Bottle Details
SMWS Code
53.367
Distillery
Caol Ila
ABV
60.3%
Age
10 Years
Cask
Ex-Bourbon Hogshead
Distilled
September 28, 2010
Region
Islay
Flavor Profile
Peated
Category
Scotch
The whisky presents prominent peat smoke and white pepper, accompanied by mentholated notes reminiscent of muscle rub. A complex green character emerges with smoky stewed spinach, moss, seaweed, briny olives, and a saline bread-like quality.
The palate maintains the smoky character but with greater refinement and elegance. Poached pears, oysters, pickled cucumber, sea-salt sherbet, thyme, samphire and smoked mackerel create a sophisticated maritime profile.
Upon reduction, the whisky develops cut grass, pea shoots, lime and eucalyptus aromatics, with nutty notes of peanuts and toasted sesame seeds. The palate retains substantial texture with salted caramel, liquorice, pine sap and mint humbugs providing a layered, evolving conclusion.
Our noses twitched at the peat smoke, white pepper, Sudocrem and muscle rub, before discovering a green tapestry of smoky stewed spinach, moss on a dyke, seaweed sorbet, olives in brine and bread dipped in moules marinieres liquor. The palate was equally smoky, but somehow cleaner, even elegant – poached pears, oysters, pickled cucumber, sea-salt sherbet, thyme, samphire and smoked mackerel. New aromas on the reduced nose were cut grass, pea shoots, lime and eucalyptus; peanuts in shells, toasted sesame seeds, popcorn and swimming pools. The reduced palate remained substantially textured, with flavours of salted caramel, liquorice, pine sap and mint humbugs.