOL ILA - 1984 - Cask No. 6080 - Bottled in 1998 - Reserve - Gordon & MacPhail - 46%
Gordon & MacPhail is a renowned independent bottler of Scottish whisky and owner of the prestigious Benromach distillery. The company is known for its exceptionally varied range of bottlings from some of Scotland's most iconic distilleries. Founded in 1895 as a grocer and wine and spirits merchant in Elgin, northeast Scotland, it experienced a major turning point in 1915 when former apprentice John Urquhart took full control of the business. More than a century later, Gordon & MacPhail proudly retains its family business identity, synonymous with excellence and tradition in the whisky world.
The Caol Ila distillery is located on the island of Islay, Scotland, known as the largest Single Malt distillery on the island in terms of production capacity. Founded in 1846 near Port Askaig, the distillery is now part of the prestigious Diageo portfolio. A large portion of its production is used for famous blends such as Johnnie Walker. To meet growing demand, the old distillery was demolished in 1974 to make way for a more modern and larger facility. Since 2010, production has nearly doubled from 3.5 to 6.5 million liters per year, reflecting the increasing popularity of its whiskies.
Caol Ila Single Malts were only available through independent bottlers until 2002, when the official 12-year-old Caol Ila was launched. The barley used is malted at Port Ellen. Caol Ila's stills are much larger than those of other Islay distilleries and are only half-filled to optimize contact between alcohol vapor and copper, giving Caol Ila expressions a style that is much less peaty than other Islay malts, with a subtle and elegant smoky character. Some versions even offer a non-peated profile, favoring aromatic finesse.
This limited edition comes from Single Cask No. 6080. This exceptional whisky was distilled in 1984 and aged for 14 years, giving it remarkable complexity and a perfect balance between sweetness and smoky nuances.
Peated (30-35 ppm)
