Young and old CI


December 19, 2016

Xmas

The Pre-Christmas Duos
Young and old CI

Indeed I’m currently trying a new tactic called anti-search-engine-optimization, aiming at telling those tax evaders whose name starts with a G to just go to h***. Kind of… So, a young CI and an old one… Oh and only seasoned whisky enthusiasts are visiting these lousy pages anyway, so you all know what CI means, don’t you.

CI 2005/2016 (57.3%, Gordon & MacPhail, Cask Strength, casks #301521, 301523, 301524, 301527)

All first fill sherry butts, but that’s hard to fathom given the colour. Or perhaps fino casks only? Colour: straw. Nose: oooh yess! It’s unusual, but it works, and greatly so. A banana kept in the Sound of Islay for ten years, more medicinal scents than in the most medicinal L******g, some seawater-soaked fabric (old fisherman’s jacket?) and litres of tincture of iodine. Impeccably millimetric. Oh and a little engine grease, while we’re at it. With water: the lemons are coming out. An army of lemons, led by a grapefruit. Mouth (neat): extremely good. A crystalline peat, some very fresh apple juice (ex-cider apples), some kiwi, some fresh walnuts, and one very salty oyster. I just love this one. With water: a tad sweeter. Liqueur de pamplemousse (grapefruit liqueur). Finish: long, with CI’s (yes, stubborn) ritual ashes coming out. Comments: bordering perfection. SGP:457 - 89 points.

CI 36 yo 1980/2016 (around 57.4%, Douglas Laing, Xtra Old Particular)

I’m not sure this baby’s out yet, but I just cannot wait. Imagine, a CI that’s slowly approaching the 40-years-border… And indeed the picture doesn’t quite match, apologies. Oh and an ‘extra-old’ whisky that’s extra-old indeed, that’s good! Colour: gold. Nose: I’m starting to wonder if CI cannot remain eternally young, whichever its age. In this case what I’m getting is half a litre of cellulose varnish, a kilo of horse dung, two dozen oysters, and a bagful of walnuts. Plus some smoked salmon and some kippers. What’s more, the proportions are exactly right, mind you. With water: bandages, embrocations, walnut skins, and fresh paint. Mouth (neat): blade-y, almondy, medicinal, salty, lemony, and extremely kippery. So very fresh, I’m starting to wonder if CI isn’t like vin jaune, meaning that the ages don’t mean much. Eternal wines and spirits! With water: salty limoncello. Shouldn’t work, yet does. Finish: long, impeccably clean, almondy, smoky, lemony, greasy, kippery (copyright Dave Broom)… Comments: watch this one when it comes out. It’s not out at time of writing, but it may be at time of publishing. Very hard to beat, but at a much lower price, G&M’s 2005 was not bad either, was it. SGP:567 - 91 points.

Check the index of all CI I've tasted so far