DescriptionIslay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottled by: Gordon & MacPhail 70cl / 52.5.%
A single cask 1968 Caol Ila bottled as a 50-year-old at full cask strength without colouring or chill filtration in 2018 by Gordon & MacPhail for their magnificent Private Collection series.
This exquisite Caol Ila 1968 from Gordon & MacPhail is, as far as we're aware, the oldest ever bottling of Caol Ila to date. It was distilled in 1968 and aged for over 50 years in refill sherry hogshead cask #4021901 before being bottled in 2018 with a yield of just 199 bottles at its extremely impressive natural cask strength of 52.5%. A fabulous dram, full of lemon, ham and seaweed flavours, notes of marmalade and grapefruit, restrained but potent peat and a gloriously oily mouthfeel.
Official Tasting Notes
Colour: Dark Gold.
Nose: Delicate wisps of peat smoke are joined by honey-cured meats and delightful sweet vanilla. A gentle aroma of fruitcake decorated with plump sultanas, raisins and nuts feature. An underlying hint of methanol emerges, developing into undertones of citrus and lemongrass.
Palate: A refined palate reveals subtle warming spices before opening up to sweet cooked apples, raspberry and cranberry. Bitter orange marmalade and gentle sherry influences develop with time. Mature oak also lends a pleasant drying character.
Finish: Smouldering bonfire embers linger on the palate with lemon zest and charred oak.
Pre-Owned Stock
At Whisky-Online we are specialists in old and rare bottles of whisky from days gone by. We are constantly picking up new stock of vintage bottles from various sources and private sales. All the pre-owned bottles on our site are vetted very carefully for authenticity by our team before they reach our website so that our customers can continue to buy with confidence. If we have the slightest doubts about a bottle’s provenance or authenticity we don’t list it, simple as that.
Please bear in mind stock that has been assigned as pre-owned is not in brand new mint condition. As pre-owned bottles will have been subject to natural wear and tear over the years, we strongly advise customers to check carefully the website images to assess the condition of individual bottles prior to purchase.
All stock assigned by us as pre-owned is sold as seen. Our website images of these old and rare whiskies are fair but not comprehensive representations and some flaws may not be visible in these images. It is important, therefore, to contact us for more images or further information before ordering if you have any specific questions or requirements about particular items.
Due to the varying ages and conditions of bottles, labels, corks and their seals, their safe transport without further damage or deterioration is not guaranteed and we recommend that these items are collected in person. If collection is not an option and buyers choose to have pre-owned items delivered we cannot accept responsibility for deterioration to these items during transit.
Please be aware that because of the varying conditions mentioned above there is a risk of seal failure during transit and that we cannot accept responsibility for any bottle leakage that occurs in this way.
Pre-Owned & New Stock
Seal and cork failure are two of the more common issues affecting older pre-owned bottles, but they can occur in new bottles as well. Cork is a naturally porous material and contains irregular air pockets that may compromise the integrity of the closure.
Over long periods of time corks can dry out and shrink, increasing the chances of cork failure and subsequent leakage. However, it is still strongly recommended to store bottles upright at all times, as keeping whisky bottles on their sides can damage the cork and increase the chances of leakage or failure.
When you open a bottle with a cork stopper - no matter how carefully - there is always a chance that the cork may break, particularly for older bottles. We recommend keeping a stock of spare corks in different sizes in case a replacement cork is needed.
We are unable to accept responsibility for the following circumstances affecting either new or pre-owned goods:
- Wear and tear, rust, stains, foxing or any other cosmetic damage to labels, boxes or other packaging where the customer has not requested extra images prior to purchase
- Deterioration to labels/packaging in transit
- Seal failure, cork failure and/or leakage in transit or at any subsequent time after delivery
If you have any questions about the condition of a specific product please don’t hesitate to contact us on info@whisky-online.com.
