Caol Ila 35YO 1984 Prima & Ultima (700ml)
Bottle 434 of 499.
‘Prima & Ultima’, meaning the ‘first and last’ in Latin, was launched by Diageo in 2020. This luxurious collection features rare vintage collectible single malts bottled with natural cask strength - and each bottle was selected by Diageo’s master blender Dr Jim Beveridge OBE.
As mentioned by Jim, this Caol Ila was special to him, as he had worked in Caol Ila and the early eighties were a time of great change on Islay - Caol Ila was prized by whisky lovers at that time. As the last examples of that special time, mature casks from 1984 are vanishingly rare today.
Mild in aroma, on the palate it is smooth and rich , with smoky notes, fruity sweetness, salty savouriness - just like sweet-glazed meat roasting on the barbecue. It finishes with some smoky and spicy notes.