Caol Ila 2016 Gifted Stills of Scotland

 

 

 

43° 

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

Bourbon Hogsheads

Independent Bottling 

By Jean Boyer  

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 35 ppm

New packaging and great progress from the Gifted Stills range, which has become Gifted Stills of Scotland it seems. It's been around for a good fifteen years from the independent French bottler Jean Boyer, who began his career in 1987. Now we have information about chill filtration and the use of dyes, and I am satisfied to see that there is none. Moreover, we know the number of bottles produced, there are 1500 of them for this one. On the other hand, nothing about the exact age, this Caol Ila has matured in Small Batches, which have accelerated the ageing, but 4 to 5 years is still young.

Let's Taste It : 

On the nose, oily, maritime peat, mineral, calcareous, rocky. Later on, sour sweets, liquorice, candied lemon, fairly heavy vanilla, cereals galore. The palate is also oily, with a good pile of peat, muddy, silt, sea foam, kelp, dried fruits, raisins and apricots, fairly rough spices, cumin, grey pepper, clove. A decent, reasonably long finish with salted butter caramel, coffee and chocolate pralines. Iodine at the end. A touch of salt. Sea breeze, sand.

In Short, 

A success, this Caol Ila. I did not feel the youth of the product. Not outstanding, but well worth a visit. A bit pricey though. In terms of quality, it is between the Moch and the 12 years old. But its profile is quite original, which justifies a possible purchase to satisfy curiosity or if you are an absolute fan of the distillery.

Score : 86

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Leprous - On Hold