1991 A.D. Rattray Caol Ila 21 Years Review

We’ve reached the end of this little run of Caol Ila with this 1991 A.D. Rattray Caol Ila 21 Years I picked up for the Malt Nuts Port Ellen vs old Caol Ila tasting. 20+ year Caol Ila distilled in the 90s… not a bad way to wrap up a quick visit to a distillery as well-loved as Caol Ila.

1991 A.D. Rattray Caol Ila 21 Years Review

It’s kind of funny, I know a LOT of Caol Ila fans. It’s a distillery that’s generated an almost cult following amongst peat lovers, though it’s not because of what Diageo is doing with the distillery or the core releases. This love and fandom is 99.9% due to indie bottlers.

If it weren’t for them, Caol Ila would be known as little more than a decent 12-year-old Scotch and a couple of special releases rather than the powerhouse of quality we know it for today. Caol Ila is a picture-perfect example of the undeniably vital role independent bottlers have played, and continue to play, in the whisky world.

 

1991 A.D. Rattray Caol Ila 21 Years – Details and Tasting Notes

 

Whiskey Details

Region: Islay, Scotland

Distiller: Caol Ila
Bottler: A.D. Rattray
Bottled For: Flask Fine Wine & Whisky
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon Hogshead
Age: 21 Years (1991-2012)
ABV: 55.0%

Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

Cask: 8192
Bottles: 269

Price: $180

White background tasting shot with the 1991 A.D. Rattray Caol Ila 21 Years bottle and a glass of whiskey next to it.
“Distillery Region: Islay | Cask Type: Bourbon Hogshead | Cask Number: 8192 | Number of Bottles: 269 | Date Distilled: 02.07.1991 | Date Bottled: 08.10.2012” – A.D. Rattray

Tasting Notes

EYE
Light amber

NOSE
Heavy malt, smoke, dried and grilled fruit, guava, vanilla custard and some toffee. There’s just a touch of oak, that works perfectly with the ex-bourbon Scotch sweetness and the underlying meaty goodness.

PALATE
Complex smoked fruit, deep maltiness with a nice grain sweetness, custard and some meaty undertones. There is so much heavy malty goodness in this 1991 A.D. Rattray Caol Ila 21 Years. It captures and enfolds the senses.

FINISH
Long -> Fruit, smoke, oil, grilled cakes and marshmallow. This is the perfect slow finish for this whisky.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Great balance, full-round body and an oily-heavy feel.


1991 A.D. Rattray Caol Ila 21 Years – Final Thoughts and Score

Damn, I need more of this, it’s the very definition of an elegant Caol Ila. It’s not the most wildly complex Caol Ila I’ve had, but it is among the most boldly true-to-form and endlessly delicious Caol Ilas I’ve had in a long time. It’s a stellar example of why I love ex-Bourbon casks and why people fall in love with Caol Ila. If I were filthy rich, this 1991 A.D. Rattray Caol Ila 21 would be the bare minimum quality allowed on my shelf.

SCORE: 4.5/5

1991 A.D. Rattray Caol Ila 21 Years Label

1991 A.D. Rattray Caol Ila 21 Years Review
$180

Summary

This is super delicious. It’s just an amazing, fruity, deep and warm whisky. Lovely.

Overall
4.5









  • Nose










    (4.5)

  • Palate










    (4.5)

  • Finish










    (4.5)

  • BBF










    (4.5)

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