No such thing as too much Caol Ila, even though it’s already the most reviewed distillery on this blog, just ahead of GlenDronach and Bunnahabhain. We’re now trying a Caol Ila 2000 that was part of the latest series of single cask bottlings by Master of Malt.
Caol Ila 17 yo 2000
(68,6%, Master of Malt 2018, bourbon cask)
Caol Ila 17 yo 2000Nose: very briney, with lots of salted almonds, seaweed and anchovies. Iodine. A light hint of apple vinegar. Grassy notes. Green olive tapenade. Oak char and coffee beans. After a while there’s more flax, leather and a sweet buttery note in the background. Sharp as a blade, proper Islay style.
Mouth: sharp again, very medicinal with big pepper, ashy smoke and herbal notes. Hints of resin. A little chinchona. With water: anise and liquorice, perhaps more citrus as well.
Finish: long, slightly bitter and herbal, with grassy smoke.
Wow, this is one of the most coastal, sharp and briney whiskies I’ve had in a long time. But it works. With this profile and alcohol level though, not for the faint-hearted. Available from Master of Malt.
Score: 85/100