Caol Ila 17 yo 2006/2023 (55.1%, Cadenhead, Authentic Collection, bourbon hogshead, 204 bottles)
Colour: pale straw. Nose: I find it a little on the softer side of Caol Ila, with a nice easy balance of mineral salts, aromatic coastal qualities, seawater, citrus rinds and background medicinal aspects such as bandages and TCP. With water: sootier, on coal scuttles, muted peat smoke, coal tar soap and bacon crisps. Mouth: a little simpler than the nose, on smoky wort and gristy vibes, salted porridge, rather a lot of chalky beach pebble and ashy mineral impressions. Also some hay and cider apple vibes. With water: I find it simplifies a little with water, becoming a bit dry, austere and salty, but some interesting herbal tea notes emerge. Finish: good length, back on citrus - preserved lemons in brine - seawater and mineral salts. Comments: I prefer this one without water, a tad simple but irrefutably dependable. 
SGP: 466 - 85 points. 

Caol Ila 31 yo 1983/2014 (48.7%, Signatory Vintage, hogshead, cask #5300, 248 bottles)
Colour: pale gold. Nose: in the words of a Mr S V of Turckheim: the peat has 'transmuted'! In other words, it's one of those wonderful old Caol Ilas that, after three decades in refill wood, has become poetically complex and detailed. One of those profiles that makes you think of very delicate herbal and fruit teas, old dried out ointments, very old herbal and honey liqueurs and various things as diverse as honey-roast root vegetables, beach pebbles, strop leather, sandalwood and dried flowers. Beautiful and utterly charming. Mouth: a perfect and harmonious collusion of peat smoke influences, medicinal and coastal qualities, and these underlying dried citrus fruit notes, matcha, verbena, very old dry riesling and heavier, textural aspects that turn your mind towards camphor and furniture waxes. Finish: quite long, and still on these combinations of old dried out honeys, herbal medicinal things, distant peat smoke, delicate mineral impressions. The freshness and vibrancy of the whole thing is really wonderful. Comments: we shouldn't wax lyrical too much, you only need to try two or three of these older late 70s early 80s Caol Ilas to know that they are amazing whiskies with seemingly immutable freshness and stamina of character. This is another great one, made even more deadly by a natural strength that's so effortlessly quaffable. 
SGP: 555 - 92 points.