Caol Ila 2015 Artist Collective N°7.4 8 yo

 

 

 

43°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay 

Bourbon Hogdheads

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

And here is the latest representative of this Batch 2024 in the Artist Collective range bottled by Signatory Vintage. This is an 8-year-old Caol Ila aged in 6 Hogsheads, giving a total of 2753 bottles.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very smoky nose, thick fog, recently extinguished chimney, lignite blocks. But the profile is still very Bourbon, with vanilla and beaten butter, very intense mineral notes, limestone, quartz, gypsum. The palate is a little light, but fruity, with pleasant spices, cloves and black pepper. Some crushed walnuts. Lemon coulis. The finish is relatively powerful and quite long, with hints of ash, black earth, dark chocolate and coffee beans. Forest undergrowth, in wet weather.

In Short, 

Tasted blind, I didn't recognize the distillery, even though I'm familiar with it. And for good reason, the ashy notes on the nose are nowhere to be found, and even less the very coastal profile that I love. Perhaps the influence of the casks is too strong, or the distillate too reduced. What's more, the palate is a little light. Fortunately, the finish makes up for this a little, but I'm still disappointed overall. For a bottling like this, I think the price is exaggerated.

Score : 86

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Cemetery Skyline - Behind the Lie