As you know, Malts of Scotland is distributed in Belgium by Dominiek Bouckaert who is also running his own label The Whiskyman. Now they’ve released a Malts of Scotland bottling for The Whiskyman, a Coal Ila 2000.
Islay whisky is so rare these days, that only the bigger independent bottlers have access to it – and want to keep it under their own label.
Caol Ila 2000 (55,6%, Malts of Scotland for The Famous Whiskyman 2015, bourbon hogshead, MoS 15008, 198 btl.)
Nose: pretty much ticking all the boxes we’d expect from good Caol Ila. Iodine, creosote, lots of bitumen, mixed with bright citrus and sweet grains. Soaked grains in a mash tun really. Green apple peelings. Lemon candy. And just a hint of almonds and vanilla. Textbook Caol Ila.
Mouth: pleasantly sweet with a pretty big peaty kick. Waxy texture. Lemons again, medicinal notes, pepper and more lemons. Hints of ginger and wood spices. Smoother towards the end, warmer and ashier.
Finish: long, on sweet lemons, liquorice and a hint of roasted coffee beans.
Who said Islay whisky is all about fierce peat? This Caol Ila finds an excellent balance of sharpness and roundness, with an above-average complexity. Around € 90.
Score: 88/100