Tasting Notes by Ruben Luyten (WhiskyNotes): Score 91/100

Dutch wonderboys WhiskyNerds have a new release, a 28 years old Caol Ila 1990 from a refill sherry hogshead. The combination of the distillery and the bottler makes the expectations seriously high.

Nose: very forthcoming, warm and sweet, quite thick and custardy. A lot of paraffin, hints of Tiger balm, almonds and wet hay. Stables. Olive brine. Hints of cigarette smoke. Sweetened mint tea. Light pepper and aniseed as well.

Mouth: rather big and bold, feels more than 48%. Again sweet and oily but also quitesalty. A fruity base (peach, golden apple) moving towards lemon peel, limoncello and chlorophyll. Green olives again.

Finish: long, on lemon and salt.

Punchy, balanced, with a big coastal side but a sweet fruity core as well. Quality is very high again. Well done but… € 550 is a lot of money, even close to the official Caol Ila 35 years for instance.