Caol Ila 12 Year Old

Nose: A bit of an oxymoron to start things off... burnt leaves and fresh sea air. Wet stone. White pepper. Parsley. Faint aniseed and just a hint of dried orange rind. A very fresh, savory nose.

Taste: Fresh, light, measured arrival--deceivingly measured. The first second could fool you into thinking this wasn't whisky. Could disappoint those who like a more brutish, in-your-face whisky, but personally I find it really quite nice. Smoke and peat creep up on you with a mild white pepper heat and become much bigger than the initial impression would lead you to expect. Root vegetables, freshly picked from the garden, wet and freshly washed with a bit of soil still on them. Way in the background there's a slight sharp note that is hard to pin down, but it makes your tongue feel faintly like you've just put in on a 9-volt battery.

Finish: Long, slow and subtle to develop--like the arrival. White pepper note sticks to the tongue, along with the fading autumn day smokiness. A bit of nuttiness and salted cucumber right at the end.

A very interesting dram! Fast becoming an everyday favourite for me.

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