ABV: 43 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 1
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is peat and fruits. At first there’s a varm and sweet herbal and earthy peatiness with hay as a main direction. Inside there’s a mix of honey, green grapes, green apples and yellow pears. There’s a perfumey note on top and a funky complex note within. The moscatel finish really comes through the heavy peat. This is a great nose with a lot to explore. It feels balanced overall.

Mouth: It starts out very mild with a fruity mix and a sour tang in the back There’s a dusty oak note, it’s malty and there is a sweet chili-like rounded off spicyness. The peat covers the palate but lets the other flavours shine in the middle. There are ashes, warm campfire smoke and hay within. There are also ripe grape notes contrasting the otherwise bright fruitiness.

Finish: The transition is spicy but there’s not enough power in it to excel. It’s dry soil with white wine, a smokiness (like burning yellow grass) and a dusty note. The funky ripe note makes a reappearance but leaves just as fast. The oak brings tropical fruitiness but really never takes over. There’s a slight oak note with a peaty cover left in the mouth when the rest of the flavours fade. This is a great whisky. It could have been really amazing if it had a bit more power.

Additional information
All whiskies in Diageo’s ”The classic malts of Scotland” series are accompanied by a special Distiller’s Edition. This version of Caol Ila is finished in ex-Moscatel wine casks.

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