Caol Ila 1983 / 42 Year Old / Gleann Mor Rare Find Islay Whisky

Victor Osei — Stunning but hard to justify

8/10

Got to try this at a whisky festival and I'm glad I didn't have to pay the £975 myself. That said, it's genuinely excellent — the smoke is so refined after 42 years, more like incense than bonfire. Lovely salted caramel and dark chocolate on the finish. If money were no object I'd buy a bottle tomorrow.

Zara Al-Hassan — Stunning but hard to justify

8/10

Got to try this at a whisky festival and I'm glad I didn't have to pay the £975 myself. That said, it's genuinely excellent — the smoke is so refined after 42 years, more like incense than bonfire. Lovely salted caramel and dark chocolate on the finish. If money were no object I'd buy a bottle tomorrow.

Ethan Cooper — Stunning but hard to justify

8/10

Got to try this at a whisky festival and I'm glad I didn't have to pay the £975 myself. That said, it's genuinely excellent — the smoke is so refined after 42 years, more like incense than bonfire. Lovely salted caramel and dark chocolate on the finish. If money were no object I'd buy a bottle tomorrow.

Simon Hughes — Time in a glass

9/10

Tried this neat at a friend's birthday and we all just went quiet for a minute. The nose alone is worth the experience — old library books, sea spray, and a wisp of peat smoke that's been softened by four decades. At 51.7% it carries real weight without any burn. I keep thinking about this one weeks later.

Thomas Weber — Time in a glass

9/10

Tried this neat at a friend's birthday and we all just went quiet for a minute. The nose alone is worth the experience — old library books, sea spray, and a wisp of peat smoke that's been softened by four decades. At 51.7% it carries real weight without any burn. I keep thinking about this one weeks later.

Camila Ortiz — Time in a glass

9/10

Tried this neat at a friend's birthday and we all just went quiet for a minute. The nose alone is worth the experience — old library books, sea spray, and a wisp of peat smoke that's been softened by four decades. At 51.7% it carries real weight without any burn. I keep thinking about this one weeks later.

Herbert Muller — Patience rewarded

8/10

Poured myself a small measure and just let it sit for twenty minutes before nosing. Absolutely worth the wait — waves of maritime smoke, dried apricot, and something almost perfumed, like old rose petals. On the palate it's silky but still has backbone at cask strength. A whisky that demands you slow down and pay attention.

Alex Ramos — Patience rewarded

8/10

Poured myself a small measure and just let it sit for twenty minutes before nosing. Absolutely worth the wait — waves of maritime smoke, dried apricot, and something almost perfumed, like old rose petals. On the palate it's silky but still has backbone at cask strength. A whisky that demands you slow down and pay attention.

Tiffany Nguyen — Patience rewarded

8/10

Poured myself a small measure and just let it sit for twenty minutes before nosing. Absolutely worth the wait — waves of maritime smoke, dried apricot, and something almost perfumed, like old rose petals. On the palate it's silky but still has backbone at cask strength. A whisky that demands you slow down and pay attention.

Astrid Nilsen — The best whisky I've ever tasted

10/10

I know a 10 is controversial but I genuinely cannot find a flaw. Managed to get a dram at auction for less than retail and I savoured every drop over two sessions. The balance between 42 years of oak, that signature Caol Ila coastal smoke, and rich fruit is just perfect. At 51.7% it's full-bodied without being aggressive. This is what whisky can be when everything goes right.

Nia Okafor — The best whisky I've ever tasted

10/10

I know a 10 is controversial but I genuinely cannot find a flaw. Managed to get a dram at auction for less than retail and I savoured every drop over two sessions. The balance between 42 years of oak, that signature Caol Ila coastal smoke, and rich fruit is just perfect. At 51.7% it's full-bodied without being aggressive. This is what whisky can be when everything goes right.

Sophie Brennan — The best whisky I've ever tasted

10/10

I know a 10 is controversial but I genuinely cannot find a flaw. Managed to get a dram at auction for less than retail and I savoured every drop over two sessions. The balance between 42 years of oak, that signature Caol Ila coastal smoke, and rich fruit is just perfect. At 51.7% it's full-bodied without being aggressive. This is what whisky can be when everything goes right.

Hannah Brooks — Stunning but hard to justify

8/10

Got to try this at a whisky festival and I'm glad I didn't have to pay the £975 myself. That said, it's genuinely excellent — the smoke is so refined after 42 years, more like incense than bonfire. Lovely salted caramel and dark chocolate on the finish. If money were no object I'd buy a bottle tomorrow.

Carlos Mendez — Stunning but hard to justify

8/10

Got to try this at a whisky festival and I'm glad I didn't have to pay the £975 myself. That said, it's genuinely excellent — the smoke is so refined after 42 years, more like incense than bonfire. Lovely salted caramel and dark chocolate on the finish. If money were no object I'd buy a bottle tomorrow.

Priscilla Nunes — Time in a glass

9/10

Tried this neat at a friend's birthday and we all just went quiet for a minute. The nose alone is worth the experience — old library books, sea spray, and a wisp of peat smoke that's been softened by four decades. At 51.7% it carries real weight without any burn. I keep thinking about this one weeks later.

Henrik Larsen — Time in a glass

9/10

Tried this neat at a friend's birthday and we all just went quiet for a minute. The nose alone is worth the experience — old library books, sea spray, and a wisp of peat smoke that's been softened by four decades. At 51.7% it carries real weight without any burn. I keep thinking about this one weeks later.

Ruth Banks — Patience rewarded

8/10

Poured myself a small measure and just let it sit for twenty minutes before nosing. Absolutely worth the wait — waves of maritime smoke, dried apricot, and something almost perfumed, like old rose petals. On the palate it's silky but still has backbone at cask strength. A whisky that demands you slow down and pay attention.

Valentina Ricci — Patience rewarded

8/10

Poured myself a small measure and just let it sit for twenty minutes before nosing. Absolutely worth the wait — waves of maritime smoke, dried apricot, and something almost perfumed, like old rose petals. On the palate it's silky but still has backbone at cask strength. A whisky that demands you slow down and pay attention.

Idris Ibrahim — Beautiful but slightly too woody

7/10

At 42 years old you'd expect some oak influence and it's definitely there. The first few sips are gorgeous — brine, gentle smoke, stewed plums — but the tannic dryness creeps in on the finish and overstays its welcome a bit. Still a very good whisky, just not quite the flawless experience I was hoping for at this price point.

Rosa Paredes — Beautiful but slightly too woody

7/10

At 42 years old you'd expect some oak influence and it's definitely there. The first few sips are gorgeous — brine, gentle smoke, stewed plums — but the tannic dryness creeps in on the finish and overstays its welcome a bit. Still a very good whisky, just not quite the flawless experience I was hoping for at this price point.