Caol Ila 18 yo

43°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

Bourbon Casks

Original Bottling

Core Range

Single Malt

Launched in 2002

Peated around 35 ppm

This 18 Year Old is the prestige edition of the Caol Ila range.

Let's Taste It : 

The nose has been transformed by a long maturation. The peat is more discreet, but very present. Wood, varnish, candied cherry, raspberry, chocolate milk. A touch of blackberry. Quite greedy. Slight acidity on the palate. Still red fruits. But it's velvety at the same time, with a hint of vanilla. Light pepper.
Armfuls of mocha on the finish. An ounce of chicory. And this finish is long, almost endless. You can feel the fruits on the tip of your tongue a minute later. This is a really pleasant, delicate whisky, more subtle than the 12-year-old, but it lacks a little peat.

 

In Short, 

A superb piece of work, to be enjoyed with care. A must-have, especially as the price is still (for the moment?) affordable. 

Score : 89

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Lhasa - I'm Going In