Halcyon Spirits is sticking to its plan of releasing its whiskies drop by drop. Every few months one cask (only four in the past year), which is different from what most bottlers are doing.
I’m not sure what to make of this schedule. Until now the whiskies have been very old and expensive, but the latest release is a Caol Ila 2007 which seems a bit underwhelming as a standalone release.
Caol Ila 17 yo 2007 (56%, Halcyon Spirits 2024, cask #306807, 273 btl.)
Nose: antiseptics up front, with peppermint and raw wool. Then seawater, oysters and hints of heather honey. Growing floral notes too, coming close to fresh laundry. Totally Islay, I’d say, with a pleasant maritime sharpness. Lemons and light vanilla in the background, as well as some baking spice and leather.
Mouth: this sharper profile returns, on ginger and white pepper, lemon juice and big ashy notes. Drops of seawater, mercurochrome and chalk. This reminds me of Port Ellen at times. Then bread dough and aniseed. Very light sweetness underneath, but the saltiness and savoury side is much bigger. Green walnuts and mint towards the end.
Finish: quite long, still very coastal and rather peppery. Some drying leafy notes in the very end, along with a hint of coffee beans.
A very pure and fairly vertical Caol Ila. Certainly not underwhelming for this distillery and this age – on the contrary. Obviously sharp and tense, but high class. Now available from Halcyon Spirits.